Scouting Vernon Hills in the Class 3A state semifinals
Girls basketball
Class 3A state semifinal
Vernon Hills (26-5) vs. Springfield (29-4)
When: noon today
Where: Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal
Head coaches: Vernon Hills: Paul Brettner (12th season, 162-195); Springfield: Brad Scheffler (ninth season, 221-62)
Probable Vernon Hills starting lineup: 5-10 So. F Sydney Smith (12.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 57 3-pointers), 6-0 So. F Lauren Webb (9.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-2 Jr. C Meri Bennett-Swanson (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-7 Sr. G Julie Pecht (2.3 ppg, 2.2 apg), 5-7 Sr. G Abby Springer (5.9 ppg, 4.7 apg, 30 3-pointers)
Probable Springfield starting lineup: 5-11 So. F Anika Webster (7.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 5-10 Jr. F Ashton Williams (9.4 ppg), 6-1 Jr. C Meghan Fetter (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 5-6 Sr. G Zahna Medley (24.9 ppg, 4.8 apg, 77 3-pointers), 5-9 Fr. G Courtney Pence (7.6 ppg, 2.7 apg)
Skinny on Vernon Hills: The Cougars adopted Flo Rida's “Good Feeling” as their theme song this season. They were feeling so good following their supersectional win that the entire team voluntarily belted out the rap hit while addressing the media in Elgin's lower gymnasium. Following their 47-32 loss to Libertyville in the North Suburban Conference championship game, however, the Cougars weren't feeling so good. “I think it made us want to work harder,” sophomore forward Sydney Smith said. The Cougars have responded with five wins in the state tournament. “It's one of those things where it might have been a little bit of what we needed,” coach Paul Brettner, whose team had never won a regional in its 12-year history before this season, said of the regular season-ending loss to Libertyville. “To play a team like Libertyville, it tests you a little bit and shows you what you got to work on. The kids reconvened with great sense of mission, and obviously they've played together real well.” Sophomore forward Lauren Webb put together one of her best games of the season in the supersectional win over Belvidere North, scoring a career-high 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Skinny on Springfield: The Cougars will have their hands full with 5-foot-6 senior guard Zahna Medley, who averages 24.9 points per game and has led the Senators to the state finals in each of her four seasons. Springfield finished fourth three years ago and third in each of the last two seasons. Medley, an all-state selection, is a Texas Christian recruit. She is surrounded by a young supporting cast, including 6-1 junior Meghan Fetter and 5-10 junior Ashton Williams. The Senators have cruised in the state tournament, beating their five opponents by margins of 29, 20, 19, 37 and 27 points.
Road to the sectional final: Vernon Hills def. Sullivan (63-15) and Antioch (40-33) in the Vernon Hills regional; def. Carmel (46-33) and Grayslake Central (40-39) in the St. Viator sectional; def. Belvidere North (53-46) in the Elgin supersectional; Springfield def. Jacksonville (69-40) and Springfield Southeast (66-46) in the Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin regional; def. Champaign Centennial (72-53) and Chatham Glenwood (83-46) in the Taylorville sectional; def. Salem (77-50) in the Springfield (UIS) supersectional
Advancement: winner plays in Saturday's 2 p.m. state championship game against the Montini/Hillcrest winner; loser plays in Saturday's noon third-place game against the Montini/Hillcrest loser.
— Joe Aguilar