The Trinity High School basketball team had beaten neighborhood rival Fenwick High School twice during the regular season.
But the old adage of it being hard to defeat a team three times in a season again come proved prescient Feb. 23 as the third-seeded Friars knocked off the top-seeded Blazers 34-28 for the IHSA Class 3A Trinity Sectional title in River Forest.
It’s the second consecutive year Fenwick has ended Trinity’s season in a sectional final.
“It sounds amazing,” said Fenwick senior forward Cam Brusca, who had a game-high 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three blocks. “They went on a run, but we kept our composure. Our defense did really well tonight.”
Sophomore Keira Kapsch’s 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:20 left off an assist by junior and older sister Grace Kapsch broke a 28-28 tie and put Fenwick (19-16) ahead for good.
“At first, I was thinking maybe I should pull it back out,” Keira Kapsch said. “I wasn’t playing how I wanted to play, but I was wide open and wanted to take it.”
“Once it left her hands, I knew it was going in,” said Grace Kapsch, who finished with nine points and three assists.
Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson had a simple message for her team pregame: leave it all on the floor.
“I told the girls they beat us twice this year, but the third time is ours,” she said. “I said we have nothing to lose. … I just want you to give it all you got, and I know if you do that we’re going to come out on top.
The Friars’ defense paid extra attention to Trinity’s Lauren Miller and Sophia Rodriguez, two players who had their way against them in the regular season. The strategy worked as Miller was held to a team-high eight points and Rodriguez five.
“Trinity’s a great team,” she added. “[Trinity coach] Kim [Coleman] has them playing good all the time. I hate to see one of us go home, but I couldn’t have asked for a better game, and it was a great team effort.”
Ciarra Richardson added seven points and four rebounds for the Blazers (23-12), who were hoping to get the program’s first sectional title since 2016 and the sixth overall.
“It’s hard to beat a team three times, but we knew that,” Coleman said. “Hat’s off to Fenwick. They did a good job of taking Lauren and Sophia out the game.”
Coleman lauded her seniors, Richardson, Rodriguez, Fiona Lundt, Maeve Lundt and Killian Gitterle, for the leadership they provided in helping reestablish Trinity as a team to be reckoned with.
“They definitely got the program back to where it was,” she said. “They played with integrity and did everything the right way. I couldn’t ask for a better group of seniors, and I’m honored to have been their coach.”
Fenwick will face Nazareth Academy, a 60-32 winner over St. Ignatius in the Goode STEM Academy sectional final, at the Class 3A Concordia University Supersectional on Feb. 27 in River Forest. The Roadrunners are considered the Class 3A favorites, but the Friars feel they’re up for the challenge.
“We’ll be ready,” Fergerson said.
