MSL teams take their best shots
The Mid-Suburban East will be well represented in Class 4A girls basketball sectional semifinals.
The top four finishers from the six-team conference claimed regional crowns last week and will compete at three different sectionals which begin Monday.
"That's a pretty good statement by our conference," said Hersey's Mary Fendley, the dean of the East coaches (16 seasons) who guided the Huskies to their first regional crown since 2004.
Hersey joins state-ranked Wheeling (MSL champion), Prospect (tied with Hersey for second) and fourth-place finisher Elk Grove as the East teams which made it to the round of 32 for Class 4A.
"This is great for our conference," added second-year Prospect coach Martha Kelly. "It shows how competitiveness of our schedules."
At Barrington: Top-seeded Wheeling (29-1) and No. 4 Hersey (23-8) are meeting for the third time Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The winner advances to Thursday's title game to face the winner of Tuesday's semifinal between No. 2 Lake Zurich and No. 3 Mundelein.
Wheeling won its two conference games against Hersey 56-36 and 56-28.
"I'm pretty sure they'll throw a zone at us," said Purdue-bound Ashley Wilson, who has scored more than 1,700 career points at Wheeling. "We have to make sure we move the ball well.
"And we know the Rogowskis (Megan and Kelly) can hit the 3-pointers so we can't give them a lot of space at the 3-point line. We must also must rebound."
Sophomore Megan Rogowski now has a single-season school record 74 3-pointers for Hersey.
"We've played them like three times in the last four years in the state tournament," said sixth-year Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel. "Every game we must be patient with the ball and play solid defense. I feel we have done that our last three games."
Hersey recently won the Fenton Season's End tourney and has a seven-game winning streak.
"This was our goal," Fendley said. "We wanted to reach the sectional and have the opportunity to play Wheeling. Wheeling has demonstrated it is absolutely the best team in the area. But that doesn't mean things can't change. We'll do our best and hope that we can match up and give them a game."
At Niles West: Second-year coach Martha Kelly guided the No. 4 seeded Knights to their first regional crown since 2004 when they posted a 51-45 victory over No. 12 Lincoln Park (16-9) in the championship of the Glenbrook South regional.
Prospect (19-9) earned a berth in Monday's 7:30 p.m. sectional semifinal against top-seeded Loyola (28-3), which defeated Resurrection 51-39 in the Bandits' own regional.
Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal matches No. 2 New Trier and No. 3 Von Steuben.
The championship is slated for Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
"The kids just have to enjoy the moment," Kelly said. "This is the frosting on the cake, the cherry on the sundae. They've just got to have fun and enjoy what they're doing. If you do that, you're going to be playing hard."
Loyola is led by senior Meghan Holy, who averages double figures and is also a top rebounder.
"She is one of the key people we've got to be able to stop," Kelly said.
It would be difficulty for Loyola to concentrate on any one Knight.
Five players average between 7.4 and 6.5 points. Prospect has had eight different girls serve as a leading scorer in a game this season.
Loyola, which recently had a 22-game winning streak snapped, has lost to Trinity and Marshall.
"They are a dribble, drive, attack and kick-out team," Kelly said. "So we've got to stop that dribble penetration. We have to stay out close on their shooters and rebound the ball. We can't give them any second chances."
At Addison Trail: Playing as well as it has all season, Elk Grove makes it first appearance in a sectional since 1992.
In his first season as head coach, Ryan Kirkorsky has guided the No. 12 Grenadiers (16-11) to a sectional semifinal berth against No. 1 seed Geneva, which has not lost in 29 games this season.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. Monday while the second semifinal takes place at 8 p.m. featuring No. 3 Lake Park and No. 18 York.
Geneva is led by all-time leading scorer and Indiana State-bound Taylor Whitley, who collected 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in Geneva's 65-35 triumph over Proviso West in the regional final at West Chicago.
Elk Grove also features its school's all-time leading scorer, junior Ashley Capotosto, who scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Grenadiers' regional title over Fremd.
"Whitley (more than 2,000 career points) is a Division I guard," Kirkorsky said. "But they are really balanced. They have two post players who are 6-foot or taller and two real fast guards."
The Grenadiers have played state-ranked Wheeling twice this season.
"Wheeling is probably a little more athletic but Geneva is really solid," Kirkorsky said. "By far, we are playing our best basketball of the season. Our kids are gaining confidence with every game."
Olivia Roback chipped in 14 points against MSL West runner-up Fremd.
Geneva also won a regional crown in Whitley's freshman season.
"I would say the No. 1 thing we have to do is get back on defense," Kirkorsky said. "They really like to push the ball in transition. And we have to handle their pressure."