The Trinity High School girls basketball team has been top-seeded in each of the last two postseasons and reached the title game of an IHSA Class 3A sectional, only to be eliminated by neighboring Fenwick both times.
With the Friars in Class 4A this year, it would seem that the third time would be the charm for the Blazers to get that elusive sectional championship, which would be the program’s first since 2016 and sixth overall. But Trinity (17-13) has a challenging task ahead as the fifth seed in a strong Glenbard South sectional.
Even so, Blazers’ head coach Kim Coleman is relishing the upcoming tests.
“That’s where God wanted us to be, so that’s where we are,” she said. “You’ve got to beat somebody to keep going, and we’re going to play who’s in front of us.”
Trinity senior guard Luz Del Rosario Kwiatkoski Perez, who had a team-high 13 points in the Blazers’ 61-27 rout of Oak Park and River Forest, Feb. 7, likes the team’s mentality heading into the playoffs.
“Our regular season was definitely tough,” she said, “but I think we were the underdogs. We worked hard and never gave up.”
Trinity began the postseason, after press time, with a regional semifinal game against Elmwood Park, Feb. 13, at DePaul Prep. A victory would likely mean a meeting with the regional host Rams for the title, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
The Blazers lost twice to DePaul during the regular season, but they believe if they execute the fundamentals well, they can go on another extended postseason run.
“We need to communicate, stay together, and stick to everything we’ve been working on the entire season,” Perez said.
“We’re going to step up to the plate, play our best, and live with the results,” added Coleman. “If we can play good, intense defense and pressure ball-handlers, I like our odds.”
Fenwick
Winning consecutive sectional titles has resulted in Fenwick moving up this postseason to Class 4A. And the Friars (9-21) have a very daunting challenge ahead if they want to claim a third straight sectional crown.
Fenwick began the playoffs, Feb. 13, with a regional semifinal against host Oak Lawn. If the Friars prevail, Chicago Public League champion Whitney Young likely awaits in the title game, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
Fenwick is seeded 10th in the Mother McAuley sectional, which features powerhouse teams in top-seed Nazareth Academy, Young, Kenwood, Lyons Township, and the host Mighty Macs.
“For me, it’s about how you’re playing at the end of the year,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson. “Right now, I think we’re clicking on all cylinders, and we’ll take our chances.”
Fenwick senior guard Grace Kapsch, who scored 17 points in the Friars’ 54-15 rout of OPRF, Feb. 8, feels her team has played better than its record.
“We’ve had some really close games against some really good teams, and I think it proves that we can compete against anybody,” she said.
Given the loaded sectional, Fenwick knows it has its work cut out. But the Friars are also optimistic, especially if they play well defensively.
“Our team chemistry is definitely there,” Kapsch said. “We know our offense might not be our best at times, but it’s our defense that wins. We just have to play hard with a lot of effort.”
“I’m not worried about our offense. We’ve got to take care of the ball, handle pressure, and defend,” Fergerson said. “I’m excited and ready; now it’s win or go home.”
OPRF
After losing to neighboring schools Fenwick and Trinity last week, OPRF (7-24) got back into the win column with a 38-6 victory over Kelly in the Class 4A OPRF regional, Feb. 10.
The Huskies faced the top seed in the Mother McAuley sectional, Nazareth Academy, Feb. 13 (after deadline).
Despite the poor record and multiple one-sided defeats, there have been some signs of improvement. There is some promising young talent, such as sophomore Gabriella Chesney, who scored 14 points in a 41-32 victory over visiting Proviso East, Feb. 6; sophomore Leia Hammerschmidt; and freshman Taryn Draine.
Moreover, the majority of the Huskies’ roster returns next season as only three players (Daria Kelley, Taylor Smith, and Shardae Spruille) will graduate.