Lake Zurich, Wheeling battle for third straight year

Wheeling and Lake Zurich split meetings the last two years for girls basketball regional championships.

Now the two powerhouses meet for a Class 4A sectional championship when they collide at 7:30 p.m. today at Barrington High School.

Lake Zurich upset the Wildcats two years ago, and Wheeling captured last year's game.

Several players in today's game played in each of the last two meetings, including three Division I recruits and one future major prospect.

"It's time for Game 3, the rubber match," said coach Chris Bennett, whose No. 2-seeded Bears (28-5) are coming off a season high for points in Tuesday's 82-60 semifinal win over Mundelein.

The top-seeded Wildcats (school-record 30 wins and 1 loss), champions of the Mid-Suburban League for the second straight year, feature Purdue-bound Ashley Wilson and junior guard Janelle Cannon, who has several major schools seeking her services.

"I know they have two great players," Bennett said. "And they have some very good role players."

Lake Zurich features Bradley-bound guard Olivia Allen and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit Lydia Bauer.

"I think their team is similar to ours in some respects," said Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel, who has the Wildcats playing in their fourth sectional in her five seasons. "They have their big three, too, (junior Audrey Bauer is another key player for Lake Zurich as is Bianca Szafarowicz for Wheeling), and they are a solid team all around."

The Bears showed they can score in a hurry with their fastbreak in Tuesday's semifinal.

"That's what we have to stop," said Wilson, who has been tough to stop in her career with more than 1,800 points and 1,000 rebounds. "Getting back on defense will be very important. We are going to have to play solid defense."

Bridgette Gray, who was very effective in Monday's 52-30 semifinal win over Hersey, has been a key defensive player for the Wildcats.

The senior guard and junior Stephanie Kuzmanic round out the starting five for the Wildcats, while junior Selma Smajlovic and freshman Kellie Kuzmanic have played key roles off the bench.

In addition to the Bauers and Allen, junior Gabby Chapa is the other Bear who has played in the last two state tourney games against the Wildcats.

Junior Sarah Stauner rounds out the starting five for Lake Zurich, which won the North Suburban Conference.

"We are going to have to get back on defense and we have to take care of the basketball," Wiegel added about stopping the Bears. "They play real well together and they have good team speed, so we must respect that."'

The Bears won the Sweet Sixteen and the Dundee Crown Thanksgiving Classic this season and were third in the Suburban Holiday Showcase.

Wheeling took first places at the Niles North Thanksgiving tournament and the Warren Christmas tourney.

The Wildcats' only loss is to Whitney Young, the top-ranked team in Class 4A. The Dolphins won 75-53 at the McDonald's Classic at Willowbrook on Jan. 15.

All of the Wildcats' wins have been by at least 19 points, except for a 10-point margin over Fenwick.

"The key is shutting down their two main players," said Allen, who scored a career-high 32 points against Mundelein on Tuesday. "We must cover Ashley Wilson and Janelle Cannon. We can't let Janelle go to the basket or Ashley post up."

"We'll have our work cut out for ourselves against a very good team," said Bennett, who has guided the Bears to a pair of regional crowns in his four years.