Area Lutheran schools heading to national girls basketball tourney

The storied Immanuel Lutheran School girls basketball team took in the philosophy of NFL Hall of Famer Dave Casper when he visited their Palatine gym last week.

Show up every day, do the work, and you'll be successful in life.

It's certainly true among the group of 15 middle schoolers, whose work ethic and successes were celebrated at a pep rally Wednesday morning. The Lutheran Sports Association state champion Bobcats are set to leave Thursday for the national tournament at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Also competing at nationals this week will be teams from St. Peter Lutheran School in Arlington Heights and St. John's Lutheran School in Lombard.

"These young ladies honor God in everything they do, commit themselves to the team and do the work," Immanuel Lutheran head girls coach and Harris Bank Regional President Jack Lloyd said. He played football with Casper on Notre Dame's 1973 National Championship team under coach Ara Parseghian. "Whatever happens from here is gravy."

Immanuel Lutheran, a K-8 school of just 250 students, has racked up 33 wins this season. Its only two losses came from regional club teams.

Captain and MVP Nia Pappas reached the Final Four in her first two years on the team. Now, fresh off the team's state title, the eighth-grader is ready to earn the program its eighth national championship.

"We definitely have a more cohesive group this season," Pappas said.

Added starter Jamie Lloyd: "We hang out all the time."

Lloyd's team focuses on defense - it held opponents to an average of just 19 points this season. And you won't find a better conditioned team on the court, he said.

"Your legs give out during workouts, it hurts so bad," Barrington High School-bound Ashley Heine said. "Everyone picks each other up."

Lombard's St. John's, which took sixth in state, is hoping to overcome a couple of injuries, Principal John Aurich said.

"They're a very coachable group of girls who love the game and love to learn," he said.

St. Peter, which placed fifth and won the state tournament sportsmanship award, is back to full strength following a season plagued by injuries.

"They've had to pick each other up," coach Diane Henderson said. "They really give it their all out there."

Webcasts of the games can be seen at moosevision.com.