Scouting Northwest sectionals

Libertyville sectional preview

When: Monday, Feb. 22, Game 1, 7:30 p.m.: (8) Barrington vs. (5) Prospect; Tuesday, Feb. 23, Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: (2) Hersey vs. (3) Libertyville; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Prospect (20-8) vs. Barrington (18-12): Prospect defeated Barrington 35-28 in early January on the Fillies' court. The Knights are 4-0 over teams in this sectional with two wins over Hersey (36-34 and 44-33), one against Libertyville (56-47 in season opener) and Barrington. 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. Winans, Sarah Hunt, Rachel Hunt, Marissa Pettenuzzo, Ashley Wabik, Alyssa Baker and Lexi Glennon have all scored in double digits for Prospect. Glennon is one of the top defenders in the MSL. Winans suffered an injury in the second quarter of Prospect's 42-38 regional final win over host Stevenson. She did not practice Saturday, instead wearing a walking boot on her left leg for what she said is believed to be a peroneus longus tendon injury. "Maybe it helps a little that we defeated them (Barrington) once, but like most games, I think the key will rebounding," said Knights coach Martha Kelly, who has won two regionals in her four seasons. "We've got to limit their second chances and we've got to execute our game plan." Barrington comes into the contest after upsetting Mid-Suburban League champ Wheeling 55-51 at the Waukegan regional title game. "The kids are coming together nicely," said Fillies coach Babbi Barreiro, whose team is led in scoring by junior Abby Kirchoff, who had 16 points against Wheeling. "And once again, we got some real quality minutes from our bench players (against Wheeling)." Barreiro said her team must shoot better against Prospect this time. "We were something like 9-of-40 the first time," said the dean of MSL coaches (17th season) who has won 10 regionals and one sectional. "And they outrebounded us pretty significantly that game. One of the keys will be controlling the boards." Barreiro also said the Fillies must keep an eye on Winans, who scored 10 points in the teams' first meeting. In addition, to Kirchoff, Sarah Mass, Sam Maasarani, Shelby Whigham and Emily Harris have all scored in double digits for Barrington this season ... Prospect's Kelly served as a freshman coach on the Libertyville staff for coach Kathie Swanson's first season (2006-07)). Also, Kelly's brother Briant is the athletic director at Libertyville.

Libertyville (25-6) vs Hersey (24-7): Coach Mary Fendley brings her Hersey squad to an eighth sectional in 12 seasons. She also brings one of the top juniors in the state with 5-foot-9 guard Megan Rogowski, who averages nearly 22 points a game. The Huskies won the Wheaton North and Season's End tourneys and were second in the Maine West Tipoff Classic. "Clearly, Rogowski is a great player and a great scorer," said Wildcats coach Kathie Swanson, a Maine West graduate. "We've got to pay a lot of attention to her. But they have other good players, too. They have good posts and their point guard (Julia Fredian) can score and likes to drive to the basket. We must zero in on those players." The North Suburban Conference champs are led by junior guard Savannah Trees (more than 11 ppg) and junior guard-forward Kaca Savatic, their top rebounder at more than 7 per game. "From what I've seen, Hersey likes to move the ball in transition, kind of similar to us," Swanson said. "I expect a fast-paced game." Forwards Maddie Swan and Kathyrn Korff and Rogowski are often the ones grabbing the rebounds for the Huskies and starting the transition game. In addition to Rogowski, Swan, Korff and Fredian, teammates Brittany Pittas, Eileen Zydek and Andrea Perkins have also had double-figure scoring games. Kari Tunney has provided depth in the backcourt. "We have to try and contain Libertyville's guard play," Fendley said. "They have a lot of kids who can hit shots. We'll need to keep pressure on their shooters and get ourselves into rebounding position so they don't get second shots." Libertyville has won 21 regionals in school history and is making its first sectional appearance since 2006. "To have the sectional at our place is great," Swanson said. "Getting here has been our goal all along."

Class 3A

St. Viator sectional

When: Monday, Feb. 22, Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Regina vs. Gordon Tech; Tuesday, Feb. 23: Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: St. Viator vs. Johnsburg; Thursday, Feb. 25, Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

St. Viator (21-10) vs. Johnsburg (23-9)

St. Viator coach Paul Bjerkness has the Lions in their second sectional in school history. The last time they made it was 2002 when they fell to Buffalo Grove in the Class 2A Elgin sectional final and finished 25-5 that season under coach Bill Murmann. The Lions are led by four-year varsity players Susan Hohenadel (Rockhurst recruit) and Mary Calov. The Lions advanced with a 55-40 victory over Grayslake Central and a 53-29 triumph over Wauconda in the Vernon Hills regional. The Skyhawks returned four starters from a team that won a Class 3A sectional title last season and lost in the supersectional by just 1 point. They are led by junior guard Melissa Dixon, who tossed in a game-high 28 points in Johnsburg's 59-32 triumph over Antioch in the Lakes regional championship. Dixon also spearheaded a lethal full-court press that forced Antioch into 25 turnovers, 10 in the first quarter alone. Johnsburg also received 15 points from guard Danielle Slivka. Dixon had 17 points in Johnsburg's 83-28 triumph over Richmond-Burton 83-28 in the regional opener. "Dixon is a good offensive player and a good defensive player," Bjerkness said. "Slivka is very good, too." One of Johnsburg's wins is a 68-51 victory over Prospect in the third-place game of the Dundee-Crown Charger Classic. "Johnsburg is a very up-tempo team," Bjerkness added. "They have played great competition and I think we have, too, with our East Suburban Catholic schedule and our nonconference schedule. I think we played some pretty tough teams to prepare for quality opponents." Hohenadel, an ESCC all-conference player, Calov, Bridget Urbanus, Meghan Malone, Meghan McGrath, Taylor Skala and Ronnie Mack have all enjoyed double-digit scoring games this season for the Lions, who took third place in the Season's End tourney and were champs of their own Snowflake Classic.