4A Sectional Finals Standouts (Pt 2)
The Sectional Finals were highly anticipated… but delivered. There were blowouts, close games, and upsets. Teams went home to reflect on the season, others went home to get prepared for Monday. In specifics to the 4A Section Finals.. below were my…
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Continue ReadingThe Sectional Finals were highly anticipated… but delivered. There were blowouts, close games, and upsets. Teams went home to reflect on the season, others went home to get prepared for Monday.
In specifics to the 4A Section Finals.. below were my selected predictions from the day before.
(1) Loyola Vs. (2) Maine South
(1) Stevenson Vs. (6) Lake Zurich
(1) Benet Vs. (2) Naperville North
(1) Lyons Township Vs. (3) Whitney Young
(1) Bolingbrook Vs. (3) Homewood-Flossmoor
(1) Edwardsville Vs. (5) Normal (Community)
(2) Wheaton North Vs. (4) St. Charles East
(1) Barrington Vs. (2) South Elgin
Below are the winners and standouts from each game above.
Bolingbrook
’22 Tatiana Thomas Tatiana Thomas 5'11" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL | 5’10 Forward | Bolingbrook
Hustle, muscle, and confidence. The future Kent WBB player is a tough matchup on both sides of the ball. Her skillset is full of patience and strength, and she applies that from the moment steps on and off the court. Offensively, her game is on high alert in the mid to the paint area but can knock down the deep ball when needed. She’s full of strength and patience in the post. On the defensive side, that same relentless mindset is applied. She dives, communicates, and plays great help side and man defense.
’22 Rachyl Robinson | 5’6 Guard | Homewood-Flossmoor
Winning multiple awards and a Mcdonald’s All-American nomination, the 5’6 guard is a top talent and tough matchup for anyone. She’s confident behind the arc and will keep shooting if the space or option is there. Her creativity with the ball allows her to get open when she pleases and knock down the mid-jumper. Her height is not a knock on her talent, she knows how to use her size to her advantage and get to her spots.
Edwardsville
’22 Sydney Harris Sydney Harris 6'0" | SG Edwardsville | 2022 State IL | 6’0 Guard | Edwardsville
Eclipsing 2000 career points and a sectionals plaque was a huge moment for the CMU Commit. Harris is known to be a strong shifty guard who can get to her spot when and however she wants. Her scoring comes with ease due to her space-creating ability. From all levels, she can score with the best of them. Her radar for rebounds is always on and her strength gives her the advantage to grab them at a high rate.
St Charles East
’22 Torrie Kortan Torrie Kortan 5'7" | CG St. Charles East | 2022 State IL | 5’7 Combo Guard | St Charles East
One of the most fundamentally sound backcourt players to watch. Torrie has the skillset to play with and for anyone. Her playmaking ability for herself and her teammates is noticeable the moment she touches the ball. She’s a three-level scorer who can get it going at any point throughout the game. Her energy and clear leadership (very vocal) matched with her skillset is top tier. A glue piece for any team. The senior guard capped off a sectional championship with 21 points.
’22 Claire Hyde Claire Hyde 5'6" | CG Wheaton North | 2022 State IL | 5’6 Guard | Wheaton North
A strong guard who can get it done in the paint or from beyond the arc. Claire has the strength to attack the lane with force but can finish with finesse. From beyond the arc, Claire is as efficient and deadly as they come. She can knock down the long ball from 6-8 steps back with no problem. On the opposite side of the ball, she can guard most positions due to her steady balance and pure strength. In a tough loss, Hyde finished the night and her high school career with 31 points. A college program is going to love having this kid on their roster.
Barrington
’23 Sophie Swanson Sophie Swanson 5'10" | SG Barrington | 2023 State IL | 5’10 Combo Guard | Barrington
Swanson is liable to go off for 40+ on any given night… even when she’s the center of the scouting report. Her confidence and smooth game allow her to be a threat in every aspect of the game. She can take you off the dribble, pull it in your face from 6-8 steps behind the arc, or simply pick and pop with her wings and posts. Defensively, the same amount of effort and hard work is applied to her matchups. The talent she has will only continue to grow as she gets older… PurdueWBB will be getting a bonafide star. She put up 21points for the night to get the win.
’23 Raina Yang Raina Yang 5'1" South Elgin | 2023 IL | 5’3 Guard | South Elgin
A crafty guard who can blow past anyone with her quickstep and smooth on a string handles. Yang has the ability to get herself in the paint by any means necessary, she uses the screens, pump fakes, and just completely throws off her defenders on most possessions. In a tough 7 point loss, Yang put 12 points to try to keep her team in the playoffs.