Coach Mike Valente considered Trinity’s first trip to the Nike Tournament of Champions a success.
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The Blazers finished second in their division after losing 55-51 to ThunderRidge in the championship game of its bracket Dec. 22 in Phoenix. Senior Kaitlin Aylward scored a team-high 11 points against the state runner-up from Colorado.
For Valente, the bigger benefit was taking a team-bonding trip with the team, which went a team hike up Camelback Mountain on the team’s day off on Dec. 20.
“Overall as a team, we stepped up our game,” Valente said. “Everything was fantastic. Nike ran a top-notch tournament and all the teams stayed at the same hotel, so the girls met a lot of girls from across the country.”
Now that the holiday tournament season has concluded, Pioneer Press takes a look at our area teams to see who will be a “contender,” “competitive” or “rebuilding,” in the second half.
The Contenders
TRINITY
Coming off last year’s Elite Eight finish in Class 4A, the Blazers (11-4) are the only area team with realistic state tournament goals. Trinity beat two teams from California and defeated Bishop McNamara of Maryland to reach the final of its bracket. Valente said unsigned senior guard Annie McKenna averaged 18 points during the tournament and might make a college commitment before the regular season ends.
The season will be a success if: The Blazers make a bid to head downstate under first-year head coach Valente.
HINSDALE SOUTH
The only area team to win a holiday tournament was the Hornets (13-4). Senior guard Sydney Kopp averaged 25 points and was named the most valuable player at Riverside-Brookfield after scoring 21 points in the final win over Morton, 47-44. Tatyana Presley and Terri Jackson provided support for Kopp, who burned both De La Salle and Beecher for 29 points.
The season will be a success if: “We continue to play great defense, execute on offense and make big shots in key moments,” Hinsdale South coach Brett Love said.
The Competitive
LYONS
Illinois State-bound forward Frannie Corrigan broke the pinkie finger of her left hand in the Wheaton North semifinals and will miss the next 2 1/2 weeks for Lyons (9-4, 3-1 West Suburban Silver), which still has hopes of repeating its conference title. Lyons could play its next five games without its leading scorer, who was named all-tournament at Wheaton North despite missing Lyons’ third-place game against Schaumburg.
The season will be a success if: “Every game we play as a team and we bring the right effort, attitude and toughness,” Lyons coach Paul Krick said.
HINSDALE CENTRAL
Junior Riley Burr, who was named all-tournament, provided the scoring spark to help the Red Devils (7-6) finish fifth at Wheaton North. Burr averaged 18 points in the tournament to take some of the burden off leading scorer Paige Bareck. The Devils lost 47-40 to Lyons in the quarterfinals and is set to meet their conference rivals again on Friday, Jan. 8, and on Feb. 2.
The season will be a success if: “We continue to improve as we did at the Wheaton North Tourney when we won three of four,” Hinsdale Central coach Tom McKenna said.
YORK
Sophomore Caylin Rufus was named all-tournament for the second time this season after grabbing similar honors at York over Thanksgiving. The Dukes (9-6) placed third at Riverside-Brookfield by beating St. Ignatius 35-28. Another sophomore, Danielle Dennis, scored eight points in the tournament finale.
The season will be a success if: “We continue to play good defense and start executing more consistently at the offensive end of the floor,” York coach John Constable said.
IC CATHOLIC
The Knights (6-8) went 2-2 at Oswego East behind sophomore Claire Gibler, who scored 10 points in the final game against Oswego, a 42-39 win. IC could use more scoring in the second half of the season after averaging 36.5 points per game at Oswego East.
The season will be a success if: “If our girls continue to grow and develop and improve our fundamentals,” Timothy Christian coach Michele Strube said.
The Rebuilding
OAK PARK-RIVER FOREST
The Huskies (5-9) are the only area team to play in two separate holiday tournaments. OPRF went 2-1 in mid-December at Benet and then placed eighth at Montini after losing 49-46 to Rolling Meadows.
The season will be a success if: “We continue to keep faith in the process,” OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin said.
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN
With a couple of key players missing for their last game at Lisle on Dec. 30, the Trojans lost 45-23 to Coal City to finish 1-3. Olivia Hoekstra scored eight points in the finale while Dani Van Laten had 10 points against Antioch. Timothy (6-9, 3-2 Metro Suburban East) defeated Reed-Custer in the third game of the tournament, 52-45.
The season will be a success if: The Trojans continue to provide senior Grace Miller with offensive support.
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FENWICK
With starters Bailey Forde and McKenzie Blaze out with injuries, the Friars (3-13) lost all four games at Dundee-Crown and scored an average of 39.8 points per game. Leading scorer and senior guard Kiki Sheard scored 9.5 ppg during the tournament, which ended in a loss to Barrington, 66-51, behind Mackenzie Berschel’s 12 points and four 3-pointers.
The season will be a success if: The Friars develop a comfort level in their new conference, the Girls Catholic Athletic Red.
LEYDEN
The Eagles (5-9) ended a seven-game losing streak with a win over Elmwood Park at St. Viator’s Blenner Family Holiday Invite. Juniors Cherish Sepulveda (18) and Artasia Gusman (11) were the leading scorers in a loss to the host Lions.
The season will be a success if: “We give a consistent effort every time we step onto the floor,” Leyden coach Stephanie Kuzmanic said.
GUERIN
The Gators (3-9) went 2-2 at their own holiday tournament as Kiara Stallworth was named to the all-tournament team. Brandi Gagnon and Missy Salinas had standout games.
The season will be a success if: Salinas, Gagnon and Stallworth can build on their productive offense.
NAZARETH
The Roadrunners (7-10) begin January on a five-game losing streak, including their last four at the Mundelein tournament to Class 4A teams. Coach Kim Connell said with a new gymnasium under construction, Nazareth will consider hosting its own holiday tournament in the future.
The season will be a success if: “We are playing our best basketball by the end of January,” Connell said.
ELMWOOD PARK
The Tigers (1-12) own only one win, against Guerin on Dec. 1, and had a seven-game losing streak entering their third game at St. Viator’s Blenner Family Holiday Invite.
The season will be a success if: Analise Hernandez shows leadership at point guard and doesn’t allow the Tigers to become discouraged.
ST. JOSEPH
Maia Marshall scored 20 points and Elise Estelle added 19 as the Chargers (8-9) collected a victory in the third round at Montini over Romeoville, 54-49. Amber Brooks had 19 points and 15 rebounds in the tournament opener against Young.
The season will be a success if: The Chargers are playing their best entering the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference tournament on Jan. 30.
Rich Martin also contributed.
Twitter: @geomwilcox