The Fenwick and Trinity girls basketball teams stayed on track for a possible postseason rematch as each school won its regional title in comfortable fashion.
At the IHSA Class 3A Fenwick Regional title game, Feb. 19, Avani Williams had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead Fenwick past Amundsen 56-39. The Friars (15-15) have won eight of their past nine games as their very good late-season play continues.
“It feels really good,” said Williams of winning the regional, the program’s first since 2023. “Especially only being a sophomore and having eight seniors on our team, it’s impressive. We’ve gone a lot further than we did last year, so it’s really exciting.”
Fenwick set the tone early, thanks to intense defensive pressure that forced Amundsen into multiple turnovers or questionable shots that were off the mark. The Vikings had just one first-half basket – a three-pointer from Charlii Lopez with three minutes left in the second quarter.
“You take for granted winning a regional,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson. “When I first came on board with coach [Dave] Power, we won back-to-back [3A] sectionals. Then we got moved up to 4A and were bounced in the first game of the playoffs [last two years]. To come back and get these two means a lot for that group of seniors. I’m just happy they’re able to go out with a regional, but the job’s not done.”
One of those seniors, Cammie Molis, scored 11 points, as did sophomore Lucy McAllister. Fenwick, the third seed at the Trinity Sectional, met second-seeded Northside Prep in a semifinal, Feb. 24, after deadline. A win would move the Friars to the final, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., against either host Trinity, the top seed, or fourth-seeded Latin.
“We’ve got three more to get downstate, that’s our goal,” Fergerson said. “It’s win or go home at this point. Everybody’s going give you their best effort. Every game going forward, someone’s going home and that’s our mindset.”
“We need to keep staying positive and going hard at practice 100 percent,” Williams said. “We’re on to Trinity.”
Trinity
The Blazers (22-10) played every bit like the sectional’s top seed, routing host Elmwood Park 56-15 in the regional final, Feb. 19. It’s the program’s sixth consecutive regional title.
While head coach Kim Coleman is appreciative of the accomplishment, she says Trinity has bigger goals in mind.
“That’s the standard and there really wasn’t a large celebration,” Coleman said. “We have our sights set on something bigger than what we’ve normally been doing.”
Destinie Roe led Trinity with 16 points and seven rebounds. Jazmyn Ratliff had 10 points and five assists; Zaria Goins, nine points, six rebounds, four assists, and five steals; and Keyera Gamble, eight points and two blocks.
“Destinie’s playing at a high level,” Coleman said. “She understands how valuable she is to this team, defensively and offensively. She’s learning to be a star in her role at the right time.”
Trinity faced Latin in a sectional semifinal, Feb. 24, after deadline. A win would advance the Blazers to the final against Fenwick or Northside Prep.
“[Latin’s] guards like to shoot the ball and they have a post who’s a lefty and has that Dirk Nowitzki vibe. She’ll shoot over her left shoulder,” Coleman said. “They’re a team that’s going to play with nothing to lose and we’ve got to be prepared for that.”
OPRF
The season came to an end as the Huskies (6-24) were eliminated by DePaul Prep in the semifinals of the Class 4A DePaul Prep Regional, 49-15, Feb. 17.
While OPRF loses five seniors to graduation, including three-year varsity player Gabriella Chesney, freshman Katara Watson – a West Suburban Silver All-Conference team member – and juniors Selah Backeberg and Taryn Draine should provide a solid foundation for the Huskies to reload around.