Scouting the Class 3A Hinsdale Central supersectional
Class 3A Hinsdale Central supersectional
Who, When: Montini (30-5) vs. Crane (13-7), 6 p.m., Monday
Advancement: Winner plays winner of Pontiac supersectional (Hillcrest vs. Morton) at the Class 3A state semifinal, 2 p.m. Friday in Normal.
Inside the matchup: Despite losing four starters off last year's team, two-time defending 3A champion Montini is on the cusp of its fourth state semifinal berth in five years. Broncos coach Jason Nichols would like nothing more than for kids like senior Tianna Brown and junior Nikia Edom, complementary pieces last year, to get their moment in the sun. "It would be a great accomplishment for this group, to get there on their own merit. That would do wonders for their confidence and would set us up good for next year." Montini, which has won 18 straight playoff games the last 15 by double figures turned in perhaps its most dominant performance of the year Thursday, throttling a good St. Joseph team 75-35 behind Edom's 23 points and smothering defense. "We were able to get 31 deflections in that game," Nichols said. "That's pretty awesome, and that's what we need to keep doing." Brown and third-leading scorer Kateri Stone played Thursday despite battling sickness; both hope to be back to full strength by Monday. Brown is Montini's leading scorer at 10 a game, and Stone has hit a team-leading 70 3s. Crane won its first sectional title last week, beating Guerin 47-42 behind senior Jameesha Armstrong's 25 points. Caprice Spann, who scored 18 points in Crane's second win over Marshall this year, and Demara Howard are two others that can fill it up from the perimeter or take defenders off the dribble. "They can light it up," Nichols said. "They're not one-dimensional." Montini's length, with defenders on the perimeter like Jasmine Lumpkin and Kelsey Bogdan, often bothers opponents, a big reason why Montini is giving up 33.9 points a game, fewer than last year's state champs. Nichols pointed out that a fast start will be critical as Crane likes to dictate pace with the lead. An added motivation for Crane its girls are in theory playing for their school; it is one of 17 in Chicago that likely will be closed over the next three years. Nichols said it is a team that reminds him of the Hope teams Montini clashed with often several years ago. "We have a size advantage, so we need to get on the glass," Nichols said, "and we need to be fundamentally sound defensively."
Game 2 at Hinsdale Central: Whitney Young vs. Bolingbrook, 8:10 p.m., Class 4A: It's not the state championship game, but it could be the game of the season. Three-time defending champion Bolingbrook (26-1), ranked No. 4 in the country according to USA Today, will put it on the line against Young (31-0), ranked No. 2 nationally. Who wins, size or guard play? Bolingbrook brings in the size with 6-foot-2 McDonald's All-America Morgan Tuck, 6-3 Nia Moore and 6-foot Cabriana Capers. Young counters with its outstanding guard trio of Kentucky-bound Janee Thompson, Virginia Tech recruit Alexis Lloyd and junior Linnae Harper. Young is the last Illinois team to beat Bolingbrook, in the 2008 championship, but Bolingbrook has beaten the Dolphins the last three years at state.
Joshua Welge