Even without Johnson, Montini still a 3A threat
Ask anyone before the season who was the favorite in Class 3A girls basketball, and Montini would have been the first team name mentioned.
Then Michala Johnson went down with a knee injury.
Without their all-state forward the Broncos became just another good team. It's anyone's guess now who will win 3A - Marshall, Trinity, Quincy Notre Dame, Peoria Richwoods - you name it.
Just don't forget about Montini.
"Regardless of losing a player like Michala, these kids have still beaten good teams and been in good games," Broncos coach Jason Nichols said. "We have more than enough talent to win games, and we've proven that. Now we have to prove it again."
Montini (24-4) has played well in big games of late. The Broncos narrowly lost to Fenwick, then beat Driscoll and Bogan.
"You never know," Nichols cautioned. "Last year I thought we played one and a half good games and we made it to state. We're ready to go, but you just never know."
It will be no picnic to get out of sectionals. No. 2 seed and sectional host Riverside-Brookfield was undefeated deep into the season, Glenbard South is a scrappy group epitomized by senior guard Meghan Pipal, and Wheaton Academy has enjoyed its best regular season in school history.
The Warriors (24-1), coming off their first Private School League championship in 10 years, host a regional with sights set on winning their first regional in a decade. To do it they will probably have to beat Chicago Hope, who beat Wheaton Academy by 30 in last year's regional final.
"We've had a great season," Warriors coach Beth Mitchell said, "but as a coach you always want more."
Two big roadblocks stand in the way of Class 4A DuPage teams advancing out of sectionals.
Bolingbrook, led by super freshman forward Morgan Tuck, could face DuPage Valley Conference co-champion Naperville Central in a regional final, Benet in the Waubonsie Valley sectional semifinal.
No. 2 seed Hinsdale Central and Toni Kokenis, then, could get a third crack at Bolingbrook in the sectional final. The Raiders have ended the Red Devils' season in sectionals the last two years.
"They want to run and gun and go crazy," Hinsdale Central coach Morgan Kasperek said, "and we're the exact opposite. If we played them, it would be who plays their game."
Hinsdale Central could match up with No. 3 seed Waubonsie Valley for the third time this season in the sectional semifinal. That is, if the banged-up Warriors make it out of regionals. Add terrific freshman Keiera Ray to the walking wounded. She injured her knee in Tuesday's win over St. Charles East that snapped Waubonsie's four-game losing streak and didn't play Friday while awaiting results of an MRI.
"We're at a point where we can't take anything for granted," Warriors coach Kris Kalivas said.
Geneva, the only unbeaten team left in the Chicago area, is the No. 1 seed at the Addison Trail sectional. Upstate Eight Conference champion Lake Park is the No. 3 seed. If the Lancers can get by the Glenbard East-Glenbard West winner in regionals they will likely get Hoffman Estates in a sectional semifinal.
Hoffman Estates beat Lake Park the first week of the season - but Samantha Arnold and the Lancers have been hot of late. DVC co-champ Wheaton North could be Geneva's first opponent in sectionals.
"We know where we want to be," Lake Park coach Chris Fruehling said, "but you can't get there until you get the first game."