Scouting Whitney Young vs. Marian Catholic
Class 4A state semifinal
Whitney Young (26-4) vs. Marian Catholic (31-1)
When: 8:15 p.m., Friday at Redbird Arena, Normal.
Scouting report Perhaps the Chicago area’s best bets in 4A to get here both survived big scares along the way. Marian needed a half-court buzzer-beater by Ashton Millender to beat Marist in a sectional final, while Young outlasted Bolingbrook 61-60 in overtime Monday after blowing a 17-point lead. Defending champ Young is 10-0 since a 51-36 loss to Montini at the McDonald’s Shootout. Kentucky-bound senior Linnae Harper averages 19.1 points, scored 26 against Bolingbrook with the game-clinching steal and is a tremendous rebounder for her size.
Marian is 18-0 since blowing a double-digit second-half lead to Rolling Meadows in the Montini Tournament semifinals, winning all but games against Bolingbrook and Marist by double digits. Millender, averaging 15.2 points, is arguably the top junior in the state, sophomore point guard Teniya Page, averaging 12.2, perhaps Illinois’ top sophomore.