Cook County girls basketball notes: Fremd’s flying high again
Talk about picking up where you left off.
Fremd's girls basketball team ended its 2024-25 season with championships in the Mid-Suburban League, regional, sectional and supersectional.
It started this season with another championship, winning the Hampshire tourney with a 4-0 record over Thanksgiving.
The Vikings then took a 64-50 nonconference win from Lane Tech in Palatine.
Defense has certainly been one of the keys for coach Jim Weaver's club as the Vikings have held their opponents to 36 points per game.
The Vikes (5-0) have five returners back from a core of eight from last year's team which was the Class 4A state runner-up.
Hersey update: The Huskies had a solid 3-1 showing at the Tom Dineen Classic.
"We had a solid win against Maine South, and also beat Grayslake Central and Waukegan," said Huskies coach Courtney Ludois. "We lost our first game against Libertyville, where we came back from down 19 to tie before losing by six."
Junior Sadie Marks posted a double-double against Maine South (21 points, 10 rebounds) while Kate Donovan also posted a double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) in the win vs Waukegan.
The last day of the tournament was canceled due to weather.
Maine South: The Hawks also went 3-1 at the Tom Dineen Classic.
"Every season, the competition at the Buffalo Grove Tom Dineen Classic will give us a great challenge," said Hawks coach Jeff Hamann. "When we look back on these games a month or so from now, we will know that each of the opponents that we faced made us better."
Hamann also loved how his team responded to its 50-45 loss to Hersey with a nice win over Libertyville.
"We have several new faces on this team, so it was a huge positive that we showed ourselves that we have the mental and physical ability to move on to the next game, regardless of the outcome of the previous one," Hamann said.
Junior guard Hayden Fahy led Maine South in scoring for the tournament at 15.8 points per game.
"She is playing extremely well," said Hamann, whose other top scorer is senior forward Emily Currey chipping in with 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Hamann said Gianna LaVecchia (5-4 jr. G) and Amelia Fernandez (5-6 sr. G) are contributing in other ways and leading the way with the Hawks' defensive pressure.
LaVecchia averages 6.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3 steals per game and 3 deflections per game while Fernandez is at 3.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4 apg, 2.3 steals per game and 4 deflections per game.
Fernandez is one of three players on Hamann's roster who was on the Hawks’ state championship flag football team this fall. Fernandez, Kathleen Noone (sr. G) and Nellie Ossmo (jr. F) were starters; Fernandez and Ossmo played both ways.
Rolling Meadows: It was quite an opening to the season for the Mustangs.
They won the championship of the Tom Kendall Thanksgiving tournament with Anna Andriano, Lizzy Andriano, Iris Jordan and Abby Ramel making the all-tourney team.
Additionally, 6-foot-4 senior forward Dalia Grandberry signed her commitment to Eastern Illinois University.
In its 4-0 start, coach Ryan Kirkorsky said his team has had contributions from the entire roster.
Prospect: Prospect senior Alli Linke and junior Zoe Black were named all-tourney at York where the Knights (3-2 overall) placed second place to Waubonsie Valley with a 3-1 record.
In a win over the host Dukes, Linke grabbed 18 rebounds to set the career record, previously held by Marie Baker (897) from 2003 to 2006.
Hoffman Estates: The Hawks are averaging about 16 points more than last season while also increasing their assist and shooting percentages.
In picking up their first win with a 45-10 triumph over Ogden International (Chicago), coach Brad Reibel's Hawks were led by freshman guard Kaleah Ward's 13 points followed by sophomore guard Carmella Calabrese (11), sophomore guard Nadia Thomas (8) and junior guard Molly Bell (6 points, two 3-pointers).
Maine East: The Blue Demons are 2-2 after taking fourth place in their own Thanksgiving tourney.
They had wins over Plainfield East (53-44) and Wheeling (67-40) and losses to Taft and Thornton Fractional South.
Junior standout Bella Silva has been an offensive machine, averaging 35 points with 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals through the Blue Demons' first three games.
The Maine East career points record belongs to Caya Apostolou with 1,369 and Silva is just a few points away from surpassing it.
"As a team, we're young and still messing around with rotations," said assistant coach Evan Rabens. "We've had some nice all-around performances from newcomer Oyin Olurotimi and second-year varsity player Cumiyah Preister, while Marie Matsumoto stepped up big for us against Plainfield East (15 points) and Heidi Cortez against Wheeling (13 points/8 rebounds/2 assists, 3 steals)."
Wheeling update: Sophomore Laila Crump was named to the all-tourney at the Maine East Thanksgiving tournament.
Wheeling coach Kellie Braase said junior Madison O'Rourke has taken the lead defensively for the Wildcats with her communication and help-side defense.
Buffalo Grove: Buffalo Grove is sitting at 2-2 after competing in its own Tom Dineen Classic.
"We could easily be 3-1 with a 1-point loss to Barrington, which was our worst offensive game," said Bison coach Martha Kelly. "We have a young group and they are competing. I'm happy with our progress so far."
Elk Grove: Elk Grove (1-3) picked up its win over Addison Trail, 46-30.
"Jamie Wirtz has really stepped up this season," said Grenadiers coach Courtney Lindfors. "She is only a sophomore and she has done a great job taking care of the ball and finding a way to score (averaging 9 points per game)."