With the girls’ basketball season more than two weeks old at the time of this writing, it has been a mixed bag of results for the local high schools.
While Fenwick and Trinity have started reasonably well, it’s been a struggle for Oak Park and River Forest. But with conference play starting this week, along with a couple of intriguing non-conference games, things could heat up indoors on the hardwood as outside temperatures drop.
Here’s how each school has fared so far:
Trinity
The Blazers (4-1) finished third in the Elmhurst Classic last week. Trinity rolled to victories over tournament host Timothy Christian in the first round (61-44 on Nov. 23) and Thornwood (82-18 on Nov. 25) in the quarterfinals. After losing in the semifinals 32-31, Nov. 27, to Marian Catholic, the Blazers routed IC Catholic Prep 55-37 in the third-place game, Nov. 30.
Against IC, Jaylani Hernandez and Ariana Rodriguez led Trinity in scoring with 10 points apiece. Chloe Santos and Sofia Flynn each added nine points, and Destiny Sacluti had eight points.
“We’ve got some fight in us,” said Trinity coach Kim Coleman. “It feels a much different team than last year. Getting that first game (42-37 victory over Neaqua Valley, Nov. 19) in overtime is a testament to our growth from year to year, and we’re ready to compete.”
Going forward, Coleman would like Trinity to clean up some fundamentals like free-throw shooting and defense.
“We’re having issues with foul trouble,” she said. “We’re giving our opponents 20-plus free throws each game, and it’s hard to execute when you have flow-killers like fouls.”
Following its Girls Catholic Athletic Conference opener at Mother McAuley (after deadline), Trinity has home games versus Amundsen, Dec. 5 (5 p.m.) and DePaul Prep Dec. 10 (6:30 p.m.).
Fenwick
The Friars improved to 3-2 on Nov. 30 with a 50-30 home victory over Maine East. Cammie Molis had 14 points; Heaven Lee, 12; and Keira Kapsch and Avani Williams, eight each.
Fenwick went 2-2 at the New Trier Thanksgiving Tournament with victories over Stevenson and Warren and losses to Phillips and New Trier.
“We’re coming along well,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson. “They’re buying into how we want to defend and how aggressive we need to be. Everyone’s starting to understand their role, and I’m pleased with where we’re at.”
The Friars have a busy week ahead. After beginning GCAC play versus St. Ignatius, Dec. 3 (after deadline), they visit Oak Park and River Forest, Dec. 5 (7 p.m.), then meet Lane Tech in the Chicago Elite Classic at Malcolm X College, Dec. 8, at 11:30 a.m.
“We’ll be able to get a test playing different schools,” Fergerson said. “I’m proud of the progress and looking forward to the rest of the season.”
OPRF
The Huskies went 1-3 at the Brenda Whitsell Thanksgiving Tournament at Hinsdale South, with the sole victory coming Nov. 23, 51-32 against Riverside-Brookfield. Tavia Allen, Gabriella Chesney, and Taryn Draine each tallied nine points in the win, and Chesney added seven rebounds.
Then on Nov. 30 in the Joyce Kenner Classic at Whitney Young, Thornton Fractional North defeated OPRF 66-36, dropping the Huskies to 1-4 this year. The defense has allowed at least 60 points in each defeat, and it’s something coach Renee Brantley says the team will work on improving.
“Absolutely,” she said. “We need to keep the defensive intensity consistent. We’ve showed spurts throughout the games and are coming along while learning to put four quarters together.”
Up this week for OPRF, following the West Suburban Silver opener against Glenbard West, Dec. 3 (after deadline), is the East Avenue Showdown versus visiting Fenwick, Dec. 5, and a WSC Silver contest at Proviso West, Dec. 10 (6 p.m.).
“Fenwick has been in a lot of close games,” Brantley said. “It’ll be interesting to see how well we learned from the tournament. Hopefully, we can come out to a great start and put everything together.”
Correction, Dec. 6, 5:28 p.m.: This article has been updated to correct the location of the Chicago Elite Classic. It is Malcolm X College. We regret the error.