The facts of life are these for Charese Reed: Perennial power Marshall is in pursuit of an eighth state championship for coach Dorothy Gaters beginning next week.
Winning that title is important to Reed, nicknamed “Tootie” for a character in the old television series “The Facts of Life,” because Gaters has meant so much to her and the No. 4 Commandos. And, as Marshall’s players have mentioned, this is likely the final season on the bench for Illinois’ winningest girls basketball coach.
“I know a lot of colleges call coach Gaters because she produces some of the best players in the nation,” Reed said. “I’ve learned a lot from playing for her.”
Reed, a 5-foot-10-inch Rutgers recruit, finally has been able to play virtually injury free. As a freshman she suffered a stress fracture, as a sophomore it was a dislocated thumb and last season she had a severely sprained ankle.
She’s averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Public League champions.
Marshall is expected to do well in the Class AA state tournament, which begins next week. The Commandos are expected to face Young, the team they beat for the city title, in the St. Ignatius sectional final. And to get to the Elite Eight, Marshall would have to get by the New Trier sectional winner.
“Pride is a big part of it,” said Reed, who is well aware that in 2003 no Public League team qualified for the Class AA quarterfinals for the first time since the IHSA series began in 1977. “It’s like that since I’ve been here. Losing is weird.”
Here’s a look at which Class AA teams, if the rankings hold, will end up at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena the weekend of March 6-7.
Naperville Central
After the defending state champions beat Marshall by 19 points, coach Andy Nussbaum had a scary thought: The No. 1 Redhawks can play better. Candace Parker, Tiffany Hudson, Rachel Crissy and Erica Carter have Central on a roll.
In the Redhawks’ path: a possible repeat sectional final with Neuqua Valley. Then it’s No. 6 Bolingbrook or No. 10 Benet in the supersectionals.
Loyola
Brittany McCoy’s defense is the key, coach Tanya Johnson believes. “Our steals are connected to her on-the-ball pressure,” Johnson said. The No. 2 Ramblers are 29-0 after Thursday’s 41-27 victory over Hersey. There’s plenty of balance with Maggie Duggan and Eileen Weissmann.
In the Ramblers’ path: New Trier and Marshall. The Trevians were missing Deirdre Naughton and Maddie Johnson in a 31-22 loss to Loyola Dec. 6.
Glenbrook South
Pam Findlay scored 20 points in a victory over Marshall, and Sara Stutz’s last-second 15-footer beat New Trier to send Glenbrook South students into a frenzy in a packed gym Jan. 3. That gave No. 3 South a 26-0 mark.
In the Titans’ path: Mid-Suburban champ Fremd or No. 13 Prospect, the sectional host. Or No. 16 Resurrection, with scoring machine Kristi Cirone. A potential supersectional match would be against No. 8 Carmel at Loyola’s Gentile Center.
Fenwick
Coach Dave Power replaced 6-2 Erin Lawless (now at Purdue) with two big freshmen–6-3 Samantha Woods and 6-2 Devereaux Peters. Georgetown recruit Kristin Heidloff is averaging 16.9 points and has more than 1,500 career points.
In the Friars’ path: Trinity and Caprice Smith will be the biggest obstacle. Harlan is a possible supersectional opponent.
Sandburg
Erin Cattell’s emergence has put the Eagles, the No. 2 seed and sectional host, in good shape. The 6-foot junior has led Sandburg in scoring the last seven games.
In the Eagles’ path: No. 14 Marian Catholic has slumped, but any team with 6-3 Minnesota recruit Lauren Lacey is dangerous. And there’s Joliet Catholic with Allie Quigley. Then it’s Stagg or Thornwood in the supersectionals.
Bartlett
The No. 12 Hawks have one of the best juniors in the state, Lindsay Schrader. The 6-foot junior (21 points, 10 rebounds per game) has recovered from internal bleeding and is “getting stronger,” according to coach Denise Sarna.
In the Hawks’ path: Cary-Grove, with 6-3 Ellen Jaeschke, would be a tough sectional matchup. Sterling is the No. 1 seed in the opposing Dixon sectional.
