The GBS varsity women’s basketball team finished the 2012 season with a record of 23-8, making it to the Sectional finals for the third straight year, where they lost to Loyola 31-26  Feb. 23.

Head coach Steve Weissenstein was most impressed this season with how his team played defense through a tough schedule.

“We held teams to under 30 percent shooting,” he said. “And to win 23 games with the schedule [we had] is outstanding.”

In conference, the Titans held a record of 5-5 against teams from the Central Suburban League’s South Division. South also beat four non-conference opponents.

“All our conference games were big this year,” Weissenstein said. “And Maine South, New Trier and Niles West were consistently in the Top 20 in the state.”

Against New Trier, Maine South and Niles West, South had one win and five losses during the regular season.

Following the regular season, the Lady Titans proceeded to reel off three straight wins to start the 2012 IHSA Playoffs.

The first match-up for GBS was an 83-23 win over Lane Tech, which was followed by a 51-47 win in the Regional Championship over conference foe New Trier.

Coming into the Sectional Semi-Finals, South had not beaten Niles West in four years. The Titans emerged victorious by a score of 48-46.

The game would prove to be senior captain Colleen McDonagh’s last in a Titan uniform, as she broke her wrist early on.

“When I went down I was just hoping it would be a sprain,” McDonagh said. “I was disappointed [because] it would be my last game I would get to play.”

Following the injury, Weissenstein immediately felt that his team took a hit.

“When Colleen went down, that hurt our chances against Loyola,” Weissenstein said. “I think if Colleen had not gotten hurt, we would have [gone much further].”

The 2012 Lady Titans were led by three senior captains, McDonagh , Amelia Hummel and Abby Keller, all of whom are third-year varsity players.

McDonagh led the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game and averaged 4.5 assists, a team high as well.

Keller was third on the team in scoring averaging 7.8 points per game and 5.2 rebounds, while Hummel was second on the team with 6.6 rebounds per game.

Weissenstein says  juniors Molly McDonagh and Lindsey Oldshue also contributed to the team.

“Molly [did] a great job all over the floor in scoring, rebounding and defense,” Weissenstein said.

Oldshue, who had 7 points per game, was an under-the-radar player.

“Lindsey was the unsung hero of our team; every game she had to guard [great players like] Jewell Loyd and Maggie Lyon,” Weissenstein said. “Her defense really kept us in games […] she even had 18 points [in the Regional Championship].”

Weissenstein also attributed some success to his team’s bench.

“Kelsey [Byers] was a good passer, Sara [Meinecke] did a good job getting down the floor, and Katie [Jennings] had good offensive rebounds,” Weissesnstein said. “All those girls came off the bench and did a great job for us.”

Looking back on the season, Colleen noted a sense of unity on this team.

“Being on varsity since sophomore year, I’ve played on a lot of teams and this one [was] amazingly close,” the older McDonagh said. “Our best quality [was] how selfless we [were].”

Overall, Molly feels that the season was full of positives.

“I am really proud of everything we’ve accomplished,” she said. “I consider it a success.”