Scouting Bartlett, Hampshire in sectional finals
Class 4A at Lake Park
Who: Bartlett (21-9) vs. Fenwick (29-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
How they got here: Bartlett defeated Lake Park 47-45 and Elk Grove 53-41 to win the Glenbard East regional then defeated Proviso West 59-43 in Tuesday's sectional semifinal. Fenwick defeated Conant 69-40 and Glenbard West 77-33 to win the Fenwick regional then downed Proviso East 61-44 in Tuesday's sectional semifinal.
Outlook: Bartlett gets a shot at its third straight postseason upset when the Hawks take on Fenwick, each year one of the top programs in Illinois. Bartlett coach Denise Sarna says her team is excited to have the chance at a sectional championship. "You don't have much time to celebrate before you have to prepare for the next game," said Sarna, whose program is in the sectional finals for the first time since it finished second in Class AA in 2005. "Nobody wants it to end. The girls feel good about the way they're playing and this is another opportunity to take another step toward the ultimate goal." The Hawks, with only one senior on the roster, have won 12 of their last 13. They are led by a cast of many, but none more driven than 6-foot-1 junior Jacki Gulczynski, who averages 17 points a game and has proved to be as effective outside and she is inside. Juniors Christina Carlson and Nicole Beck and sophomores Haley Videckis and Kristin Conniff have been steady mainstays and sophomore point guard Janessa Baker has started to draw some comparison to former standout Bartlett point guard Kim Ebbesen. "They looked very good and they're playing really well," said Fenwick coach Dave Power after the Hawks downed Proviso West Tuesday. "They knocked off a team that matched them size-wise (Elk Grove) and then a team that is very quick (Proviso West). We have to try to match their offensive firepower. They've got a lot of weapons. Gulczynski can hit the 3-pointer, (Videckis) is strong and (Baker) is lightning quick. I'm very impressed with the way they just keep coming at you. We respect them and we're looking forward to the sectional championship." Fenwick, ranked No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll of the season, has its own star player in 6-2 senior Tricia Liston, a Duke recruit who averages 29 points per game. She scored 41 in the regional title game win over Glenbard West and then hit 19 of 20 free throws on her way to 36 points against Proviso East Tuesday. Liston has now scored 2,612 career points and is Fenwick's all-time leading scorer, which says a lot within a program that has won seven sectional titles and two state crowns. "She's a good player and she's going to score points. We'll just try to limit her points," said Sarna of Liston, who missed 5 games, including 2 of Fenwick's 3 losses. "There's two ways to look at it. You either do everything you can to stop her, or you go the other way and let her have her points and do everything you can to stop the rest of them. All year we haven't done anything fancy and we've struck with our basic principles. Lately we've changed our philosophy some and we've taken more pride in our defense and rebounding." While Fenwick's game revolves around Liston, the Friars have other weapons, including junior guard Kathleen Roche, junior forward Kyra Navarette, sophomore center Meredith Boardman and junior guard Sarah Williams. "(Liston) draws a lot of attention and that gives her teammates opportunities," said Power, the second winningest girls coach in Illinois history who now has 791 career wins. "If you concentrate on (Liston) too hard you're going to give up something. Trish has had a great year and anytime you have a player like Trish it gives you the ability to stay in games."
Advancement: Tonight's winner will advance to Monday's supersectional at Loyola University to take on the winner of the Niles North sectional title game between Glenbrook South and Niles West.
Class 3A at DeKalb
Who: Hampshire (29-1) vs. Oswego (27-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
How they got here: Hampshire defeated Sycamore 56-43 and DeKalb 57-29 to win the Rochelle regional then beat Freeport 71-21 in Tuesday's sectional semifinals. Oswego downed Yorkville 58-38 and Rosary 57-34 to win the Yorkville regional then defeated Prairie Ridge 55-30 in Tuesday's sectional semifinal.
Outlook: These two teams were in the same sectional last year at Marengo but didn't meet as Freeport eliminated both on the way to a second-place finish at the state tournament. But Hampshire disposed of Freeport Tuesday and now plays what Whip-Purs' coach Sue Ellett calls, "without a doubt the best team we've faced this season." The Panthers, of the Southwest Prairie Conference, have lost just twice this season, to Geneva and Waubonsie Valley, teams that are both in Class 4A sectional finals tonight. "They have a ton of athleticism in their three guards and a post presence that will be a big challenge for us," said Ellett. Oswego's go-to player is 5-8 senior guard Samiya Wright, who has signed to play at Division I Winthrop University. She is the second leading scorer in Oswego history with over 1,200 career points. "When I was coaching at Lincoln-Way Central Illinois was recruiting James Augustine and I had the chance to talk with Bill Self," said third-year Oswego coach Chad Pohlmann. "He said that your best player also has to be your hardest worker and that sums up Samiya. She's really worked on her leadership abilities." Wright isn't the Panthers' only weapon. Senior guard Brittany Collier had 18 points in the Prairie Ridge win and 5-11 sophomore center Paige Harmon is a force in the middle. The Whips counter with a balanced lineup that includes seniors Chrissy Heine (13 ppg) and Cassie Dumoulin (7 ppg) and junior Alex Dumoulin (13 ppg), all of whom suffered the disappointment of a sectional semifinal loss a year ago. Juniors Karla Vietinghoff, Kelsey Anderson andf Jessica Van Dorin have been solid for the Whips all year as well. "I'm sure (Pohlmann) is using wanting to take the next step as motivation for his team but I've got two seniors who don't want their season to end," Ellett said. "Everybody's gotten a little better as the season has gone on and I don't think we feel any pressure. We feel like, what the heck, let's go get another one." Ellett says Oswego reminds her a lot of South Elgin, the only team to beat Hampshire this season, and, she says, "we don't want to feel that way again." Pohlmann hopes the experience many of his players have of being in a sectional title game will give the Panthers an edge. "We've talked about it as a group and we hope that experience helps us handle the pressure of the situation," he said. "(Hampshire) is having an outstanding season. They have good players, they're well-coached and we're excited to play them. We just have to do what we do and not stray from our game plan. We have to play defense, make our layups and make our free throws" Ellett says she thinks the early part of the game will be a "cat and mouse game" but that in the end taking care of the basketball will be the key. "We have to get the most out of every possession," she said. "We have to keep our unforced turnovers down and not have any empty possessions. We have to keep the pressure off our guards and we have to get as many stops on the defensive end as we can and get them out of their comfort zone. That could generate some transition and confidence for us."
Advancement: The winner will advance to Monday's Elgin supersectional at Chesbrough Field House to take on the winner of the St. Viator sectional title game between Johnsburg and Regina Dominican.