Class 4A Third-Place Game

Huntley vs. Whitney Young

Friday, March 1

6:30 p.m.

Huntley (26-7)

Starters

Kayla Barreto, guard, freshman

Bethany Zornow, guard, junior

Haley Ream, guard/forward, senior

Ali Andrews, forward, freshman

Sam Andrews, forward, junior

Top Scorers

Sam Andrews, 16.1 PPG

Ali Andrews, 16.0 PPG

Haley Ream, 5.8 PPG

Top Rebounders

Ali Andrews, 7.4 RPG

Sam Andrews, 5.9 RPG

Haley Ream, 5.5 RPG

How They Got Here

Huntley carried a number three seed going into the Belvidere North Regional.  The Raiders knocked off the second-seeded DeKalb Barbs with 18 points from Sam Andrews, 13 from Ali Andrews, and 11 by Bethany Zornow, who pulled down a crucial rebound with a one-point lead on the line.  After that, the Raiders played first-seeded Belvidere North in the regional championship, which Huntley won 60-41.  The Raiders’ collective offensive charge and shutdown defense gave it a quick victory over the Blue Thunder.

Next was the Class 4A Rockford East Sectional Semifinal against Harlem.  Huntley’s resiliency shined as the Raiders fought off a late run and pulled in another victory, with major contributions from Ali, who towered over the Huskies.

The Raiders showed they could beat a tough full-court press by shutting down the Streamwood Sabres for the second time this season, giving Huntley its first sectional championship in school history.  Although Wheaton Warrenville South had a height advantage at all positions in the Class 4A Dundee-Crown Super-Sectional, Huntley picked up more boards and punched its ticket to state, again behind its conventional shutdown defense.

In its semifinal on Friday night, Huntley showed toughness with defending and answering to Rolling Meadows’ big three.  The game turned into a running game quickly as the Raiders and Mustangs went bucket for bucket for a stretch of time, tiring Huntley. Huntley’s offense quickly crumbled as it was forced to take outside shots and subsequently didn’t take much advantage of scoring opportunities.

Key Threat

Haley Ream

Ream got in foul trouble early on Friday night and ha trouble getting going against a quick Rolling Meadows team. If Huntley wants to beat a tough WhitneyYoung team that’s playing mad today, Ream has to get her points in the paint and spread our the offense for the Raiders.

X-Factor

Huntley has to show it can change and adapt against a Whitney Young team that preys on teams that run their conventional style of offense. The Raiders also need to bring their defense and not be intimidated by All American Linnae Harper and the 6-foot, 5-inch Khaalia Hillsman. If they do that, they’re golden.

Whitney Young (26-4)

Starters

Khaalia Hillsman, center, junior

Linnae Harper, guard, sophomore

Tanita Allen, forward, sophomore

Syney Snower, guard, senior

Taylor Brame, forward, junior

Top Scorers

Linnae Harper, 19.1 PPG

Khaalia Hillsman, 8.9 PPG

Taylor Brame, 7.5 PPG

Top Rebounders

Khaalia Hillsman, 10.0 RPG

Linnae Harper, 9.1 RPG

Taylor Brame, 6.1 RPG

How They Got Here

There isn’t much to say about the Dolphin’s road to state.  Three 80-plus-point performances set up a 30-point victory in the Class 4A Trinity Sectional Final.  The annual war between Whitney Young and Bolingbrook sparked up yet again in the Hinsdale Central Super-Sectional.  After the Dolphins lead for the majority of the game, Bolingbrook’s pressure-feeding defense rallied back and had a chance to win the game–but couldn’t take the shot.  Hillsman, the 6-foot, 5-inch center for Whitney Young, was clutch in overtime to help the Dolphins win by a point and advance to state.

The Dolphins lost in a blowout on Friday night as their offense stalled and defense coughed up too many points in the paint against what looks like the best team in the state, Marian Catholic.

Key Threat

Linnae Harper

Harper looked mentally and physically tired in the Marian Catholic game while Ashton Millender feasted on her defense.  Harper has to get going to spark the Dolphins’ offense.

X-Factor

When the Dolphins got frustrated on Friday night, they made bad shots and ran their mouths, drawing a trio of technical fouls. The Raiders will frustrate them tonight with their defense, and it’ll all come down to how the Dolphins respond.

Photos by Mike Krebs/The Voice