Candace Parker fell backward in disbelief after she dunked for the first time.
“I said, `Oh, my gosh,'” the 6-foot-3-inch Naperville Central forward recalled. “I didn’t even think I could do it. It was cool.”
Parker had come up short on her first few attempts about three months ago when she was at a local gym with her father, Larry. She succeeded with a one-handed drop-in by the end of the workout.
“Her eyes lit up,” her father said.
She is still perfecting the dunk with her father’s guidance and has been successful only in practices. Her two recent attempts in games hit the back of the rim.
Parker has plenty of time to work on it considering she is just a sophomore. Her first priority is getting her team Downstate for the first time later this winter. She is averaging 20 points and 14 rebounds for No. 2 Naperville Central (11-0) after a stellar freshman season.
Her talent will be on display this week in the 19th annual Dundee-Crown tournament. Six ranked teams, including top-rated New Trier, will play in Carpentersville.
“Last year I didn’t know what this tournament was about,” Parker said. “This year I’m excited. We’ll find out where we stand.”
But fans shouldn’t expect any dunks this week.
“It’s nice to be flashy, but I still think fundamentals are key,” Parker said. “Not many girls in the United States can do it.
“It’s nice to do something the same as the boys.”
GIRLS
DUNDEE-CROWN
Wednesday through Saturday at Dundee-Crown High School, 1 Charger Country, Carpentersville.
You better watch out
Everyone is wary of eighth-ranked Regina (11-2), which is on a roll after beating No. 4 Fenwick, Washington and Maine South less than two weeks ago and knocking off Evanston on Tuesday night.
“We hope it doesn’t stop,” Regina coach Bob Goldberg says.
Center Jenna Markoff averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s last four victories, and she’s getting help from forward Christina Quaye.
“We don’t know how they’ve lost a game,” Fenwick coach Dave Power says. “They have so much talent.”
True to its holiday tradition, this tournament is loaded with many of the area’s top teams. This year’s field includes schools that have won four of the last seven Class AA state titles.
Regina plays Fremd in the first round and could play No. 15 Stevenson in the quarterfinals and Fenwick in the semifinals.
Two-time defending tourney champ Fenwick plays a tough Resurrection team in the first round and could face No. 19 Buffalo Grove in the quarterfinals.
Barring an upset, No. 1 New Trier and No. 2 Naperville Central will meet in the other semifinal.
“If you blink or feel bad for yourself, you’re going to be eliminated,” Stevenson coach Frank Mattucci says. “And you have to be a little bit lucky.”
Title game: 8 p.m. Saturday.
HILLCREST
Wednesday through Saturday at Hillcrest High School, 175th and Pulaski, Country Club Hills.
You’d better be good
Janelle Hughes, the tournament’s most valuable player in 2000, is back with averages of 21 points, eight rebounds and six steals for ninth-ranked Hillcrest (7-1). The Hawks have a first-round game against Tinley Park.
“I always try to raise the bar for tournaments,” Hughes says. “I’m up for it.”
Hughes and teammate Nadia Bibbs, who averages 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists, will give Hillcrest a shot at its third championship in four years. That’s if Hillcrest can get past 18th-ranked Sandburg in the semifinals, assuming both teams win their first-round and quarterfinal games.
The top seed, though, belongs to No. 3 Marian Catholic (11-0), which has won its last six games by an average of nearly 28 points behind five players who average double figures. Missy Mitidiero scores 16 a game, Lauren Lacey 14, Kelly Duewerth 11, 6-foot-4-inch Maureen Simon 10 and Mary Basic 10.
“Some of them could be leading scorers on other teams, but these kids are all about winning,” Marian Catholic coach Shannon Reidy says. “They’re so unselfish.”
Title game: 8 p.m. Saturday.
PEORIA MANUAL
Thursday through Saturday at Peoria Manual High School, 811 S. Griswold St., Peoria.
Dashing through the snow
Fifth-ranked Marshall (8-0) makes its first appearance in a field that also features No. 10 Hope, defending tourney champion Champaign Centennial and East St. Louis. Marshall and Hope start out in different pools, which feed into a bracket tourney Friday. The Public League rivals could end up meeting for their second game in 11 days. Marshall won the first game 61-58 behind Lashonda Grant’s free throws and Tiffany Sardin’s 17 points.
Sardin is finally playing injury-free. Last year she helped Marshall reach the state quarterfinals despite shoulder and back injuries. “That was simply because of her commitment to our program and because she loves the game so much,” Marshall coach Dorothy Gaters says.
Sardin has been a big contributor for three seasons, but Gaters notes that Hope “has a bunch of players” who have been carrying the third-year program for that long. Those players are Kristin Moore, Lachelle Lyles and Shuntae Roberison.
Title game: 4 p.m. Saturday.
BOYS
PROVISO WEST
Wednesday through Saturday at Proviso West High School, 4701 W. Harrison St., Hillside.
He sees you when you’re sleeping
If speedy Proviso East guards Dee Brown or Shannon Brown catch a defender napping, “You can forget about it; just put two points on the scoreboard,” Proviso East coach Troy Jackson says.
Dee is averaging 29 points and Shannon 23 for the top-ranked Pirates (7-0), who play Providence-St. Mel on Wednesday. Proviso East hasn’t won this tournament since 1991–also the last season it won a state championship.
“They’re hyped,” Jackson says of his players. “Every game is a big game, and they know everyone wants to play their best game against us.”
No. 4 Farragut, the tourney’s defending champ, No. 3 Young, No. 11 Thornridge and St. Mel have ambitious schedules in the next two weeks, playing at Proviso West this week and in the Public League Invitational next week. Each one could play up to eight games.
“I hope we do play eight games,” Thornridge coach Mike Flaherty says. “That means we go all the way.”
There are seven ranked teams in the Proviso West field, including No. 16 Manley, No. 17 Schaumburg and No. 19 Fenwick. New Trier and host Proviso West also boast tough teams.
Title game: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
RICH SOUTH
Wednesday through Saturday at Rich South High School, 5000 Sauk Trail, Richton Park.
Star of wonder, star of night
No. 12 Shepard (7-2) returns to defend its championship in the 29th Big Dipper tournament, but the Astros could get derailed by unbeaten Rich South (9-0) in the semifinals or No. 14 Bloom in the title game.
“Our record is good, but we’re not playing as well as we did last year,” Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello says.
He’s getting sizable contributions from Mike Smith, who averages 15.8 points, and Mike Hall, who scores 11 points and grabs 9.4 rebounds a game.
Bloom (8-2) gets 21 points a game from 6-4 Joe Chapman and 18 from 6-5 Antonio Cool. Rotating post players Josh Argue, Luther Boyd, Kevin Howard and Larry Ellis give Bloom depth down low.
“The more effective they become in the post, the easier things are for Chapman and Cool on the wings,” Bloom coach Gary Meyer says.
Leo, Hinsdale Central and Hales Franciscan are capable of pulling upsets.
Title game: 8 p.m. Saturday.
PONTIAC
Thursday through Saturday at Pontiac High School, 1100 Indiana Ave., Pontiac.
Oh, come, all ye faithful
This 71-year-old tournament attracts some of the state’s top teams. “Little kids ask for autographs,” Joliet coach Bob Koskosky says. “The town embraces the tournament. It still has that hometown atmosphere.”
Koskosky’s second-ranked Steelmen are defending champions and own the top seed. Kellen Easley, who averages 14 points and nine rebounds, and Branden Dillard have been instrumental in the team’s 10-1 start.
West Aurora (7-1), the 2000 state champion, won its last Pontiac title in 1990. Coach Gordie Kerkman’s fifth-ranked Blackhawks are battling illness and injuries. Dameon Mason leads the team in scoring at 15 points a game. Point guard Jaeh Thomas contributes 11, and he appears to be overcoming a recent bout with the flu.
The Blackhawks’ only loss came in overtime to DuPage Valley rival Wheaton North.
“We’re winning, but we’re not playing the kind of basketball we should be,” Kerkman says. “I told Illinois coach Bill Self the other day, `We’re playing like you guys.’ We’re just not there yet.”
Peoria Manual could prevent West Aurora from reaching the title game. Former Proviso East coach Andrew Johnson has Manual off to an 8-2 start.
Title game: 9 p.m. Saturday.
