IHSA Class 4A State Finals Preview

Bolingbrook is back at State for the first time since 2011 when they had just won their third State Title in a row. Lincoln-Way West makes its first appearance downstate with a trio of sisters who might shoot the lights out at Redbird Arena. Lake Park also making their first trip to the State Finals, led by one of the best Seniors in the country in DePaul commit [player_tooltip player_id="53407" first="Darrione" last="Rogers"] and Fremd returns to the Final Four with a host of upperclassmen looking to finally take home the title.   Schedule and Information At Redbird Arena, Normal Ill.   Friday’s semifinals Palatine (Fremd) vs. Roselle (Lake Park), 5:30 p.m. New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West) vs. Bolingbrook, 7:15 p.m.   Championship Saturday Third-place game, 5:30 p.m. Championship game, (approximately) 7:15 p.m.   Tickets: $10 general admission   TV: <a href="https://www.ihsa.org/News-Media/IHSA-TV-Network">IHSA TV Network </a> Stream: <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/tournament/illinois-winter-championships/girls-basketball-il">NFHS Network </a>   Teams Bolingbrook (25-7) Projected starters 5 [player_tooltip player_id="158262" first="Kennedi" last="Perkins"] (2022, G, 5-5) – 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg 12 [player_tooltip player_id="158285" first="De’Ahna" last="Richardson"] (2021, F, 6-0) – 6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg 21 [player_tooltip player_id="53426" first="Treasure" last="Thompson"] (2020, F, 6-2) – 13.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .41 apg 24 Jayden Marable (2020, G, 5-7) – 9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg 25 [player_tooltip player_id="76299" first="Danyel" last="Middleton"] (2020, G, 5-11) – 9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg   Coach Chris Smith is in his seventh season as the Head Coach at Bolingbrook, during which the program has a 134-60 overall record. This is Bolingbrook’s’ first time back at the State Finals since claiming three consecutive Championships in 2009-2011. They took down Top-Ranked Benet in the Sectional Finals and a talented Whitney Young team in the Super Sectional. Key to watch: Bolingbrook’s size against the Lincoln-Way West zone defense. LWW plays a smaller, Guard heavy lineup in a 2-3 zone for most of the game, and it will be needed against Bolingbrook. [player_tooltip player_id="53426" first="Treasure" last="Thompson"] is a rebounding machine and three other starters average over 4rpg. If LWW doesn’t box out in their zone, which can be tough to do, watch for Bolingbrook to get several second-chance opportunities.   Lincoln-Way West (31-3) Projected starters 3 [player_tooltip player_id="123572" first="Tara" last="Gugliuzza"] (2021, G, 5-8) – 11.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg 4 [player_tooltip player_id="148139" first="Ava" last="Gugliuzza"] (2023, G, 5-5) – 13.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.2 apg 12 [player_tooltip player_id="76269" first="Taylor" last="Gugliuzza"] (2020, G, 5-8) – 17.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg 21 Sydney Swanberg (2020, G, 5-7) – 4.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg 24 [player_tooltip player_id="78771" first="Brianna" last="Wooldridge"] (2022, F, 6-2) – 12.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.3 apg   Head Coach Ryan White is in his 11th year coaching at Lincoln-Way West, during which the program has a 232-83 record. The Warriors are making their first appearance at State, and have done so with their past five victories coming in Central Illinois (Regionals at Normal Community, Sectionals at Pekin, Super Sectional at IWU). The Gugliuzza sisters are averaging a combined 42.9 PPG this season and a combined 233-539(43.2%) from three. Key to watch: [player_tooltip player_id="78771" first="Brianna" last="Wooldridge"] vs. [player_tooltip player_id="53426" first="Treasure" last="Thompson"]. Wooldridge, like Thompson, is a high-level prospect and rebounding machine. The 2-3 zone should help minimize the Bolingbrook inside game on offense, so watch Wooldridge use her strength and athleticism to get to the hoop on the offensive end and convert or draw fouls on Thompson and Co.   Fremd (28-7) Projected starters 2 [player_tooltip player_id="121843" first="Emily" last="Klaczek"] (2020, G, 5-10) – 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.3 apg 4 [player_tooltip player_id="123405" first="Grace" last="LaBarge"] (2021, G, 6-3) – 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .97 apg 5 [player_tooltip player_id="123568" first="Ruthie" last="Montella"] (2021, G, 6-0) – 8.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 apg 13 [player_tooltip player_id="121864" first="Olivia" last="Hill"] (2020, F, 6-0) – 8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.8 apg 22 Caroline Cochran (2020, G, 5-9) – 2.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.5 apg   Dave Yates is in his 14th season as the Head Coach at Fremd, who have enjoyed a 326-115 record and two State-Runners up seasons during his tenure. Fremd is the most veteran team at the 4A State Tournament this year with 11 Seniors and 4 Juniors on the roster. Senior PG [player_tooltip player_id="121843" first="Emily" last="Klaczek"] leads the team on both ends, but the Vikings are as deep and talented of a team as you will find. Key to watch: Contain [player_tooltip player_id="53407" first="Darrione" last="Rogers"]. The Lake Park Senior and DePaul commit is a favorite to win Illinois Ms. Basketball and scores the ball better than anyone in the state. Lake Park is a relatively young team with much less experience then Fremd. They’re playing very well right now, but if Fremd finds a way to contain (you can’t stop her) Rogers, they will have a good chance to move on.   Lake Park (26-8) Projected starters 4 Sara Balli (2022, G, 5-8) – 9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.9 apg 5 Gabi Burgess (2023, G, 5-6) – 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .85 apg 20 Emma Thorne (2021, F, 5-11) – 4.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 apg 21 [player_tooltip player_id="53407" first="Darrione" last="Rogers"] (2020, G, 5-11) – 25.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg 25 Ellie Helm (2031, F, 5-10) – 5.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.1 apg   Brian Rupp is in his 7th season as the Head Coach at Lake Park and has a 111-96 record during that time. The Lancers are making their first appearance at the State Tournament after a really impressive playoff run. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="53407" first="Darrione" last="Rogers"] (DePaul commit) is a favorite to win Illinois Ms. Basketball this season with her near 26ppg and 10rpg. Keys to watch: Stay hot! Lake Park is a relatively young team outside of Rogers, but they’ve risen to the challenge and taken down teams such as Bartlett, York, Geneva, and Dundee-Crown en route to State. I’m excited to see Rogers do her thing on the States biggest stage, but it will be interesting to see how the underclassmen adjust to the environment.   Predictions Fremd vs. Lake Park How Fremd looks to contain [player_tooltip player_id="53407" first="Darrione" last="Rogers"] will be interesting to take note of throughout the game. The Vikings are very well coached, so I’m sure they’ll mix things up to not let the Ms. Basketball contender get comfortable. While its not a sure thing, they have good size and depth, so I think it is possible to keep her in check (relatively) and still guard the other four for Lake Park. Prediction: Fremd 60 , Lake Park 49 Lincoln-Way West vs. Bolingbrook I am very excited to see how this game plays out. LWW’s outstanding shooting and Guard play (plus a great player in Wooldridge) against the size and strength of Bolingbrook. It will be a fast-paced game from both teams, which will make for tons of entertainment. LWW shoots the ball well, but you never know how that is impacted on a college court in an arena-style environment. Things that do translate, rebounding and inside scoring, may just give Bolingbrook the edge in this one. Prediction: Bolingbrook 64, Lincoln-Way West 60