IHSA Class 4A State Finals Preview
Bolingbrook is back at State for the first time since 2011 when they had just won their third State Title in a row. Lincoln-Way West makes its first appearance downstate with a trio of sisters who might shoot the lights…
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Continue ReadingBolingbrook is back at State for the first time since 2011 when they had just won their third State Title in a row. Lincoln-Way West makes its first appearance downstate with a trio of sisters who might shoot the lights out at Redbird Arena.
Lake Park also making their first trip to the State Finals, led by one of the best Seniors in the country in DePaul commit Darrione Rogers Darrione Rogers 5'11" | CG Lake Park | 2020 State IL and Fremd returns to the Final Four with a host of upperclassmen looking to finally take home the title.
Schedule and Information
At Redbird Arena, Normal Ill.
Friday’s semifinals
Palatine (Fremd) vs. Roselle (Lake Park), 5:30 p.m.
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West) vs. Bolingbrook, 7:15 p.m.
Championship Saturday
Third-place game, 5:30 p.m.
Championship game, (approximately) 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $10 general admission
TV: IHSA TV Network
Stream: NFHS Network
Teams
Bolingbrook (25-7)
Projected starters
5 Kennedi Perkins Kennedi Perkins 5'6" | PG Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL (2022, G, 5-5) – 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
12 De’Ahna Richardson De’Ahna Richardson 6'0" | SF Bolingbrook | 2021 State IL (2021, F, 6-0) – 6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg
21 Treasure Thompson Treasure Thompson 6'3" | C Bolingbrook | 2020 State IL (2020, F, 6-2) – 13.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .41 apg
24 Jayden Marable (2020, G, 5-7) – 9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg
25 Danyel Middleton Danyel Middleton 5'10" | SF Bolingbrook | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 5-11) – 9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg
Coach Chris Smith is in his seventh season as the Head Coach at Bolingbrook, during which the program has a 134-60 overall record. This is Bolingbrook’s’ first time back at the State Finals since claiming three consecutive Championships in 2009-2011. They took down Top-Ranked Benet in the Sectional Finals and a talented Whitney Young team in the Super Sectional.
Key to watch: Bolingbrook’s size against the Lincoln-Way West zone defense. LWW plays a smaller, Guard heavy lineup in a 2-3 zone for most of the game, and it will be needed against Bolingbrook. Treasure Thompson Treasure Thompson 6'3" | C Bolingbrook | 2020 State IL is a rebounding machine and three other starters average over 4rpg. If LWW doesn’t box out in their zone, which can be tough to do, watch for Bolingbrook to get several second-chance opportunities.
Lincoln-Way West (31-3)
Projected starters
3 Tara Gugliuzza Tara Gugliuzza 5'8" | CG Lincoln Way West | 2021 State IL (2021, G, 5-8) – 11.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
4 Ava Gugliuzza Ava Gugliuzza 5'7" | SG Lincoln-Way West | 2023 State IL (2023, G, 5-5) – 13.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
12 Taylor Gugliuzza Taylor Gugliuzza 5'7" | CG Lincoln Way West | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 5-8) – 17.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg
21 Sydney Swanberg (2020, G, 5-7) – 4.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg
24 Brianna Wooldridge Brianna Wooldridge 6'2" | PF Fremd | 2022 State IL (2022, F, 6-2) – 12.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.3 apg
Head Coach Ryan White is in his 11th year coaching at Lincoln-Way West, during which the program has a 232-83 record. The Warriors are making their first appearance at State, and have done so with their past five victories coming in Central Illinois (Regionals at Normal Community, Sectionals at Pekin, Super Sectional at IWU). The Gugliuzza sisters are averaging a combined 42.9 PPG this season and a combined 233-539(43.2%) from three.
Key to watch: Brianna Wooldridge Brianna Wooldridge 6'2" | PF Fremd | 2022 State IL vs. Treasure Thompson Treasure Thompson 6'3" | C Bolingbrook | 2020 State IL . Wooldridge, like Thompson, is a high-level prospect and rebounding machine. The 2-3 zone should help minimize the Bolingbrook inside game on offense, so watch Wooldridge use her strength and athleticism to get to the hoop on the offensive end and convert or draw fouls on Thompson and Co.
Fremd (28-7)
Projected starters
2 Emily Klaczek Emily Klaczek 5'9" | CG Fremd | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 5-10) – 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.3 apg
4 Grace LaBarge Grace LaBarge 6'2" | SF Fremd | 2021 State IL (2021, G, 6-3) – 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .97 apg
5 Ruthie Montella Ruthie Montella 5'11" | SG Fremd | 2021 State IL (2021, G, 6-0) – 8.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg
13 Olivia Hill Olivia Hill 6'4" | PF Fremd | 2020 State IL (2020, F, 6-0) – 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.8 apg
22 Caroline Cochran (2020, G, 5-9) – 2.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.5 apg
Dave Yates is in his 14th season as the Head Coach at Fremd, who have enjoyed a 326-115 record and two State-Runners up seasons during his tenure. Fremd is the most veteran team at the 4A State Tournament this year with 11 Seniors and 4 Juniors on the roster. Senior PG Emily Klaczek Emily Klaczek 5'9" | CG Fremd | 2020 State IL leads the team on both ends, but the Vikings are as deep and talented of a team as you will find.
Key to watch: Contain Darrione Rogers Darrione Rogers 5'11" | CG Lake Park | 2020 State IL . The Lake Park Senior and DePaul commit is a favorite to win Illinois Ms. Basketball and scores the ball better than anyone in the state. Lake Park is a relatively young team with much less experience then Fremd. They’re playing very well right now, but if Fremd finds a way to contain (you can’t stop her) Rogers, they will have a good chance to move on.
Lake Park (26-8)
Projected starters
4 Sara Balli (2022, G, 5-8) – 9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.9 apg
5 Gabi Burgess (2023, G, 5-6) – 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .85 apg
20 Emma Thorne (2021, F, 5-11) – 4.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 apg
21 Darrione Rogers Darrione Rogers 5'11" | CG Lake Park | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 5-11) – 25.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg
25 Ellie Helm (2031, F, 5-10) – 5.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 apg
Brian Rupp is in his 7th season as the Head Coach at Lake Park and has a 111-96 record during that time. The Lancers are making their first appearance at the State Tournament after a really impressive playoff run. Senior Darrione Rogers Darrione Rogers 5'11" | CG Lake Park | 2020 State IL (DePaul commit) is a favorite to win Illinois Ms. Basketball this season with her near 26ppg and 10rpg.
Keys to watch: Stay hot! Lake Park is a relatively young team outside of Rogers, but they’ve risen to the challenge and taken down teams such as Bartlett, York, Geneva, and Dundee-Crown en route to State. I’m excited to see Rogers do her thing on the States biggest stage, but it will be interesting to see how the underclassmen adjust to the environment.
Predictions
Fremd vs. Lake Park
How Fremd looks to contain Darrione Rogers Darrione Rogers 5'11" | CG Lake Park | 2020 State IL will be interesting to take note of throughout the game. The Vikings are very well coached, so I’m sure they’ll mix things up to not let the Ms. Basketball contender get comfortable. While its not a sure thing, they have good size and depth, so I think it is possible to keep her in check (relatively) and still guard the other four for Lake Park.
Prediction: Fremd 60 , Lake Park 49
Lincoln-Way West vs. Bolingbrook
I am very excited to see how this game plays out. LWW’s outstanding shooting and Guard play (plus a great player in Wooldridge) against the size and strength of Bolingbrook. It will be a fast-paced game from both teams, which will make for tons of entertainment. LWW shoots the ball well, but you never know how that is impacted on a college court in an arena-style environment. Things that do translate, rebounding and inside scoring, may just give Bolingbrook the edge in this one.
Prediction: Bolingbrook 64, Lincoln-Way West 60