Hoffman Estates tops OPRF
It was early in third quarter when a bell went off.
"I just think we started realizing Oak Park was a real tough team and they weren't going to let up," said Hoffman Estates senior forward Jada Stotts.
So with the score tied at 28-28 in girls basketball regional play Wednesday, the Hawks wouldn't let up either and answered the bell.
Sophomore Becca Stoczynski drove for an 8-footer to break the tie.
Moments, Mel McGinn tossed home a 16-footer and then scored on a layup off an assist from Stotts to give the Hawks their biggest lead of the first three quarters.
"We were on our home floor and the crowd was really getting loud at that point," Stotts added. "I just feel we wanted to get it more than them."
The No. 8 seeded Hawks (19-8) finally got it 53-46 over No. 9 Oak Park-River Forest and now get state-ranked and top-seeded Fenwick (24-4) in Friday's 7:30 p.m. championship game of the Class 4A Hoffman Estates regional.
"We know Fenwick is really good team," said Hawks sophomore forward Destinee Young. who scored a game-high 17 points with 9 rebounds. "We know we have to come out stronger than we did in this game (Hoffman trailed 12-7). But we believe in ourselves."
The Hawks believed in their free-throw shooting late in the game, converting 8 in the final 1:51 to seal the deal.
With the 6-foot Young, 5-9 Stotts (14 points, 8 rebounds), 5-10 Precious Ogunleye (3 points, 3 rebounds) and 6-1 Stoczynski (6 points), Hoffman had a height advantage inside and used it often.
"That's been the story of our season," said Oak Park coach Bob Biggins, whose team (18-13) was the runner-up to Hersey in the Season's End tourney. "We're small and we need to be able to set the tempo.
"But let's be honest, Hoffman played a little better than us. But that doesn't diminish we accomplished all season. We had a lot of success but this just wasn't our night."
Huskies junior guard Stekara Hall, who averages 22 points, led the Huskies with 15 points while Camille Scott added 9.
"I thought Tanya Skworch did a great job on (Hall)," said Hoffman coach Mike Nocella. "The key is not to let her get good looks."
The Hawks looked good running their offense for inside points. Mary Pettit helped out with 4 assists and 4 rebounds while Skworch had 3 assists.
"We were just were playing our game, at our tempo," added McGinn, who also pulled down 3 rebounds. "They were very quick but we have some quickness, too."
Hersey 65, Wheeling 35: Hersey, the Mid-Suburban East, Wheaton North Falcon Classic and Season's End champion, is playing for another championship Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Class 4A Zion-Benton girls baksetball regional title.
The No. 4-seeded Huskies (23-7) raced past MSL East rival and No. 20 Wheeling 65-35 on Wednesday night to earn their chance in the title match against the host Zee-Bees (No. 5), who defeated No. 12 Lake Zurich 53-42.
Coach Mary Fendley's Huskies were led by MSL East Player of the Year Megan Rogowski's 22 points, including four 3-point baskets.
The senior guard and classmate Eileen Zydek (8 points, 6 rebounds) both had 4 steals.
Junior point guard Jen Hall added 11 points while classmate Maggie Hogen had 10 with a team-high 8 rebounds.
Senior forward Stefanie Mueller grabbed 7 rebounds while junior Corinne Busby, senior Michaela Dwyer and Hogen each had 3 assists.
Wheeling (4-26) was led by junior Kellie Kuzmanic's 10 points.
Barrington 54, Highland Park 38: No. 6-seeded Barrington (19-11) raced to a 17-1 lead and advanced to Friday's 7:30 p.m. championship game of the Grant regional against No. 3 Stevenson (21-8), which topped Mundelein 63-43.
The Patriots edged Barrington 46-43 on Dec. 23 at Proviso East in the Suburban Holiday Showcase.
"I think it's a fairly even matchup," said Fillies coach Babbi Barreiro, who coached many times against Pats Hall of Fame coach Tom Dineen when he was at Buffalo Grove. "We didn't have Nicole Collis (junior guard) too much that game (due to illness). It should be a pretty good game. Defensively, we've got to force them to take shots that are contested and we have to make sure we hit the boards and play our game."
Senior Abby Kirchoff played another solid all-around game to lead the Fillies against No. 11 Highland Park.
The MSL West Player of the Year led the Fillies with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while classmate Brooke Chandor added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals before injuring her shoulder early in the fourth quarter.
Barreiro said the 5-foot-11 forward is questionable for Friday.
Collins had 8 points for the Fillies while Shelby Whigham (4 rebounds) and Sarah Mass each chipped in 6.