Montini focuses on task at hand
Days after losing Michala Johnson to an ACL injury, Montini coach Jason Nichols declared his team "still in the hunt" for a Class 3A title.
No doubt, the Broncos carry a big target on their back.
Montini, No. 1 in the Associated Press 3A poll, begins the quest for its first girls basketball state championship this week.
Seemingly invincible with Johnson, Whitney Holloway-led Montini (26-2) has proven the last few weeks to still be a worthy title contender. A close loss to Bolingbrook and 36-point rout of 4A-ranked Rockford Boylan drove that point home.
"We're somewhere in the discussion. Now it's just a matter of what we're going to do," Nichols said.
Montini joins T.F. North, defending champion Peoria Richwoods, Springfield, undefeated Breese Mater Dei and Hillcrest as teams that look capable of winning it all.
Montini already beat Richwoods and T.F. North by double figures in December - with Johnson.
"Without Michala people see a dent in our armor," Nichols said. "Not in a disrespectful way, but they probably have a smile on their face, like they have a shot at us. Our kids have to be aware of that."
Montini has won five straight sectional championships - but Nichols isn't looking ahead to a potential supersectional matchup with Trinity or Marshall just yet. An improving St. Joseph's team led by 6-foot-4 Wichita State recruit Shannika Bryant, as well as Glenbard South, Wheaton Academy (20-6) and Riverside-Brookfield stand in the Broncos' way.
St. Joseph's (16-10) and Nevena Markovic-led Glenbard South (16-11), who gave Montini a scare in last year's sectional semifinals, figure to meet up in a tough regional final.
"Everybody deserves your respect," Nichols said.
At the 4A Oswego East sectional, No. 2 seed Waubonsie Valley and No. 3 Naperville Central appear headed for a rematch in the semifinals of an-early December game won by the Redhawks.
Naperville Central (24-6) will likely first have to get by Benet, another team the Redhawks beat in the season's first month, in a regional final.
"That was a lifetime ago," said Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum, hoping to guide his team to a sectional final for the first time since 2005.
The Redhawks come in on a nice roll. They won at Wheaton North to grab a share of their second straight DuPage Valley Conference title, and are showing the form they had before senior forward Catherine Tanck went down with an ACL tear.
"The band is playing some different music now without Catherine," Nussbaum said, "but at least now it all sounds like it's supposed to be together."
Waubonsie (23-2) hasn't lost since Christmas, rolling through the Upstate Eight unbeaten. The sophomore-laden Warriors are looking at a potential rematch with West Aurora in a regional final at West Aurora. Waubonsie is looking to advance to a sectional final for the first time since 1999 - the year All-American Ashley Luke took the Warriors to the state quarterfinals.
"It's hard to beat a team three times, and that's what we'd have to do with West Aurora," Waubonsie coach Kim Connell said, "but I know we'd like a rematch with Naperville Central.
"Everybody's talking about the potential of a sectional final with Bolingbrook, but you got to get there first. If the kids could get experience playing in a sectional atmosphere it would only improve our chances next year and the year after."
An intriguing regional final shapes up at Hinsdale Central. The No. 6 seed Red Devils (20-9), who have advanced to the sectional final in every year of Stanford recruit Toni Kokenis' career, could match up with No. 4 Wheaton Warrenville South. The Tigers (19-9) have enjoyed the biggest turnaround in DuPage County this year. Hinsdale Central, up and down this season, enters the playoffs riding a big win over Fenwick.
Of course, awaiting any opponent in sectionals at Oswego East should be Bolingbrook. The nationally-ranked and defending 4A champ Raiders haven't lost to an in-state opponent since the 2008 state title game.
A similar roadblock stands in the way of teams at the Lake Park sectional. Geneva was taken out of that sectional this year, but in its place is Fenwick (26-3) and Duke-bound senior Tricia Liston.
DVC co-champion Wheaton North (17-9) or Glenbard West (16-12) will try to become only the second team to beat the Friars with a healthy Liston in this Friday's regional final at Fenwick.
"This team has surprised me all year with their ability to play the game," said Wheaton North coach Dave Eaton, who starts three juniors and one sophomore. "I'd love for us to get there to that regional final, to give them a taste of what it's all about."
Potentially awaiting the winner of the Fenwick regional in sectionals is No. 2 seed Elk Grove (21-5), led by former Driscoll star Courtney Lindfors, No. 3 and West Suburban Silver co-champion Proviso West and either No. 4 Hoffman Estates (20-7) or No. 5 seed and West Suburban Gold champion Proviso East.