Hoffman heads to Wheeling for title clash

Wheeling High School will play host to the Mid-Suburban League girls basketball championship today at 7:30 p.m. for the first time in the game's 36-year history.

The Class 4A state-ranked and MSL East champ Wildcats (26-1, 10-0), whose only loss is to No. 1 Whitney Young on Jan. 15, will face MSL West champ Hoffman Estates (24-2, 9-1), whose only losses are to Wheeling and Fremd.

"We are excited to be hosting the championship game," said Wildcats fifth-year coach Shelly Wiegel, whose team won the MSL title at Schaumburg a year ago. "It will be a great chance to play in front our home crowd and showcase the talent we have."

Wheeling has not lost a home game in two years.

"We are ready for the challenge of defending our conference title on our home court." Wiegel added. "The kids are proud we are hosting and proud of how they have battled to earn that right."

Over the summer, the Wildcats talked about two goals - winning conference and winning state.

"(Tonight) we have the chance to get after goal number one," Wiegel said. "To be successful we need to play well as a team and defend hard for 32 minutes. We need to move the ball and hit the open player, then get after it on defense."

The game features the league's two future Division I players - senior Ashley Wilson (Purdue) of Wheeling and senior Megan Fischer (Charleston recruit) of Hoffman.

Wheeling won 55-36 at Hoffman Estates in a Mid-Suburban League crossover on Dec. 2.

Hoffman dropped its next game at Fremd, and since has won 19 in a row.

Of Wheeling's 26 wins this season, the 19-point margin over Hoffman was its closest game except for state-ranked Fenwick, which it defeated by 10.

"The good news is we were the second closest," said Hawks coach Mike Nocella. "The bad news is we were 19 points behind. We can't get into their game. We have to play our game. Both teams will want to do that and both will want to get off to good starts."

In the first game, Wheeling junior guard Janelle Cannon had a career-high 12 assists with 16 points.

"In order to continue our success we will look to play great defense and limit the number of shots Hoffman Estates takes," Wiegel said. "We also want to continue to take what the defense gives us, make the extra pass and play as a team."

Wilson averages 17.5 ppg., 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.5 steals. She has more than 1800 points and 1000 rebounds for her career.

Rounding out the starting five are Cannon (17.1 ppg., 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 4.5 steals), junior Bianca Szafarowicz (14.2 ppg., 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2 steals), junior Stephanie Kuzmanic (6.0 ppg., 3.6 rebounds, 2 assists) and senior Bridgette Gray (3.6 ppg).

Wiegel says the role of 5-foot-5 Gray is invaluable.

"She consistently shuts down point guards and makes them work for every pass, shot, or dribble move they try to make," said Wiegel, who guided the Wildcats to their first girls basketball division crown in school history a year ago. "With the vision, passing and scoring ability of Janelle Cannon (also a Division I prospect), we want to stay aggressive and play 32 minutes of all -out basketball."

Wilson presents defensive questions for every team.

"Her ability to rebound on defense limits the shots other teams take, while on offense those big rebounds give us a lot of second-chance looks and points," Wiegel said.

"The versatility of Bianca and Steph show up all over the floor," the coach added. "Offense, defense, and hustle plays have always been in the mix for Bianca. Steph has moved into the starting role this season and does whatever is asked of her from the team."

Reserves Selma Smajlovic (junior) and Kellie Kuzmanic (freshman) have also gained valuable experience.

Each has earned a start at different times this season.

"They appear comfortable coming off the bench and providing solid offense and defense," Wiegel said.

"They've got three kids in particular you've got to stop," Nocella said about Wilson, Cannon and Szafarowicz. "Not that the other two are weak. They are a solid team top to bottom. You cannot afford to focus on one or another one will beat you."

Nocella believes his group is similar.

"We're the same way," he said. "We got to where we are because we are a team. We'll take what they give us. We've got kids who tend to rise to the occasion when they take things away from us."

Fischer leads the Hoffman offense with 18.0 ppg and 6.7 rebounds.

Junior Megan Bernardoni (7.33 ppg, 3.9 rebounds, 67 assist, 56 steals), senior Carol King (5.8 ppg, 2.4 rebounds, 87 assists, 50 steals), sophomore Jada Stotts (7.3 ppg, 6.0 rebounds, 56 assists, 52 steals) and senior Megan Evans (5.1 ppg, 4.7 rebounds 35 steals, 30 assists) complete the starting lineup.

Senior Alex Wulbecker (5.5 ppg, 2.8 rebounds, 23 assists, 21 steals) and junior Kelsey Lukowicz (3 ppg, 2.3 rebounds, 31 assists, 25 steals) have provided key depth.

Nocella is concerned about the speed and quickness of the Wildcats.

"And they have been through this before, having played in the game last year, " he said.

"I am very proud of my kids," added Nocella, who is the only MSL girls coach who has won division titles at different schools (he won with Prospect in 2001 and 2004). When I took over here (last year), these kids were talented but they needed direction. I've been very happy with the coaches I've worked with here and the kids, too. It's very rewarding to see good things happening for them."