St. Edward, Westminster set sights on regional titles

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St. Edward's Callie Johnson (left) leads the Green Wave into the Class 2A postseason this week. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Updated: May 9, 2012 10:13AM

While St. Edward’s girls have displayed an impeccable sense of timing, Westminster Christian may be arriving a bit ahead of schedule.

Both Elgin teams rate strong chances for regional titles this week, St. Edward in the North Boone Class 2A Regional and Westminster in its own Class 1A regional, as small schools begin the path to Illinois State University and the IHSA girls final four.

A veteran, tournament-tested Green Wave squad is playing its best basketball of the year and rides a six-game winning streak into a regional where it is seeded second. Westminster’s sophomore-dominated squad, meanwhile, played consistent basketball all year to gain a top seed on its own court.

North Boone
Class 2A Regional

St. Edward (20-7) promises to be a dangerous opponent because of balance, depth and experience.

“We went through a time after our Christmas tournament when we sort of had the midseason blahs,” coach Michelle Dawson said. “We were playing some tougher teams — Walther Lutheran, Montini, and South Elgin — and we just had to fight through that. We were able to do that and are playing our best ball now.”

The Green Wave, which opens tourney play Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. against the winner of Monday’s game between third-seeded Rockford Christian (19-6) and sixth-seeded Harvard (1-25), has been a tournament team. The Wave won championships at the Lisle Christmas and Dakota Thanksgiving tournaments.

It probably isn’t surprising because it’s a veteran group with six seniors, most of whom played roles for last year’s sectional final-qualifying team: guards Madeline Kerr, Callie Johnson and Kelly Tripicchio, forwards Paige Gannon and Katherine Von Ahnen and center Alex Lee. Those six, junior guard Rena Ranallo and sophomore Katie Swanson give Dawson something very few 2A teams have — productive depth.

“Paige, Kelly and Katie — I would feel very good about having any of those three on the floor instead of one of the starters if we go to them,” Dawson said. “They could be starters, any one of those kids.”

The Green Wave’s balance is another strength. Over their six-game winning streak, they’ve had five different players lead in scoring. Kerr (11.0 ppg), Johnson (10.6 ppg), Lee (10.1 ppg) and Ranallo (8.3 ppg) have done the most scoring over the season.

“Maddie and Callie have been absolutely clutch at the free throw line,” Dawson said.

Kerr averages 79.4 percent at the line and Johnson a team-best 80.5 percent, putting both among the best in the area.

“You feel comfortable having girls who such confidence at the end of a game when it comes to making free throws,” Dawson said.

A likely matchup against Rockford Christian Wednesday would pit the Green Wave against a team strong on defense and rebounding, with 6-foot-5 center Emily Nylen (3.5 blocks, 9 points per game) and 5-8 senior forward Holly Williams (5.8 steals per game).

A potential championship matchup for St. Edward against Rockford Lutheran (23-7) — which beat the Green Wave 48-44 late last month — would take place Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Westminster
Class 1A Regional

No. 1 seed Westminster (19-8) opens Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. against the winner of Monday’s game between fifth-seeded Elgin Academy (4-14) and Chicagoland Jewish.

The Warriors have seven sophomores. Whitney Vanden Bos, Haley Flickinger and post player Porsche Griggs are the only seniors.

Griggs’ health is a question after twisting her knee a week and a half ago, but the team’s scoring leader (9.5 ppg) is expected back for either the first tourney game or title game. Sophomores Claire Speweik (8.9 ppg), McKaila Hays (8.4 ppg) and Kinsley Donahue (6 ppg) provide added punch.

“For us, this season started last summer,” coach Ken Flickinger said. “We thought we had the makings of a good squad. So we played at Dundee-Crown, played at DeKalb, and playing the bigger, faster schools really set a good tone for us going into the season. We wanted to play at a faster pace.”

Westminster lives by its press, but if Griggs is available the Warriors can go inside to her in a halfcourt game.

“She’s a huge presence and there’s a lot of teams that just don’t have a player that matches up against her every well,” Flickinger said.

Guard Ashley Barnes and promising freshman pivot player Alysson Wittmeyer key Elgin Academy’s chances. They beat third-seeded Harvest Christian Friday.

Harvest Christian opens at 6 p.m. Monday against sixth-seeded Woodlands Academy. The Lions went 1-3 in four games during the season against possible semifinal opponent, second-seeded Christian Liberty.

Harvest Christian (14-10) expects to have 6-foot-1 sophomore center Sydney Doby (15 ppg, 12.7 rpg) back from an ankle injury. She tested the ankle in one game after missing three weeks due to the injury and appears ready. Harvest Christian was without both her and its leader in the backcourt, freshman Kylee Knox (7.8 ppg), during a 23-22 loss to Elgin Academy last week.

“Kylee has done a nice job as a freshman stepping up as far as scoring when Sydney was out,” Harvest Christian coach Kelly Friestad said.

In their first season of IHSA basketball, the Lions are even younger than Westminster. They have no juniors or seniors. The other starters are 5-8 freshman Morgan Lockwood, 5-8 freshman Jordie Wells and 5-6 sophomore Carol Kauffman.

“We’re not that great offensively, but we can be with both Sydney in there and if Kylee gets hot with her shooting a little bit,” Friestad said. “But our 1-2-2 press has caused a lot of steals and layups and is our biggest strength.”