Class 2A State Finals Preview

The girls 2A State Finals begins tonight with the semi final games and everyone wondering, can anyone take down the mighty Dorothy Gaters and her Chicago Marshall team. Coach Gaters has won over 1,100 games and is coming off a title in 2019. The Commandos play a tough Chicago schedule and come to playoff time prepared to make their run. Here is a rundown of each team. Returning State Champions Chicago Marshall come in at 21-10. They have only had one close game in the playoffs, a 46-38 win over Phillips. That win avenged a loss in the last regular season game where Phillips won 42-41. The Commandos are led by Junior forward <strong>Jayonna Smith</strong>. Smith is  5'9 and is averaging 15.0 points per game. <strong>Roquesha Sims </strong>is a 5'7 Senior that has valuable experience on this stage and should provide scoring for Coach Gaters. Sims averages 9.1 points per game. <strong>Dejanae James </strong>is a 5'9 Senior that also chips in at 8.1 points per game. As always I am sure the Commandos will be tough on defense and look to push the pace whenever possible. Carterville comes in at 30-2 with only 1 loss to an Illinois team. That was to 3A Super Sectional qualifier Highland. The Lady Lions are led by a trio of experienced Seniors. SIU recruit <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jeniah-thompson/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jeniah-thompson/">Jeniah Thompson</a></a> </strong>is a 5'10 forward that scores 14.4 points per game and grabs 10 boards per game. <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbey-crain/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/abbey-crain/">Abbey Crain</a></a> </strong>is a 5'5 point guard that is second in scoring at 12.7 per game. Abbey is the teams most consistent three point threat having made 67 on the season. The third senior is 5'8 wing <strong>Megan Barton </strong>and her all around play brings in 10.2 points per game and she leads the team in assists. Sophomore wing <strong>Alecia Doyle </strong>provides additional scoring for the team at 10.7 per game. Port Byron ( Riverdale) comes in at 28-3 and has won 13 in a row. Veteran coach Jay Hatch has won over 500 games in his 26 year career. This Hatch's second year at the helm of the Port Byron program. <strong>Sydney Garrett </strong>leads the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game while also getting over 9 boards per game. The rest of the scoring is split pretty evenly among starters <strong>Molly Sharp, Brooke Smeltzy, Lauren Lodico and Shae Hanrahan. </strong>They all contribute between 5 and 7.5 points per game. The Lady Rams have a very balanced attack. Pleasant Plains comes in with a record of 26-3.Their only loss since December 1 came at the hands of 4A Sectional Final qualifier O'Fallon. Coach TJ Fraase has a veteran squad that is led in scoring by Junior <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/asya-smith/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/asya-smith/">Asya Smith</a></a></strong>. Smith is a 5'4 guard that scores 11.4 per game. Seniors <strong>Caroline Jachino and Heidi Hergenrother </strong>are at 9.8 and 8.2 points per game. Hergenrother is also the leading rebounder. Jachino leads the team in three point shots made and is capable of a huge game as she showed in the Hillsboro Sectional last year. Senior point guard <strong>Ali Fraase</strong> is the main ball handler on the floor and is an extension of her coach/father on the floor. This one should be exciting. I am going with a new champion this year. I will take Carterville to handle the pressure from Marshall and play Pleasant Plains in the final. In that game I will take Coach Matt Crain and his Carterville Lady Lions to bring home the trophy.