Senior leadership key for Elgin Academy
At Elgin Academy, students are required to participate in a sport as part of their physical education curriculum. Winning isn't stressed as much as competing.
In fact, in the history of the school, only the 1983 boys basketball team has ever claimed an IHSA regional championship.
Until Thursday night, that is.
The Hilltoppers' girls basketball team registered a 30-28 win over North Shore Country Day to capture the Class 1A NSCD regional title in Winnetka.
And now it's on to the Mooseheart sectional, where the Hilltoppers (13-9) will take on Independent School League rival Morgan Park Academy (20-7) in Monday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal.
Several ingredients have gone into Elgin Academy's successful season, with two of the main ones being senior leaders Alyssa Pena and Lauren Steimle. Pena scored 15 points in the regional title game and Steimle has been the Hilltoppers' on-floor leader all season. They are also the team's leading scorers with Pena averaging 11.8 points per game and Steimle 11.7.
"We're ecstatic," said Pena, a four-year varsity player and Elgin resident. "In the past years we've had a lot of talent but the work ethic wasn't there. This year everybody is dedicated and wants to be there and wants to get better. I've never been on a team where everyone is so dedicated. Everyone wants to play, and not just for the gym credit."
Steimle, who had a hard time talking for this story due to losing her voice celebrating the regional title, says the closeness the Hilltoppers share on the court is a big reason they're still playing basketball.
"We've just clicked as a team," the St. Charles resident said. "Our team chemistry is really good and we're playing good defense."
Second-year EA coach Vicente Pena, Alyssa's cousin, was hoping this team would round into form after his first Hilltoppers team went 11-12 last season.
"A lot of it is just that we revamped the whole program," said the coach, who is assisted by former St. Edward player Jennifer Avina. "We sat down and talked about what we had and what we didn't have. It took some time to get it but now it seems they're buying into everything we're selling.
"I thought last year we had a stronger team but it took some time for the kids to make the adjustments."
Having the senior leadership of his cousin and Steimle has been a big key, Pena said.
"That's been huge," coach Pena said. "Lauren is like an extension of a coach on the floor. She's always asking questions about what we're doing and where people should be. And Alyssa is a very good role model. She knows what she has to do. I've been coaching her since fifth grade so she knows exactly what I want done. She's our best defender and always gets the toughest assignment."
Against Morgan Park Academy, the Hilltoppers' daunting task will be stopping 6-foot-3 junior Kierra Morris, a Luther South transfer and ISL Player of the Year who scored 25 points and had 13 rebounds in the Warriors' 45-25 regional final win over Illinois Lutheran. It was MPA's third straight regional crown. MPA beat Elgin Academy 51-36 in the teams' only meeting this season back on Jan. 14. After a 28-27 loss to Willows two nights later, Elgin Academy has now won 7 straight.
"We have it in our minds that this is going to be a tough game but we know what (MPA) is about," Alyssa Pena said. "We've practiced on defending (Morris)."
Coach Pena says his girls are ready to go.
"They're excited," he said." It's time to put the chips on the table."
Monday's winner advances to the Elite Eight of Class 1A and will play on Thursday for the sectional title against the winner of Tuesday's game between defending Class 1A state champ Hinckley-Big Rock and Ottawa Marquette. The Mooseheart sectional winner then advances to the Monday, March 1 supersectional at Judson University in Elgin to face the Forrestion sectional winner.