IHSA Class 3A State Finals Preview
Chicago Simeon makes its return to ISU after missing out on the State tournament the previous three seasons after taking fourth place in 2017. They square off against a Montini team that made eight trips to the State Tournament throughout…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingChicago Simeon makes its return to ISU after missing out on the State tournament the previous three seasons after taking fourth place in 2017. They square off against a Montini team that made eight trips to the State Tournament throughout the 2010s.
Morton, the undefeated defending State Champs at 3A, look to finish their perfect season and take home their fifth title in the past six years, while State Tournament ‘Newcomer’ Springfield Lanphier comes in upset-minded after a stellar 2019-2020 season.
Schedule and Information
At Redbird Arena, Normal Ill.
Friday’s semifinals
Chicago (Simeon) vs. Lombard (Montini), 11:00 a.m.
Morton vs. Springfield (Lanphier), 1:00 p.m.
Championship Saturday
Third-place game, 11:00 a.m.
Championship game, (approximately) 1: 00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 general admission
TV: IHSA TV NETWORK
Stream: NFHS Network
Teams
Chicago Simeon (32-3)
Projected starters
2 Cashay Dixon (2020, G, 5-8) – 14.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
4 Jayla White (2022, G, 5-7) – 3.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.6 apg
10 Diamond Stokes (2020, C, 6-3) – 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .64 apg
24 Aneesah Morrow Aneesah Morrow 6'1" | SG Simeon | 2021 State #46 Nation IL (2021, F, 6-1) – 26.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.76 apg
25 Khaniah Gardner Khaniah Gardner 6'2" | PF Simeon | 2021 State IL (2021, F, 6-2) – 10.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.3 apg
Coach Jonathan Davenport is in his fourth season as Simeon’s leader, with a record of 97-28. The Wolverines are looking to cap off a dominant playoff run, during which their closest game was won by 17 points. Junior Aneesah Morrow Aneesah Morrow 6'1" | SG Simeon | 2021 State #46 Nation IL has taken her game to a new level and definitely put herself in discussion for Illinois Ms. Basketball recognition.
Key to watch: Simeon’s strong Post Players foul situation. The Wolverines are not a particularly deep team, but starters Morrow (6’1”), Diamond Stokes (6’3”), and Khaniah Gardner Khaniah Gardner 6'2" | PF Simeon | 2021 State IL (6’2”) are going to be crucial against Montini.
Lombard Montini (32-4)
Projected starters
1 Sophie Sullivan Sophie Sullivan 5'7" | PG Willowbrook | 2022 State IL (2022, G, 5-8) – 8.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.9 apg
5 Sydney Prochaska (2020, G, 5-10) – 5.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg
21 Taylor Charles Taylor Charles 6'1" | SF Burlington Central | 2022 State #54 Nation IL (2022, F, 6-2) – 9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 apg
22 Tatiana Thomas Tatiana Thomas 5'11" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL (2022, F, 5-11) – 9.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg
24 Angelina Giordano Angelina Giordano 5'9" | SG Loyola Academy | 2022 State IL (2022, G, 5-9) – 5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg
Head Coach Jason Nichols is in his 17th year coaching the Lady Broncos, during which the program has enjoyed a 520-93 record and now 10 State Finals appearances, including four championships. No player averages in double figures for points, but seven average more than five. They play terrific team-ball on both ends, so opponents trying to stop a single player will not like the results.
Key to watch: Guarding Aneesah Morrow Aneesah Morrow 6'1" | SG Simeon | 2021 State #46 Nation IL . Montini is likely to throw several different looks at Simeon, including how they treat Morrow both on the perimeter and in the paint. Sophomores Taylor Charles Taylor Charles 6'1" | SF Burlington Central | 2022 State #54 Nation IL and Tatiana Thomas Tatiana Thomas 5'11" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL , along with Junior Forward Taris Thornton Taris Thornton 6'0" | SF Willowbrook | 2021 State IL , could see time guarding the star Wolverine guard.
Morton (36-0)
Projected starters
4 Courtney Jones Courtney Jones 5'5" | CG Morton | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 5-8) – 7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.5 apg
11 Peyton Dearing (2020, G, 5-4) – 9.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.1 apg
23 Lindsey Dullard Lindsey Dullard 6'1" | PF Morton | 2020 State IL (2020, G, 6-1) – 15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
30 Maggie Hobson (2022, G, 5-7) – 3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .43 apg
31 Katie Krupa Katie Krupa 6'2" | SF Morton | 2022 State IL (2022, F, 6-2) – 11.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg
Bob Becker is in his 21st year as the leader of the Lady Potters, who have been dominant state-wide recently. Morton is looking to take home their second State Championship in a row, and their fifth in six years. Like Montini, the Lady Potters play excellent team ball, but Senior Lindsey Dullard Lindsey Dullard 6'1" | PF Morton | 2020 State IL (14.9 PPG) and Sophomore Katie Krupa Katie Krupa 6'2" | SF Morton | 2022 State IL (11.7 PPG) lead the team in scoring.
Key to watch: If Morton plays their game and takes care of business in the Semifinal, they’ll face the Simeon/Montini winner, which will play like teams Morton rarely sees. While Morton did have a very nice run against Chicago-area teams at the State Farm Holiday Classic, Simeon and Montini both have several Elite players that will be tough to stop.
Sprinfield Lanphier (26-8)
Projected starters
1 Kiya Holman (2020, G, 5-5) – 4.8 ppg
14 Cheyenne Trotter (2022, F, 6-0) – 6.7 ppg
15 Lezhauria Williams (2020, G, 5-7) – 7.5 ppg
20 Serenity Price (2021, C, 6-0) – 10.9 ppg
24 Martrice Brooks (2020, G, 5-7) – 16.2 ppg, rpg, apg
Head Coach Doug Collins is in his 21st year as coach of the Lady Lions, who are making the programs first trip to the State Tournament. Lanphier is led by Senior Matrice Brooks Matrice Brooks 5'7" | CG Springfield Lanphier | 2020 State IL , who is pacing the team offensively with 16.2 PPG.
Keys to watch: Unfortunately for Lanphier, they draw the undefeated powerhouse that is Morton. The Lady Lions are playing as well as anyone right now with an impressive postseason run and can’t change things up just because of the opponent. It will take a team effort, but if they can play sound team defense and get hot from three, they could give Morton a run.
Predictions
Chicago (Simeon) vs. Lombard (Montini)
While the teams haven’t played each other yet this season, you know the coaches are familiar with how the opposing team plays. Simeon is going to push the ball up the floor with Dixon looking for her posts, and Morrow is going to do her thing. Montini can run as well but watch them use their depth and talent to not let Simeon take them out of their game. This has all the makings for a classic, but I’m going to say Montini moves on because of that depth.
Prediction: Montini 55, Simeon 53
Morton vs. Springfield (Lanphier)
Lanphier has played some great ball and beaten some good teams to get to this point, but Morton is just another animal. Along with Montini, they are among the best teams in the State with how they use their depth to takeover games and never look back. I think Morton continues their dominance here, which sets up for an exciting Championship against Montini.
Prediction: Morton 65, Lanphier 47