For the third time this year, the Fenwick and Trinity High School girls basketball teams will meet. This one will by far be the most significant as an IHSA Class 3A Sectional title will be on the line in River Forest on Feb. 23.
The Blazers and Friars ensured the crosstown showdown by winning their respective semifinal games Feb. 21.
In the opener, top-seeded Trinity (23-11) shook off a sluggish start to power past fifth-seeded Westinghouse 52-28.
“We’re a second-half team,” said Trinity coach Kim Coleman. “We know how to make adjustments at halftime and get the job done.”
Lauren Miller continued the consistency she’s shown all year with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
“At halftime we realized this could be possibly the last game we’ll play this season, so that motivated us to pick up our energy on defense and made us want to win more,” Miller said.
Sophia Rodriguez and Chloe Santos each added 11 points for the Blazers.
“We’ve been encouraging Chloe to score,” Coleman said. “She can be an offensive and defensive threat. It was nice to see her score a few buckets.”
However, Trinity committed 20 turnovers against Westinghouse, and that’s something Coleman says the Blazers can’t do in the sectional finals.
“We had that conversation,” she said. “We’ve got to do better, and we will be better.”
In the second semifinal, third-seeded Fenwick (18-16) started strong against second-seeded Resurrection, then used a 10-0 run midway in the final quarter to pull away for a 57-42 victory.
“At this point in the season, it’s win or go home,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson. “You really don’t have a choice but to give it your all because it could be your last game. That’s what the girls did tonight.”
While Cam Brusca had a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, the real star for the Friars against the Bandits was Grace Kapsch. The junior guard had a stellar all-around effort with 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
“Grace is our leader,” Fergerson said. “She’s come a long way. She’s now able to take over at certain points. I know it’s tiring for her, but Grace came up with some big plays and when she goes, we go.”
Fenwick has lost twice this season to Trinity, 61-37 on Nov. 29, then 67-44 on Feb. 4.
“For us, it’s just the belief that we can,” Fergerson said. “They know now there’s no other chance, this is it. We’ve got to put four quarters together, play our game, and see what the outcome is.”
The Blazers and Friars tip off for the sectional title Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Trinity High School in River Forest.
The winner of the Trinity/Fenwick game plays the winner of the Chicago-Goode STEM Academy Sectional final, either Nazareth or St. Ignatius, in the Class 3A Concordia University Supersectional on Feb. 27 in River Forest.
