Wheeling looking for just one more

Wheeling's girls basketball team has been advancing step by step in its attempt to reach Illinois State's Redbird Arena for the Class 4A state finals.

"Every time we win (in the state tournament), we know it's a step toward our biggest goal," said Wildcats junior standout guard Bianca Szafarowicz, who like two of her teammates has been sought after by Division I programs. "We just know we have to take each game one at a time."

The next big game comes Monday when the Wildcats (31-1) face Rockford Boylan (31-1) for the championship of the Class 4A Elgin Community College supersectional at 8 p.m.

The two state-ranked teams will take the floor following a 6 p.m. Class 3A supersectional between Johnsburg and Freeport, the Northern Illinois Conference champion which handed Boylan its only loss in overtime.

The Titans were runners-up to Freeport by 1 game.

"It's kind of neat that two teams from the same conference are playing in back-to-back supersectionals," said coach Kim Connell, who has won more than 250 games, three sectionals and four conference titles in 12 seasons as the Boylan coach.

Connell is hardly a stranger to the MSL, which Wheeling has won the last two years.

Connell was a standout three-sport athlete (field hockey, basketball and softball) at Schaumburg High School, from where she graduated in 1981.

She also served as an assistant to former Saxons softball coach Kay Winkelhake and girls basketball coach Joe Breault.

Wheeling coach Shelly Wiegel played basketball and was a cross country standout at Darlington High School in Wisconsin before serving as a point guard for Beloit College.

Wiegel has the Wildcats in the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

Their only loss came to the state's top ranked Class 4A team, Whitney Young (75-53) in the McDonald's Classic at Willowbrook High School on Jan. 15.

"We know they (Boylan) have a lot of team speed and that's what we must respect," Wiegel said. ""We have to continue to play good defense."

The Titans averaged more than 70 points during the regular season.

"But in the sectional, we had some games where we scored in the 60s and 50s going against better teams," Connell said. "Our girls love to run with the ball. We have played defense and transition basketball all season. I hope it' a good game."

Sophomore Brea Edwards (5-foot-8 guard) leads the Titans (19 ppg) while 6-1 senior forward Maria Ludeke averages 9.5.

Completing the Titans' starting five are juniors Devin Mack (5-9 guard-forward) and Kierra Valentine (5-8 guard) and senior Deborah Hilby (5-6 guard).

Wheeling has been led offensively by Purdue-bound Ashley Wilson (more than 1,850 points and 1,090 rebounds) and junior guard Janelle Cannon, who is also being sought after by Division I schools like Szafarowicz (14 ppg, 2.6 steals, 2 assists).

"Obviously, we have to play good defense on Wilson (18.4 ppg, 12.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals, 3.1 assists) and Cannon (15.8 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds)," Connell said. "But they have three other starters who are very good.

"We have so many young girls that I don't know if they even realize how much we have accomplished and how big this game is reaching the Elite Eight."

Rockford Boylan's only other appearance in the Elite Eight was 1990.

Junior Stephanie Kuzmanic (12 points), who had a big game in Wheeling's 59-37 sectional title win over Lake Zurich and senior Bridgette Gray, whose defense has been stellar against top-notch guards, complete the Wildcats' starting five.

Junior Selma Smajlovic and freshman Kellie Kuzmanic have logged many key minutes off the bench for Wheeling.

"For us, it comes down to playing defense no matter what the tempo of the game." Wiegel said. "We want to play our style. We have no preference, half-court of fast breaking. We just want to focus on defense."

Rockford Boylan won the Schaumburg Thanksgiving tournament last November.

"The kids look at it as if it doesn't matter who we are playing, rather more as a game where they have to take care of business," Wiegel added. "It felt good to see all great support we've been getting.

"At our sectional on Thursday (at Barrington), we had a lot of teachers, students, coaches and parents there and hopefully a lot of people will travel Monday."

And the Wildcats will be hoping they have to continue to travel (south) after Monday night.