I need to begin this column by thanking everybody who has learn my tales and adopted my protection this season. It was gratifying to cowl this season of women highschool basketball.
Steve Tucker, who died final Could, did an amazing job of protecting ladies basketball for the Solar-Instances for years. Mike Clark resumed protection for the newspaper a few years in the past. With out these two placing within the effort and time, I wouldn’t be right here.
Kenwood makes historical past
Kenwood (35-3) accomplished its season by successful its first Class 4A state championship with a 65-44 victory Saturday towards Fremd (30-6) at Illinois State in Regular.
After crushing losses to Benet and Nazareth within the supersectionals in back-to-back seasons, the Broncos broke by this yr after a victory final Monday towards Marist despatched them to state.
‘‘Since my freshman yr, we misplaced within the supersectional,’’ mentioned Danielle Brooks, who scored 24 factors. ‘‘We must always have gone down [to the state playoffs], however I knew we had been going to return down right here a technique or one other.’’
Coach Andre Lewis earned his five hundredth profession victory, 300 of them at Kenwood. The title was the fruits of a rebuild years within the making.
‘‘Once I first received right here, we had been referred to as an artwork college and excellent academically all the time,’’ Lewis mentioned. ‘‘However over the past decade, due to [principal Karen Calloway] and her predecessor, now we have grown in athletics.
‘‘And it’s only a testomony to an ideal group with an ideal tutorial background, nice athletic assets and amenities.’’
Urlacher’s breakout
Fremd guard Coco Urlacher had the sport of her life within the Class 4A semifinals Friday towards Loyola, scoring 32 factors and grabbing 17 rebounds. Her shotmaking was scintillating.
The Vikings had been dissatisfied in themselves for shedding the Class 4A title recreation to Kenwood, however they performed admirably, exhibiting resilience and grit on the courtroom.
Urlacher had 16 factors and 11 rebounds towards Kenwood.
‘‘I’m so pleased with our crew,’’ Urlacher mentioned. ‘‘We didn’t come out on prime, but it surely simply wasn’t God’s plan for us to win. We didn’t get the outcomes, but it surely was particular to be a part of this crew.’’
Fremd handled the lack of former coach Dave Yates, who died of most cancers final summer season, all season. After their victory towards Loyola, the Vikings talked about his legacy and what he meant to them. Regardless of the consequence, this crew shall be bonded for all times.
‘‘What this crew went by shedding coach Yates, that’s not an expertise anybody may even perceive,’’ senior guard Ella Todd mentioned.
Urlacher, who’s uncommitted, embodied Fremd’s spirit on the state event. Her relentless effort and motor all the time stood out.
St. Ignatius’ run
I’m going to have extra about St. Ignatius this week, however the Wolfpack had a terrific season. They completed with essentially the most victories in program historical past (32) behind senior ahead Reganne Reardon, who was a standout all season together with her mixture of athleticism and talent.
Senior guards Sally Kennedy and Gabby Hinton had been stabilizing forces, too.
Tremendous 25 highschool ladies basketball rankings for March 9, 2025
With report and final week’s rating
1. Kenwood (35-3) 2
Class 4A state champions
2. Fremd (30-6) 3
Second-play end in Class 4A
3. Loyola (34-4) 1
Fourth-place end in 4A
4. Waubonsie Valley (31-2) 4
Misplaced to Alton
5. Nazareth (31-3) 2
Stella Sakalas returns subsequent yr
6. Montini (27-10) 16
Received Class 3A state championship
7. Younger (25-9) 8
Shedding Future Jackson
8. St. Ignatius (32-5) 7
Second-play end in Class 3A
9. Benet (29-3) 9
Shedding Aria Mazza
10. Lyons (31-3) NR
Emma O’Brien returns
11. Marist (26-9) 10
Misplaced to Kenwood
12. Glenbard West (23-13) 11
Misplaced to Fremd
13. Prospect (27-8) 12
Alli Linke has a excessive motor
14. Libertyville (28-6) 13
Lily Fisher returns
15. Maine South (25-10) 14
Graduating 17 seniors
16. Lake Zurich (24-8) 15
Shedding Avery Cooper
17. Huntley (35-1) 5
Misplaced to Loyola in 4A supersectional
18. St. Charles East (26-7) 13
Addie and Brooklyn Schilb return
19. Glenbrook South (24-10) 19
Gina Davorija
20. Lincoln-Approach West (23-12) NR
Misplaced to Marist
21. Lockport (28-5) 20
Graduates two seniors
22. Marian Catholic (27-9) 21
Misplaced to St. Ignatius
23. Batavia (24-10) 22
Shedding Hallie Crane
24. Phillips (26-11) 23
Fourth-place end in 2A
25. Hinsdale Central (23-8) 24
Katherine Skinner returns
