Providence’s opponents know they need to shut down senior guard/forward Landrie Callahan.
But it’s easier said than done.
“Teams run a 2-3 zone to clog things up,” said Callahan, the Pepperdine recruit. “But coach (Eileen) Copenhaver designs plays to help get me open. She’s such a good coach.”
Copenhaver, however, deferred that credit to Callahan’s teammates.
“I think the key is the other kids around her,” Copenhaver said of Landrie. “If they see an advantage, they’ve been very unselfish. When there is too much inside, they will kick out.
“As long as we give and take and share, everything is good.”
Everything has been good lately for Callahan and the Celtics.
The 6-foot-2 Callahan brought home her third tournament MVP award, scoring 30 points and pulling down 14 rebounds Tuesday night in a 69-48 win over Lincoln-Way East in the Sandburg Holiday Classic championship game in Orland Park.
Callahan, who was also named MVP at the WJOL Tournament and the Oak Lawn Holiday Tournament, made sure the third time was the charm for her and the Celtics (16-1).
She averaged 24.7 points and 10 rebounds in wins over Minooka, Marist and Lincoln-Way East.
Following her transfer from Morris to Providence with younger sister Layken, Landrie has been enjoying the personal and team success this winter.
“It’s been amazing,” she said. “Everyone has been uplifting. I give all kudos to my teammates.”
Copenhaver pointed out how Landrie has been able to fit in right away for Providence.
“She’s always telling kids ‘good pass’ and always patting them on the back and picking them up,” Copenhaver said. “I really appreciate they have each other’s back. I think that goes a long way.”
Through the 2025 portion of the schedule, the lone blemish on the Celtics’ record was a 64-49 GCAC Red loss to Class 4A powerhouse Loyola.
With postseason assignments being announced, Providence will be in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional. The Celtics, who have never been to state in girls basketball, have won only one sectional title in program history in 2019-20. They hope to change that this season.
So far, things are falling into place.
“It’s so exciting and it’s awesome to see the progress we have made,” Landrie said. “To be able to win three tournaments is awesome.”
Turner in full Bloom
Two years in a row of Bloom not winning the championship of the Hillcrest Holiday Classic had left a bad taste in the mouth of senior guard Kamryn Turner.
But this time was a different story Monday night as the Blazing Trojans beat host Hillcrest 49-39 in Country Club Hills for the title. Not only did the Illinois-Springfield recruit lead her team with 15 points, she was named tournament MVP.
“Every time I play a game, I want to win, so it was disappointing when we lost her the last two years,” she said. “It was great that we could do that.”
Bloom coach Sherman White confirmed that winning the tournament was a big accomplishment for the Blazing Trojans (14-1). He also pointed out that Turner continues to get better.
“Kam is always someone we know who will be a competitor and give 100% every single possession,” White said. “Through adversity, she is as calm and steady as it gets.”
Four-peat for Lawrence
Argo (13-4) has been in four tournaments during the 2025 portion of its schedule, and senior center Zanarhia Lawrence has made the all-tournament team in all four.
It started in November at the Chicago Christian Tournament. She followed up in December at the Reavis Holiday Tournament, then the Perspectives-Leadership Tournament and at the Collins Holiday Tournament.
Teammate Demi Ready was named tourney MVP at Collins.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
