Good guidance can make a young player grow in a hurry.
To that end, Providence sophomore Gabi Bednar has already had two very good mentors.
At Kelvin Grove Elementary School in Lockport, she learned from Sally Anderson, who was a hall of fame player at DePaul.
“She was a really big influence,” Bednar said. “As soon as I tried out, she just saw something in me and pushed me. She talked to me about what I could do better. She was a big inspiration for me.
“When I got to high school, I was a little bit nervous meeting new people. But because of her, I felt that I was ready and could play up to speed.”
Her next mentor has been Eileen Copenhaver, who was a player and coach at Loyola. Copenhaver, who also was the head coach at Illinois-Chicago, is in her 17th season at Providence.
“She makes it a very welcoming environment,” Bednar said. “She’s always trying to communicate, whether it’s in person or on text. I’ll see her in the hallways once in a while and we’ll talk and catch up.”
Bednar, a 5-foot-5 guard, is a big part of one of the Southland’s most effective backcourts.
Coe College commit Kelly Knight, a senior leader, runs the point. She’s averaging 8.6 points and 3.4 assists.
Bednar, at the No. 2 position, is averaging 10.1 points. She also has 33 steals for the Celtics (18-3).
“We’re always talking to each other about other things on the court,” Bednar said. “We’ll give each other advice back and forth.”
In Thursday’s 60-33 victory over De La Salle, Bednar scored 15 points. She scored 16 points Saturday in a 51-33 win over Joliet Catholic.
“Gabi is a tough kid,” Copenhaver said. “She’s super invested. She’s awesome in the weight room, does extra work, loves the game. She’s just a good kid to be around.”
And a fast learner.
“It can be hard for a young kid when you need them to be that scorer,” Copenhaver said. “With this team, the world doesn’t have to revolve around her. It’s nice that I can look at some of the older kids and say, ‘hey, do this, this and this,’ and let Gabi breathe a little bit and learn the system.
“She’s definitely getting there. I can’t wait to have her for two more seasons.”
Memorable milestone: Jeff Kortz is known by some at Richards as the “Man For All Seasons.”
There is good reason.
In the fall, Kortz coaches football. In the winter, he coaches girls basketball. In the spring, he coaches baseball. He has also coached soccer and boys basketball.
Kortz has been a three-season coach for the Bulldogs since he was hired in 1994.
“That’s basically the only thing I’ve ever known,” Kortz said. “I wouldn’t know what it’s like to take a season off. I never really get tired. There are some days you get a little beat down, but we have a lot of good coaches. They see it and help me slow down a little bit.”
On Thursday, Kortz reached the 300-victory milestone in girls basketball as Richards defeated Eisenhower 59-30.
Following the game, the Bulldogs players and supporters celebrated his achievement with balloons and a cookie cake.
“It had been dragging on a little bit because of COVID and getting shut down,” Kortz said. “But our kids battled back.
“It was great to finally get that 300 and celebrate with my family, players, former players and all of our former coaches.”
Pressure positive: St. Laurence junior Hannah Cholke was the epitome of clutch in Thursday’s 55-49 victory over Latin.
The Vikings (14-6) were clinging to a 49-48 lead in the final minute when Cholke went to the free-throw line in three one-and-one situations. She shot 5 of 6 to put the game away.
“The way things were going, if she had missed any of those front ends, we could have lost the game,” St. Laurence coach George Shimko said. “Fortunately, she made (them) and had some big rebounds as well.”
Cholke followed up on Saturday with 13 points in a 50-45 win over Wheaton St. Francis. She finished 3-for-3 from the line.
A 6-foot center, Cholke is in her first season on the varsity. She entered the week averaging two points and three rebounds.
“I think she’s really turning the corner now,” Shimko said. “She’s working hard, getting in early and doing the things you need to do to be a better player. I’m really happy for her.”