East powers meet at Wheeling

Buffalo Grove and Wheeling know what's on the line tonight.

And you can bet the line will be long to see these two girls basketball powerhouses battle for first place in the Mid-Suburban East.

Another large turnout is expected today at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeling as the Wildcats try to avenge a 43-34 loss at Buffalo Grove on Dec. 7.

Buffalo Grove (23-1) enters the showdown nationally-ranked and No. 1 in Class 4A.

Wheeling is 21-3 and ranked No. 10 in Class 4A.

The Bison (7-0) lead Wheeling (6-1) by 1 game in the MSL East with three left to play.

For the first time, this major rivalry of the mid-2000s features five Division I recruits because Wheeling junior Ashley Wilson made her verbal commitment earlier this month to play for Purdue.

Her teammate, senior Lana Rukavina, will play for Illinois.

Rukavina suffered a concussion during contact drills in practice on Jan. 9. She has missed three games, and Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel says there is a "50-50" chance the 6-foot-4 center will play in tonight's game.

Buffalo Grove senior twins Maggie and Allison Mocchi are headed to Northwestern while classmate Ellen Ayoub has committed to Loyola.

"It'll be just like all the other games," said Bison Hall of Fame coach Tom Dineen. "They will be ready for the things we do, and we'll be ready for them.

"Neither team will change much. They'll just throw the ball up and we'll see what happens."

What has happened for the past four years have been huge crowds and point totals usually in the 40s or 50s.

"The type of games seem to change when we play them," Ayoub said. "Sometimes it's a defensive game, sometimes it's fast-paced. We'll have to see this time."

Earlier this season, Wheeling got off to fast 21-6 start before the Bison got rolling in the second half on their home floor. BG outscored the Wildcats 12-2 in the final 4:49.

"Since this one is at our house, we've got to come out strong and play hard," said Wheeling sophomore guard Janelle Cannon, who has scored 18 and 22 points in her last two games.

"We have to play like we did against Montini (57-46 win in Monday's McDonald's shootout) or harder. We know Buffalo Grove will come out hard, so we've got to match their intensity."

In the past four seasons, the Bison have won 7 of the 9 games, including the last four.

"We know they're really going to want to beat us," said Bison senior Ellen Ayoub, who clicked for 26 points against Indiana's top-ranked Class 4A team (South Bend Washington) at the McDonald's Shootout last Saturday.

Ayoub averages 16.3 points and has a team-high 37 3-pointers.

She is followed by Maggie Mocchi (13.2 ppg and 24 3-pointers) and Allison Mocchi (8.7 ppg. and 21 3-pointers).

Junior Kaitlin Hillner has made hit 16 of 24 free throws (66 percent) while sophomore guard Heather Nisbet has fired home 17 three-pointers.

Seniors Lauren Angotti and Katie Lee provide depth off the bench.

Wilson's 14.8 points lead the Wildcats' offense, followed by Rukavina (14.2), Cannon (12.0), Bianca Szafarowicz (6.2) and Lindsey Mills (6.2).

Stephanie Kuzmanic (33 assists) has tossed home eight 3-pointers while Natasha Robinson (26 assists, 42 rebounds, 23 steals) has 7.

Guard Jessie Smith has collected 45 rebounds, 30 assists and 20 steals. Bridget Gray, who missed three weeks earlier in the season with a concussion, has 8 steals, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

"We played pretty solid for two and a half quarters the first time (against Buffalo Grove)," Wiegel said. "We've just got to get four solid quarters. We need strong defense because they can drive to the basket and shoot.

"Our three sophomores (Cannon, Szarfarowicz and Kuzmanic) are playing great now. They're really contributing like juniors and seniors. So that can make a difference for us."