GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Girls Varsity Basketball Team finished their regular season 22-9, and 8-2 in conference, ending in a three-way tie for first place with Maine South and Evanston in the South Division, Scott Nemecek, Girls’ Basketball Head Coach, said.

A tie placed the team in the second-place Central Suburban League (CSL) crossover matchup rather than the conference championship game, Nemecek said. There are the North and South divisions, and in the crossover games on Feb. 10, teams from both Divisions were paired by their final standings and played against each other, Nemecek said. The Titans defeated Maine West during the CSL crossover match, making them CSL South Conference Co-Champs, Nemecek added.

“Our division tends to have some stronger teams,” Nemecek said. “I think all of the South Division teams beat the North Division teams.”

This season follows the graduation of eight seniors, Nemecek said. This year, the team has spent time establishing roles and determining how to combine each players’ strengths, Nemecek said.

“This year was more of finding our identity,” Nemecek said. “We are a fast team, we pressure a lot on defense, and we are a high IQ team.”

The team is currently ranked 22nd in the state and enters the postseason as the fourth seed in its section, Nemecek said. With more competitive teams in their future, the girls have to put their all into each upcoming game, Nemecek explained.

“The teams in our sectional is unbelievably strong,” Nemecek said. “There is work ahead of us, but it’s always fun to get out there and do it.”

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

When the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team was preparing for the start of regionals on Feb. 23, they reflected on a season of challenges and competitive matchups, Phil Ralston, Boys’ Head Varsity Basketball Coach, said.

A tough schedule and close games were the story of the season, Ralston said. While the team had a losing record of 12-17*, the group was able to stay focused and compete against high-performing teams, Ralston said.

“We have had some disappointing losses, but we have had some very competitive games,” Ralston said. “We compete against some of the best teams in the state, and I am proud of the way that our guys have held together as the seasons progressed.”

At a home tournament on Jan. 31, South’s Varsity team defeated McHenry Community High School—an opponent with a winning streak—marking one of the best games the team had this season, Ralston said.

“You never know what happens when you get to the state tournament,” Ralson said. “They call it March Madness for a reason.”

*Record as of Feb. 15