Johnson-Kokenis rivalry is probably just beginning
Memories are hazy as to the last time Michala Johnson and Toni Kokenis met on the basketball court.
They could get very well acquainted over the next few years.
DuPage County's two best girls basketball players will square off for the first time in a high school setting tonight, when No. 2 Montini (16-1) and Johnson travel to Hinsdale Central to play the Kokenis-led No. 13 Red Devils (10-4).
Kokenis recalled facing Johnson on the AAU circuit, but it's been a few years. She caught a sneak preview of Montini at its Christmas tournament last week.
"It should be a lot of fun," Kokenis said, "and a great challenge to measure where you are as a player and where we are as a team."
Kokenis, ranked 60th among seniors in the ESPNU HoopGurlz national rankings, is committed to No. 2 Stanford, while Johnson (No. 46) is a recruit of No. 1 Connecticut. Kokenis watched with interest two weeks ago when No. 1 met No. 2, just like she looks forward to playing Illinois Hustle teammate Tricia Liston (from Fenwick) in coming seasons when Liston is at Duke. The other point guard in tonight's game, Montini junior Whitney Holloway, is committed to No. 3 Notre Dame.
Get used to seeing DuPage County well-represented in the NCAA Tournament, maybe even the Final Four, the next few years. UConn and Stanford have met in the last two Final Fours, each winning once.
"It's pretty neat," Kokenis said, "that we'll all have played with or against each other by the time we've got to college."
Johnson didn't remember playing Kokenis - as a post player, it's not like she goes 1-on-1 versus a point guard. But she's well aware of her.
"I've always heard of her," Johnson said, "but I've never seen her play. It is pretty exciting to know that some of the people we play against, I'll be playing against next year. I look at it as just another game. I always want to play my hardest."
Montini and Hinsdale Central have long boasted two of DuPage County's best girls basketball programs. But they have not met on the court in over 20 years. Montini coach Jason Nichols has wanted to get the Red Devils on his nonconference schedule, and the two sides agreed on it last year.
"It's our biggest game so far," Kokenis readily admitted. "Michala and them have been playing great. It's nice that we get to play them on our home court."
More teams at Montini: Nichols had to have been pleased with the strong turnout, and competition, at the first Montini Christmas Tournament.
Next year he is looking to double the field to 16, making it a four-day championship bracket format. Long-term, the goal is to make Montini's event the best girls basketball Christmas tournament in the Chicago area, akin to the Proviso West boys tournament.
"Anybody that is interested," Nichols said, "should call us now."
Battle-tested Lancers: It would be hard to match Lake Park's last three days at the Montini tournament. The Lancers lost to Dorothy Gaters and Marshall by 3 in overtime on Dec. 28, then lost to Jacobs by 2 in double overtime the next day.
Twenty-four hours later, Lake Park found itself down 3 to Oak Park heading into the fourth quarter. But the Lancers outscored their opponent 19-4 in the fourth quarter, finishing a tough tournament with a well-deserved win to snap a five-game losing streak.
"The kids fought really hard," Lake Park coach Chris Fruehling said, "and learned how to play in tight ballgames that go into overtime, and how crucial each possession becomes. We learned from that and showcased it in the last game."
Sophomore forward Alexis Hahn may have come of age for Lake Park at Montini. She had two double-doubles, scored 21 points versus Jacobs and 16 against Oak Park.
"Alexis has been huge for us," Fruehling said, "and consistent. She had a wonderful tournament."
Tough break for Redhawks: Naperville Central (13-2) suffered its first two defeats at Dundee-Crown last week. That wasn't the Redhawks' biggest loss.
Senior forward Catherine Tanck went down with a knee injury in the closing minutes of a second-round loss to Johnsburg. Preliminary diagnosis is a torn ACL in Tanck's left knee, likely sidelining her for the year.
"She had really, really improved dramatically from last year to this year," Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum said. "We have to go on, but it's a hard thing."
Sophomore guard Jill D'Amico and freshman forward Jamie Cuny alternated taking Tanck's spot in the starting lineup. There is no replacing the 6-foot Tanck, among the Redhawks' leading scorers and rebounders.
"We have to play with the cards we're dealt," Nussbaum said. "As disappointed as it is, the show goes on."
A new season: Perhaps no team needed the holidays to arrive more than Glenbard West (10-7). Following an 8-1 start, the Hilltoppers lost 6 of their next 8 games. They dropped their last 3 games at the Naperville North/Benet Tournament. After an alumni game on Dec. 23, Glenbard West went 11 days without playing or practicing.
Hilltoppers coach Mike Hofland, for one, got away with family to Wisconsin.
"From coaches to the girls everybody was getting frustrated," Hofland said. "It was a good break."
Glenbard West enjoys a light schedule this week, hosting York on Saturday - then gets another eight-day intermission for finals before a home game against Neuqua Valley Jan. 18. That allows for plenty of practice time to work on what ails the team.
The Hilltoppers will have a healthy Abigail Hastings when they resume play.
"Our defense has to be aggressive," Hofland said, "and offensively we've just not had enough ball movement. A lot of standing around. The last few games we've averaged over 20 turnovers and a lot of that is unnecessary.
"The main thing is we're hoping to get our energy level, come back refreshed and ready to go the rest of the season."