Optimism reigns in postseason
One of the motivating factors of the postseason comes when you get a chance to knock off an opponent you've lost to during the season.
But while that may be looming in the minds of the St. Edward girls basketball players this coming week, Green Wave coach Michelle Dawson is quick to point out there's work to do before her team gets a chance at knocking off Rockford Lutheran, which received the 11th most votes in last week's AP Class 2A statewide poll.
St. Edward has been sent west for the IHSA postseason this year after several years of going either an eastern or southern route. The Wave (20-7) are the No. 2 seed at the North Boone regional and will open what they hope is a long run through the postseason on Wednesday, most likely against Rockford Christian. The Royals (18-6) are the No. 3 seed and meet No. 6 Harvard (1-26) in a Monday quarterfinal.
The other Monday quarterfinal pits No. 4 Marian Central (10-14) against No. 5 North Boone (10-17) and that winner meets No. 1 Rockford Lutheran (23-7) in the first semifinal on Wednesday. The championship game is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Rock Falls sectional to play the winner of the Port Byron Riverdale regional, where Rock Falls and Rock Island Alleman are the top two seeds.
"We're in a tough regional," said Dawson, whose team advanced to a sectional final last year before falling to Walther Lutheran in double overtime. "I think between Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian and Marian Central that any one of us have a chance to win it."
Assuming the Green Wave, who are seeking the program's 15th regional championship, get Rockford Christian in the Wednesday semi, they will see a team that won the Northeast Athletic Conference championship but one that has played predominantly a Class 1A schedule. The Royals lost to Aurora Central Catholic, a team St. Edward beat twice, by 22 points. Nevertheless, Dawson and her squad won't be taking the first-round game for granted.
"They've got a strong post and their guard play is very solid," Dawson said. "We'll have to play a strong game against them, keep our turnovers down and play defense."
The Green Wave has been playing very good defense as of late. Since losing to Rockford Lutheran 48-44 on MLK Day at Concordia University, the Wave has allowed more than 42 points just once (a 70-60 win over Marian Central) in fashioning a six-game winning streak heading into the postseason.
"We've tried to improve on our weaknesses and mainly that's transition defense," Dawson said. "That's been the biggest thing we've been focusing on."
Offensively, the senior-laded Green Wave has been led all season by Maddie Kerr (11.0 ppg), Callie Johnson (10.6 ppg), Alex Lee (10.1 ppg) and junior Rena Ranallo (8.3 ppg). who has become more of an offensive threat with each passing game. Kerr leads the team with 28 3-pointers, Johnson has 19 and Ranallo 13. Lee is the team's leading rebounder at 9.0 a game.
Rockford Christian is led by 6-foot-5 junior Emily Nylen, who averages 9.7 points per game and freshman guard Jayla Penney (10.0 ppg). Holly Williams, a 5-8 senior, scores 8.3 per game and has a 5.9 rebounding average.
Rockford Lutheran is clearly the team to beat. The Crusaders have won 10 straight and cruised through the Big Northern West at 12-0. Junior guard Rachel Konieczki leads Lutheran at 14.8 ppg, while 5-11 senior Amy Wieting (9.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg) and 5-8 junior Sam Rundblade (10.1 ppg) are also key contributors for coach Joni Carlson's team.
Dawson says her team is ready for the challenge.
"The last couple weeks we've been playing very good basketball," she said. "The experience of playing teams like Montini and South Elgin helps you prepare and we've learned from those losses.
"The girls are focused. The last couple of years we've been through some exciting but disappointing postseason games. They're hungry to finish those games.
Class 1A at Westminster Christian: The host Warriors are the top seed in their own regional and are seeking to become the first Westminster team to win a regional title in any girls sport. And they'll be coming in with confidence and a 19-8 record.
"We certainly like our chances," said Westminster coach Ken Flickinger. "We'd like to be a little healthier. We've had some flu going around and Porsche Griggs has been out with a knee. Hopefully we'll have her back."
The Westminster regional opens Monday night with No. 5 seed Elgin Academy (14-10), led by senior Ashley Barnes, taking on No. 4 Chicagoland Jewish. On Tuesday, No. 2 seed Christian Liberty meets No. 7 St. Martin de Porres and No. 3 Harvest Christian (14-10) battles No. 6 Woodlands Academy. The semifinals are Wednesday and the championship game Friday.
Westminster, which reached a regional title game in Class 2A last season, has been led all season by balance. The Warriors don't have a double-digit scorer. Griggs (9.5 ppg), Claire Speweik (8.9) and McKaila Hays (8.4) are the Warriors' top scorers.
"We've been playing good basketball," said Flickinger. "Even when we don't shoot well our defense has been consistent and it's jump-started our offense."
Harvest Christian will carry some optimism into the regional as a dark horse, and it appears 6-2 sophomore Sydney Doby, who has missed the last 3 weeks with an ankle injury, could be ready to go. Doby, who led the Lions to the Elite Eight in volleyball this past fall, averages 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
"We're hoping she's able to play," said Harvest coach Kelly Friestad Saturday. "She's been doing a little here and there."
The Lions, who are in the IHSA state series for the first time, have also gotten a boost from point guard Kylee Knox (7.8 ppg, 4.4 spg). Knox missed the Lions' loss to Elgin Academy Friday night with an illness.
"One of our goals to start the season was to win the regional," Friestad said. "Westminster Christian's playing real well lately, but we have to just take one game at a time. It's our first year in the IHSA tournament and we're excited."
The Westminster regional winner advances to the Willows Academy sectional to play the winner of the Willows regional on Feb. 13.