Freeport, Marshall on course to battle again
The opportunity for a state title rematch from a year ago remains intact at the 2009 IHSA Class 3A girls basketball state finals at Redbird Arena Normal this weekend.
Chicago Marshall and Freeport both return one year after Marshall bested Freeport for the state championship. Peoria Richwoods returns to the state finals for the first time since its state title in 2004-05, while Springfield makes its first finals appearance.
The Class 3A semifinals play at noon and 1:45 p.m. today with the finals slated for Saturday afternoon.
Marshall (25-6) vs. Peoria Richwoods (32-3): The Marshall girls basketball program has maintained a consistency matched by few programs in any high school sport in the state of Illinois, as the program has yet to suffer a losing season since head coach Dorothy Gaters arrived in 1975. The defending Class 3A state champs can add to their IHSA-best seven total state titles in 2009 and will depend on all-around standout senior forward Adrianne Godbold (18.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.8 apg) to lead them there. Godbold, a first team all-stater, has led the Commandos in scoring in 18 of their last 19 games, including all five state series games when she averaged 20.6 points per contest. Senior forward Laquentra Lemons was a starter on last year's title team, while senior guard Jasmine Poteete (7.3 ppg) provides another veteran presence. Guard-forward Shantiera Miller (8.8 ppg) has developed into the team's second scoring option during her sophomore season.
The Knights came up 3 points shy of a state finals berth a year ago, but a group featuring three senior starters would not be denied in 2008-09. Despite the veteran cast, sophomore forward guard-forward Mariah Smith (15.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) has fueled the team's drive toward its second state championship (Class AA 05 when they beat Bartlett in the title game). At 6-foot, Smith can play inside, but is free to handle the ball and step outside to shoot the 3-pointer (48 made) because of the presence of 5-10 senior forward Maddie Nieukirk (12.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and 6-0 junior forward Katie Murphy (10.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg). Senior guards Amber Metzger (5.6 ppg) and Danielle DesJardins (4.3 ppg) compliment the inside game, having combined to knock down 60 3-pointers this season. Peoria Richwoods is guaranteed the chance to avenge one of its three defeats this season on Saturday, as the team dropped regular-season games to Freeport (49-45) and Springfield (54-50).
Springfield (29-3) vs. Freeport (30-3): Springfield enters its first-ever state finals appearance on an 18-game winning streak that included four double-digit victories during state series action. The Senators are led by the sister tandem of 5-11 junior forward Kelly (13.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and 6-0 sophomore forward Kasi Korza (11.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg). Springfield has only played three games this season where one of the Korza sisters did not lead the team in either scoring or rebounding. The backcourt of freshman guard Zahna Medley (10.0 ppg) and senior guard Allison Anderson (9.0 ppg) provides two more capable scorers for the top scoring team (64.9 ppg) playing in the Class 3A state finals this weekend. Six different players led the team in scoring in at least one contest this season, which forces defenses to account for six players averaging more than six points per game in the Senators up-tempo attack.
Freeport made its third state finals appearance a year ago, but came up short in the state championship game, where the Pretzels fell to Marshall 58-47. The opportunity for Freeport's first girls basketball state title may never be better than now, as four senior starters from last year's team return, including senior guard Suporia Dickens (14.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), who led the team with 15 points in the semifinal and state final games a year ago. Katie Norman (12.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 4.3 rpg), a 5-9 senior who can play guard or forward, returns alongside senior 5-11 senior forward Courtney Shiffer (10.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and 5-10 senior forward Kelsey Hoefer (7.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Norman is the team's top long distance threat with 42 3-pointers, while junior guard Caitlin Greene (6.5 ppg) has knocked down 29 treys this season.