Scouting the Class 3A Hoffman Estates girls basketball supersectional
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday
Who: Montini (33-1) vs. Grayslake Central (28-3).
How they advanced: Montini defeated Belvidere North 56-27 to win the Burlington Central sectional; Grayslake Central beat Johnsburg 69-46 to win the Grayslake Central sectional.
At stake: Winner advances to Friday’s 12:15 p.m. Class 3A state semifinal at Normal’s Redbird Arena vs. Springfield supersectional winner (Springfield vs. Breese Mater Dei).
History: Defending state champion Montini, winner of a record seven straight sectionals, goes for its third state semifinals appearance in four years. The Broncos took third in the state in 2008 and first in 2010. Grayslake Central is making its second supersectional appearance. As Grayslake High School, it advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals in 2004.
Inside Montini: Monday’s game is another step in the only prize Montini is interested in. “They put the ladder up after we won the sectional last week and I asked the girls, ‘Do you want to cut the nets down?’” said Broncos coach Jason Nichols, “and they said, ‘Not yet.’” We’ll be excited about wins, but we have goals. We’re not there yet.” Montini’s defense has dominated in four playoff wins, giving up 28.5 points per game. Whitney Holloway had 7 steals in the sectional final, and 6-foot-4 sophomores Diamond Thompson and Malayna Johnson combined for 13 blocks in two sectional games. Whitney Adams’ 3-point shot was off in Burlington, but she’s been in double figures rebounding three straight games, controlling the defensive glass. “She’s been great on the boards — she hasn’t let her shooting affect the rest of the game,” Nichols said. “When the 3s aren’t falling she’s scoring near the basket, which is good to see.” Kiki Wilson is averaging a team-best 14.3 points per game during the playoffs, followed by Holloway (12.0 ppg) and Adams (11.0 ppg). Montini has hit 243 3s through 34 games.
Inside Grayslake Central: Located 15 miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, Grayslake may be a bit out of the loop for area basketball fans. Get to know the Rams. Grayslake Central has won 26 of its last 27 games, the only loss to 4A sectional finalist Cary-Grove. The Rams swept through the Fox Valley Conference unbeaten, then defeated Johnsburg for the third time to win its first sectional since 2004. First-year Rams coach Steve Ikenn previously was an assistant for 12 years at Stevenson. Grayslake Central beat Stevenson in January during a 22-game win streak. Rebekah Llorens, a 6-foot-1 senior center, averages 14.6 points per game and exploded for 37 points and 20 rebounds in the sectional final win. Llorens was home-schooled until coming to Grayslake Central as a junior. “I think she gets overlooked a lot,” Ikenn said. “She’s a hard-working kid, quick and can handle the ball.” Other Rams to watch are senior guards Skyler Jessop and athletic Alex Scarbro, who both average 10.7 points per game.
Inside the matchup: Nichols is wary of a hot Grayslake Central team feeling its playoff oats. “Any team you face at this moment has to be respected,” Nichols said. “It’s all about momentum and confidence. Any team playing right now has to have confidence, and we respect that. We have to do what we do.” Positional post defense on Llorens will be key, as will boxing out. “Our big three post players have to step up to stop (Llorens),” Nichols said. “She’s feeling pretty good about herself.” Ikenn knows his team has a tall order, but the Rams aren’t here as cameo characters for an inevitable Broncos state title. “Montini is very talented, they are where they are record-wise for a reason, and Jason does a great job coaching them,” Ikenn said, “but we’re getting ready to play this game to win this game. Every team has their flaws. Our job is to exploit them.” Taking care of the basketball is of prime concern to Ikenn. “And when they miss a shot we have to keep them off the offensive glass,” he said, “and we have to get a hand in their shooters’ faces.” Things didn’t always come easy for Montini in either sectional game, as Nichols said should be expected this time of year. Monday’s game is no different. “It’s a different game in the playoffs, more of a grind,” he said. “Some things you do well teams are going to take away. We have to take away easy scoring opportunities — on the glass, layups in transition — and grind it out.”