Lisle, Immaculate Conception focus on postseason
If this season has been as sweet as an ice cream sundae for Lisle, that elusive cherry on top could come this week.
The Lions open play tonight at their Class 2A Lisle regional against Aurora Christian.
Lisle (20-7) has enjoyed one of the biggest turnarounds in the area this fall, doubling its win total of a year ago. The Lions went 10-1 in the Interstate Eight Conference, tying for first with Westmont.
"We expected to be pretty good," Lisle coach Jeff Javior said, "but you never expect this. We had kids pull it all together."
The Lions have enjoyed tremendous balance, with seniors Colleen Drennan, Chelsea Peterson and Jackie Todd and junior point guard Nicole Urban all hovering around a 10-point scoring average. The seniors have been with Javior since Day 1 two years ago.
"All three of them have put it together this year. They feed off of each other," Javior said. "When one is down, they pick each other up."
This week is all about unfinished business.
Westmont, No. 1 seed at Lisle, beat the Lions three times last year - including a 44-37 decision in regionals. The Sentinels won 45-41 at Lisle Jan. 11.
Westmont (24-3) lost point guard Catie Zapinski to a torn ACL in the last minute of that Lisle win, but the Sentinels have gone 10-1 without her behind 6-foot-2 post Sarah Sternard. The lone loss was by a point to Coal City in the I-8 tournament.
Javior doesn't want to think ahead to a Thursday final against Lisle's nemesis just yet.
"You hope the girls focus on the game ahead against Aurora Christian," Javior said, "without looking ahead. You think you're prepared, but it's girls basketball. Anything can happen."
On the opposite side of the Willowbrook supersectional, Immaculate Conception takes a program-best 26-3 record into its own regional in Elmhurst.
A cautious Dan Murray knows that puts a target on the Knights' backs.
"It's a new season for other teams that might have struggled," Murray said. "Teams can make their season beating us. We're going to get everybody's best shot."
Bolstered by the additions of ex-Driscoll players Taylor Reaber, Kasey Reaber and Allie DiVito, IC has a realistic shot at advancing to the state girls basketball tournament for the first time.
It's a bumpy road filled with familiar faces.
First up is crosstown rival Timothy Christian tonight. A win there likely puts IC into a regional final against St. Edward, who IC beat twice this season by a total of 10 points. Potentially awaiting IC in sectionals are Latin and Walther Lutheran, two other regular-season victims.
To top it all off, Bishop McNamara is favored on the other side of the supersectional. The Driscoll kids beat McNamara last year to get to state.
"It's a bear what we have to go through," Murray said. "For the season we've had, it's as difficult a road as anybody else in the sectional."
IC has won seven straight heading into the postseason, avenging one of its 3 losses with an impressive 59-53 win over Rosary last week.
"We've got a lot better as the season has moved along," said Murray, whose team's only other losses came to No. 1 Montini. "We understand what we're trying to do more, especially at the offensive end. That just takes time."
Montini milestones: Montini's Whitney Holloway and Alison Seberger both can pass the 1,000-point career mark in Thursday's regular season finale against St. Francis. Junior guard Holloway currently sits at 988, senior guard Seberger at 994.