Maine South rolls over New Trier, sets up showdown with Loyola Academy

Teams don't build a 31-1 record by accident.

That's where Maine South is now sitting after Tuesday night's 58-29 win over New Trier in the Class 4A sectional semifinal.

Playing on their home floor, the No. 2-seeded Hawks got a boost from the crowd.

Given their depth, athleticism and all-around talent, they probably would have fared just as well in a hostile environment.

“It's so important,” Maine South junior forward Ally Pape said. “We have a wide variety of players who can play a bunch of different positions. It's great moving forward.”

The Hawks are back at home Thursday night against No. 1 seed Loyola Academy (33-0).

“We are where we want to be,” Hawks senior guard Meegan Fahy said. “That's going to be a really hard game, they play really well. We're just going to do all we can.”

That just might be enough.

Playing the Trevians for the third time this season, Maine South thought its Central Suburban South rival would come out fighting.

In the first quarter, New Trier showed good energy while grabbing an 11-10 lead.

“We expected them to come out hard early and they did,” Hawks coach Jeff Hamann said. “It was a close game in the first quarter but we were able to take control in the second. We were forcing some turnovers and getting some run-outs. When we're in transition and we're sharing it like we do, we're fun to watch.”

Maine South started warming up late in the first quarter and wound up holding a commanding 45-23 lead at halftime.

The Hawks seem to do everything well, and that includes long-range shooting.

Seven players hit 3-pointers in the opening half, with Pape and senior guard Ava Blagojevich each making a pair.

“We practice a lot and we just kind of trust that they're going to go in,” said Fahy, who led Maine South with 18 points.

The Hawks didn't let up in the third quarter, forcing No. 6 seed New Trier into one turnover after another.

Fahy scored 8 straight points early in the third and Maine South cruised home from there.

“It's something that we do,” Hamann said of his team's tenacious defense. “With our length and our athleticism, we're able to cause teams to become a little bit frazzled. We wanted them to play at our pace and when they do, sometimes the team will get out of their rhythm.”

In addition to Fahy, Pape scored 10 points and Blagojevich and junior guard Katie Barker had 8 each.

“Anytime on the floor, we have multiple girls that can shoot and score,” Hamann said. “We believe in all of our girls and when we put them on the floor, they're all offensive threats out there.”

Now, it's on to the Thursday showdown against Loyola.

“We're definitely playing the way I want to play, and I think the whole team wants to play,” Pape said. “It's going to be a great matchup. I'm really excited to play them. I think we're prepared.”