Stevenson, Carmel recognize state champion girls basketball teams
Squads from both schools brought home state hoops titles
by Brian Hill
bhill@dailyherald.com
Two Lake County high schools brought home top honors from the Class 3A and 4A state basketball finals.
After a weekend filled with emotions, Wednesday was no different for Stevenson High School girls basketball coach Ashley Graham and her team that won the 4A championship on Saturday at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal.
During a recognition breakfast at the Lincolnshire school, Graham, who has been the head coach there since 2015, spoke about the strength, perseverance and teamwork the girls had.
"It's hard to put into words what they've meant to me, and all of them are my family," Graham said.
Earlier this week, Carmel Catholic High School held a celebration rally for its girls basketball team, which won the Class 3A title on Saturday. Carmel defeated Nazareth Academy 43-39 to secure the first girls basketball championship in the Mundelein school's history.
Stevenson beat Barrington 55-43 in the Class 4A title game.
"This win means everything, and ending this way is just the icing on the cake," four-year starter Ava Bardic said during an interview last weekend. "This is the best thing that could've happened to me."