Suburban Sprawl finds the best in basketball and more
A great week of basketball began Monday with a slate of supersectionals, leading to the girls state finals this weekend.
Fremd will take home a state trophy for the fifth time in 10 years. Here’s the ending of their supersectional win over Batavia.
Waubonsie Valley girls are headed downstate for the first time since 1999.
Here’s the ending of Monday’s overtime win against Alton
Montini will be in the state finals for the 11th time since 2008
Plenty of traditional powerhouses are making return trips to the state finals. For Hinsdale South, the supersectional title was special. The Hornets will face Chatham-Glenwood in the 3A semis on Friday morning.
Here are some nice shots of the sellout crowd at the Libertyville-Loyola supersectional
Nazareth is downstate for the third straight year, this time in 4A after winning the 2023 state title in 3A.
Regina Dominican in 2A will make its third trip downstate
Family tradition
Peoria Notre Dame qualified for the 2A semifinals. Turns out, the team includes two daughters (Mya and Emy) of Bradley men’s basketball coach Brian Wardle, who led Hinsdale Central downstate twice in his high school years. Freshman Emy Wardle was ND’s leading scorer Monday with 14 points.
Hail to state champs
There can be just one first-ever state champion and Lakes took the inaugural title in girls wrestling. Here’s footage of the team returning to Lake Villa.
West Chicago turned on the flashing lights for girls wrestling and boys swimming. Senior Brady Johnson was state champ in the 100 freestyle
Hinsdale Central won the boys swimming state title.
It’s been quite a winter sports season for Waubonsie Valley, which took third place in boys swimming.
Regional roundup
Here are a few highlights from boys regional finals on Friday. First. Fenton’s Alejandro Diaz with the clutch steal and score to force overtime against Notre Dame.
Here’s a big shot for Montini against Northridge Prep...
This dunk helped seal Warren’s win over Waukegan...
Traveling Waubonsies
Here’s some good behind-the-scenes action from the Bloomington supersectional. First, the Waubonsie Valley fan bus seems full...
On the other side of the state, Alton headed off to its team bus
Scouting report
Montini will face Lincoln in the 3A semifinals. This is Colorado State commit Kloe Froebe scoring a tough basket in the supers.
CCIW dance invites
Elmhurst won the CCIW conference tourney in men’s basketball and is back in the NCAA Tournament. Stevenson grad John Ittounas and Leyden’s Ocean Johnson are the team’s leading scorers. The Blue Jays were in the D3 title game two years ago.
Elmhurst’s first tourney game is Friday against Calvin in Cleveland
Regular-season women’s champ Illinois Wesleyan was upset in the CCIW tournament by Carroll, but made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large. Plenty of local flavor at IWU with Glenbard East’s Lauren Huber, Stevenson’s Ava Bardic, Geneva’s Kate Palmer, Montini’s Sawyer White and others.
College standouts
Grant grad Henry Kusiak was the MIAA conference player of the week after hitting .500.
Grayslake Central’s Kate Bullman filled the stat sheet for Illinois State in a win over Evansville
Worker of the Week at West Point is a nice achievement. Congrats to St. Charles North OL Paolo Gennarelli
North Central men’s track won the CCIW indoor championship for the seventh straight year. Stevenson grad Marcus Caselberry was a standout, winning the 60-meter dash and 60 hurdles
North Central women’s track won a fifth straight conference indoor title. Glenbard East’s Lindsey Novak won individual titles in the 200 and 400 meters.
College commits
IC Catholic running back Aaron Harvey is headed to Quincy University
Barrington’s Will Nazha to Illinois Wesleyan
Highland Park QB David Finfer to Augustana
Aurora Christian’s Cameron Morel to Wisconsin-Platteville for basketball.
Spring is in the air
It’s only right to celebrate spring sport tryouts taking place outside for a change.
He’s in the game
When the new college football video game is released, you’ll be able to plug EMU’s Trenton VanBoening (Libertyville) onto your offensive line.
Return of the Arch
Talk about Arch Madness. Point guard Ryan Arcidiacono will return to Hoffman Estates after signing with the Windy City Bulls over the weekend. The former Chicago Bull played in 20 games for the Knicks early this season and obviously wants to stay ready for the next call up.
Windy City Bulls drew a nice crowd to Now Arena last week
Sign of the times
Finally, the corner of Dundee and Arlington Heights Road will never be the same after a new logo appeared at Buffalo Grove High School