Northwest postseason preview
Libertyville Sectional
When: Monday, Feb. 22, Game 1, 7:30 p.m.: Winner of Waukegan regional vs. winner of Stevenson Regional; Tuesday, Feb. 23, Game 2 at 7:30 pm: Winner of Mundelein regional vs. winner of Fremd regional; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
">Mundelein regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 pm: (13) Mundelein vs. (19) Round Lake; Tuesday, Feb. 16: Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (2) Hersey vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (7) Zion-Benton vs. (10) Warren; Thursday, Feb. 18: Championship at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick tips: Hersey is the highest seed and has had another banner season under coach Mary Fendley with 21 wins and 7 losses. Junior Megan Rogowski needs 17 points to become the school's all-time leading female scorer and Maddie Swan is coming off a career-high 24 points against Barrington. No. 3 seed Zion-Benton is coached by Tanya Johnson, who won two Class AA state titles with Loyola. She is assisted by former Maine West and Loyola University standout Mary Just and Frank Mattucci, who won two Class AA state crowns at Stevenson.
Waukegan Regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 pm: (16) Palatine vs. (20) Waukegan; Tuesday, Feb. 16 Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Wheeling vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (8) Barrington vs. (9) Highland Park; Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick tips: Seniors Janelle Cannon, Bianca Szafarowicz and Stephanie Kuzmanic led the Wildcats (25-4) to a third straight Mid Suburban League crown and were starters for last year's team which took third in the Class AA state tourney under coach Shelly Wiegel. Coach Babbi Barreiro's Fillies (16-12) were second in the MSL West with an 8-2 record. They have been led offensively by junior Abby Kirchoff, who had 26 points against Hersey in the Fillies last regular-season game. Palatine and coach Leslie Schock lost some key players to injuries this season while freshman guard Nia Pappas has been one the Pirates' key scorers.
Stevenson regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (14) Lake Zurich vs. (18) Deerfield; Tuesday, Feb. 16, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (4) (Stevenson) vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.; (5) Prospect vs. (12) Buffalo Grove; Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick tips: Prospect (18-8) and Stevenson, coached by former BG Hall of Fame Tom Dineen, are the highest seeds. "It's a tough regional," said Prospect Martha Kelly, whose team opens against Pat Dudle's Buffalo Grove Bison. "People look at BG's record (9-20) but don't understand they're playing in a tough conference and play a tough schedule. Lake Zurich and Stevenson are also good teams. I think there will be closes games and people have to come ready to play." Junior Sarah Winans leads a balanced Prospect offense with 9.5 points per game and Sarah Hunt is the team's top rebounder with 7 per game. The Knights defeated BG twice this season and edged Stevenson in overtime in Mount Prospect.
Fremd regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15: Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (15) Mundelein vs. (17) Grant; Tuesday, Feb. 16, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (3) Libertyville vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8:00 pm: (6) Fremd vs. (11) Lake Forest; Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick tips: Mid-Suburban West champ Fremd (20-9) returns to its home floor as the second-highest seed behind Libertyville. Longtime teammates Taylor Glassman and Gianna Abruzzo, the MSL West co-players of the Year, lead the Vikings who have won 19 games under coach Dave Yates in his fourth season. Libertyville defeated Wauconda on Wednesday to win the North Suburban Conference championship.
Lake Park sectional
Games will be played at the West Campus (500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.)
When: Tuesday, Feb. 23: Game 1 at 6 p.m.: Winner Fenwick regional vs. winner Rolling Meadows regional; Game 2 at 8:10 p.m.: Winner Glenbard East regional vs. Winner West Chicago regional; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 pm: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Fenwick regional
When: Monday., Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (16) Conant vs. (17) Schaumburg; Wednesday, Feb. 17, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Fenwick vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (7) Wheaton North vs. (9) Glenbard West; Friday, Feb. 19, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick tips: Coach Dan Traver's Conant Cougars (7-20) and Ashley Berggren's Schamburg Saxons (6-22) of the MSL West are the only area teams in this regional. They meet in the play-in game on Monday and the winner faces top-seeded Fenwick, champion of the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Conant and Schaumburg split their conference games. The Cougars won 40-36 the first time as Ashley Lindeman and Lindsay Fillingim each scored 11 points. The Saxons won the second time, 48-46, in double overtime as Alyssa Saklak scored 20 points and Taylor Kosla 11.
Rolling Meadows regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (13) Rolling Meadows vs. (20) Leyden; Tuesday, Feb. 16, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (4) Hoffman Estates vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (5) Proviso East vs. (12) Oak Park-River Forest; Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick Tips: Hoffman Estates got its 20th win of the season when it defeated Elk Grove 49-42 on Tuesday. Senior Megan Bernardoni and junior Jada Stotts lead the Hawks (20-7), who have the high seed in this regional. Coach Mike Nocella gave freshman Destinee Young her second career start against Elk Grove and the rookie forward produced a career-high 13 points. After falling at the buzzer to St. Viator, Rolling Meadows (13-17) has won its last two games over Palatine and Downers Grove North. Freshman Morgan Keller led the Mustangs with 14 points against Palatine while junior Sara Shumaker scored a team-high 11 in the win over DGN. Coach Todd Hatfield's Mustangs open against Leyden in the play-in game. Other teams in the sectional are (8) West Chicago, (11) York, (14) Addison Trail, (15) Glenbard East, (18) Willowbrook and (19) Glenbard North.
Glenbard East regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 6 p.m.: (15) Glenbard East vs. (18) Willowbrook; Tuesday, Feb. 16, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (2) Elk Grove vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (6) Bartlett vs. (10) Lake Park; Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick Tips: The area's lone representative in this regional, Elk Grove (22-6), has lost to only three teams. The Grens have 3 losses to Hersey, two to Wheeling and one to Hoffman Estates (last Tuesday). Courtney Lindfors (6-foot-4 center headed to Wisconsin-Milwaukee) has not played the last two weeks because of a foot injury. Coach Ryan Kirkorsky hopes she'll be ready for the state tourney. The school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Ashley Capotosto, has joined Lindfors on the front line to form one of the state's most dangerous post duos. Capotosto was named the Mid-Suburban East Player of the Year.
Niles North sectional
When: Monday, Feb. 22, Game 1 at 6 p.m.: : Winner Maine South regional vs. winner Evanston regional; Game 2 at 8:10 p.m.: Winner Glenbrook North regional vs. Winner Northside regional; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Glenbrook North regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (13) Glenbrook North vs. (18) (Mather); Tuesday, Feb. 16, Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (2) Von Steuben vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (7) Loyola vs. (10) (Maine West); Thursday, Feb. 18, Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick Tips: Maine West (12-17, 7-2) will wrap up second place in the Central Suburban North when it visits champion Highland Park (9-0). With the return of Sam Acosta, Kayla Kennelly and Katherine Kusner from injuries, the Warriors are finally healthy to start the postseason. Hall of Fame coach Derril Kipp reached his 700th career win two weeks ago. Other teams in the sectional are (1) New Trier, (3) Glenbrook South, (4) Niles West, (5) Evanston, (6) Lincoln Park, (8) Resurrection, (9) Maine South, (11) Northside, (12) Lane Tech, (14) Niles North, (15) Maine East, (16) Taft, (17) Prosser, (19) Clemente, (17) Prosser and (20) Steinmetz.
Class 3A
St. Viator sectional
When: Monday, Feb. 22, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Regina regional vs. winner Gordon Tech regional; Tuesday, Feb. 23: Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Vernon Hills regional vs. winner Lakes regional; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Vernon Hills Regional
When: Monday, Feb. 15: Game 1 at 7:30 pm: (4) Vernon Hills vs. (5) North Chicago; Wednesday, Feb. 17: Game 2 at 6 p.m.: (1) Wauconda vs. Winner Game 1; Game 3 at 8 p.m.: (2) St. Viator vs. (3) Grayslake Central; Friday, Feb. 19: Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
Quick Tips: St. Viator and coach Paul Bjerkness are looking for their second girls basketball regional crown in school history. The Lions have enjoyed a 19-10 season and are led by four-year varsity players Susan Hohenadel (Rockhurst recruit) and Mary Calov. The Lions took third place in the Season's End tourney when Ronnie Mack hit the winning layup with one second left for a 45-43 victory over Rolling Meadows. Other teams in this sectional are Chicago (Uplift), Chicago (Kelvyn Park), Gordon Tech, Ridgewood, Chicago Academy, Chicago (CICS/Northtown), Senn, Sullivan, Roosevelt, Regina and Amundsen. "I think our regional is very competieve," Bjerkness said "You've got quality teams and if it were a seeded sectional, we might have the top four seeds with Wauconda, Grayslake Central and Vernon Hills and ourselves."