Killer B’s deliver for Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove’s unbeatable “B’s” have brought their “A” game all season long.

And Friday was no exception for seniors Nell Boyd and Michelle Byjos in the BG badminton sectional. The Bison duo improved to 31-0 with three convincing victories as they won the doubles title 21-8, 21-10 over teammates Alanna Zawlocki and Jenny Krewer.

“We kind of had fun with it and we were joking around on the court,” said Boyd of facing their teammates. “Last year we played the Nisbets (Heather and Ashton) and had fun and there was no pressure. We both knew we were already going to state.”

Maine West junior Cindy Wong is also going to state in singles and her three-game victory in the third-place match over Glenbrook South’s Diana Diaconu was also a big boost for BG.

The Bison won their third straight sectional title and sixth in their hitory outright by a half-point over Glenbrook South. Maine West tied for third with Evanston as the Warriors’ senior doubles team of Sarah Gangl and Katrina Mira also qualified for next weekend’s state meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston

Boyd and Byjos should get the No. 1 seed as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. They don’t view their unbeaten record as any kind of burden.

“We always have confidence,” Byjos said. “Last year, as soon as we stepped off the Eastern courts, we were looking forward to this day, which is here already.”

It’s also here for the first time for Zawlocki, a senior, and Krewer, a junior.

“In the middle of the season we really clicked and started playing a lot better than we ever had before,” Zawlocki said.

“It’s made us a lot better,” Krewer said of facing Boyd and Byjos all the time. “They’re obviously amazing players and it helped us to improve.”

Gangl and Mira were paired together as Maine West freshmen but saw their state dreams in jeopardy when they lost the first game of their consolation semifinal. But they rallied for a 19-21, 21-17, 21-13 win to clinch their state berth before losing the third-place match in three games.

“It’s exciting,” Mira said.

“Last year we were one game away so it’s great to make it this year,” Gangl said.

Wong also had a tough 21-17, 21-18 consolation semifinal victory before taking third 21-13, 15-21, 21-19.

“During a break one of the coaches was talking to me and told me they (Mira and Gangl) were going,” Wong said, “and said they needed a friend to go. I thought, ‘I have to do this.’”

Evanston senior Lauren Teske won the singles title 21-14, 21-10 over Glenbrook South’s Crystal Thomas.

At Maine East: Stevenson qualified all six competitors for state to win the sectional with 15.5 points. Jessica Lam won the singles title by a medical forfeit over teammate Wan Wan Liu and the in doubles, Taylor Seplowin and Emily Cai beat teammates Connie Lu and Eilrayna Gelyana in the third-place match.

Prospect was second (12.5) as junior Shea Gallus and freshman Noreen Caporusso beat teammates Kelly Lawless and Maxine Venturelli 21-14, 23-21 for the doubles title.

Wheeling senior Hannah Park qualified for state for the second straight year as she beat Barrington’s Hannah Gross in the third-place match. Both teams tied for third.