Scouting the Class 3A girls state basketball semifinals

Montini (31-2) vs. Springfield (31-2)

When: 2 p.m. Friday.

Where: Redbird Arena, W. College Ave. #232, Normal.

Advancement: Saturday's 2 p.m. Class 3A state championship vs. the winner of the 12:15 p.m. Hillcrest-Oswego semifinal.

History: Montini is playing in its fifth state tournament, second in the last three years. The Broncos placed third in 2008, their best finish. Springfield is making its second appearance, following a fourth-place finish in 2009.

Probable starters

Montini Springfield

Name Ht. Yr. Pos. Name Ht. Yr.

Whitney Holloway 5-4 Jr. G Zahna Medley 5-6 So.

Mallory Sosnovich 5-5 Sr. G Demi VanDerWal 5-10 Sr.

Alison Seberger 6-1 Sr. G Kelly Korza 5-11 Sr.

Whitney Adams 6-2 Jr. F Kasi Korza 6-1 Jr.

Courtney Thomas 6-2 Sr. F Amber Cason 6-0 Jr.

Second chances: If there is a theme to this game, it is redemption. Two years ago Montini advanced to the state semifinals with a lineup full of underclassmen. An ice-cold shooting performance cost the Broncos in a 41-35 loss to Freeport. Holloway and Seberger were starters on that team, and now they are seasoned varsity players primed for a second shot at reaching the title game. Sosnovich, Adams and top sub Kiki Wilson also played in the 2008 semis. Montini has been ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press all year, heightening grand expectations. "As a freshman in a way it was just great to get down there," Holloway said. "This time all of us are feeling if we don't come back with a state championship the purpose is defeated." Springfield surely is champing at the bit to get back on the Redbird Arena floor. The Senators were blown out by Freeport 64-43 in last year's semifinal and return much of the core of that team. "That's got to sit in the back of their minds," Nichols said. "They're going to be using that as motivation, kind of like what we talk about. It makes for what should be a war."

Scouting Springfield: Medley, averaging 19.1 points per game, may not be a household name north of Interstate 80, but Nichols puts the All-State guard right behind Bolingbrook's Morgan Tuck and Niles West's Jewell Lloyd among the best players in the Class of 2012. In Springfield's supersectional win over Belleville Althoff, Medley hit a tying 12-footer to force overtime, a step-back 3-pointer to tie it with 24 seconds left in OT and the winning free throw with 2.9 seconds on the clock. "Up in Chicago she'd be talked about in the same group with (Bolingbrook's Ariel) Massengale, (Young's Chanise) Jenkins and Holloway among the best point guards. A sophomore with ice water in her veins. Big-time player." Nichols calls the Korza sisters "very awkward looking, stiff at times, lanky and uncomfortable - and outstanding. They are unbelievable offensive rebounders who find seams in your defense." They combine to average just more than 24 points and 16 rebounds a game. Springfield's only two losses came to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in overtime and to defending state champion Peoria Richwoods - and the No. 3-ranked Senators avenged that loss with an 18-point win in January.

Scouting Montini: Montini is 13-1 since Michala Johnson went down with a torn ACL, the lone loss to Bolingbrook. Holloway is averaging 13.5 points a game since Johnson's diagnosis and boasts an outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 3-to-1. Sosnovich, Seberger and Adams have combined to hit 169 3-pointers. Compare that to Springfield, which has made 110 3s as a team. Only two of Montini's wins have come by single digits. Friday figures to have to be No. 3. "Springfield is as good a team as we've seen in 3A," Nichols said. "Our kids better be ready to battle their butts off."

Make their pressure pay: Springfield features a hard man-to-man in the halfcourt, and pressure afer every made basket with a diamond zone. "I hope our kids bring their lungs with them," Nichols said. "It's going to be 84 feet at 100 miles an hour for 32 minutes." Nichols said Montini must dictate its tempo, but said his team can capitalize off Springfield's press. "Holloway creates some problems," he said, "and we run the floor well. That could give us scoring opportunities if we break the press and make good decisions."

Prepared for anything: Montini can't say it is not battle-tested heading into the state tournament. The Broncos played six teams during the regular season that were ranked in the last Class 3A or 4A poll. Few things rankle Nichols more than elite teams that feast on lesser competition to pad their record. "If we are 29-1 during the regular season, that's great," he said, "but I want to do it playing the best. You cheat your kids if you avoid good competition. We have great players, and I owe it to our kids to play the best possible schedule. It's no different than a teacher in a classroom. You want to challenge your kids with the toughest assignments."

The first semifinal: Oswego and Hillcrest both are making their first appearance at state. It's no surprise they're here. Oswego (29-2) is led by All-Stater and Winthrop recruit Samiya Wright and fellow senior guard Brittany Collier. The Panthers' only losses came to Geneva and Waubonsie Valley, both top five teams in Daily Herald rankings. Hillcrest (27-3), led by All-State guard and DePaul recruit Uniquah Hampton, avenged an earlier loss to T.F. North with a win in the sectional final, then knocked off defending champ Richwoods 55-47 in the supersectional.