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Girls Bowling: Andrew, Lincoln-Way West’s Flaherty win state titles

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:11:01 -0600

Andrew made the most of its opportunity Saturday at the girls bowling state meet at Cherry Lanes in Rockford, outdueling Minooka to win the school’s first girls bowling state championship. The Thunderbolts rallied from 20 pins down to start the afternoon to a 12,349 two-day pinfall. Lincoln-Way West’s Morgan Flaherty won the individual state title with 2,764. The junior captured the first individual championship in any sport for the school, which opened in 2009. “I’m super excited, and I knew I had to focus today,” Flaherty said. “I tried to stay calm and bowl the way I knew how to …

Boys Basketball: Morgan Park falls in quarterfinals

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:04:16 -0600

Mike Oliver gave his Curie team the formula that they executed successfully in order to get a 65-35 victory over Morgan Park in the Public League quarterfinal Sunday at Chicago State University. The plan was to stop everyone else and make Billy Garrett work hard for everything he got. Garrett, who averages 26 points per game, was limited to 16 hard-earned points, constantly having to deal with double and triple teams. By halftime the Condors held a 33-21 lead and then blew it open in the third quarter as they outscored the Mustangs 22-7 to forge ahead 55-28 going into …

Q-and-A with Cory Chojnowski, Andrew wrestling

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:04:28 -0600

Chojnowski, a 285-pounder, is a returning state qualifier for Andrew. He looks to advance deep in the state tournament after claiming first place at the Andrew Regional on Feb. 4. He also won the Charger and Rich East invitationals, and took second in the SouthWest Suburban Red. What were your goals coming into the season? I won one match at state last year. This year, I’m hoping to place and get on the podium. As a heavyweight, is it tough to find wrestling partners in practice, or do you beat up the little guys? (Laughs). It can be tough, but …

High School Sports Spotlight

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:04:24 -0600

This week we shine the spotlight on: Dan Shaunnessey, Tinley Park swimming; Emily Ronan, Andrew gymnastics; Roy Hickman, Rich South wrestling; and Bri Zabierek, Lockport bowling

High School Sports Notes

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:04:35 -0600

Boys Swimming: As balanced as the SouthWest Suburban Red was throughout the dual-meet season, the conference meet was closer. Stagg took top honors with 294 points to second-place Andrew (292) and third-place Lincoln-Way North (290). “At sectionals we hope to keep the momentum going with a good week of practice,” Stagg coach Jason Carr said. “It was great to see with the three teams battling the whole time, up one, down two points. The guys are achieving what they want to do.” Brandon Hadhazy, Ray Dunne and Juan Valdez all have been key swimmers for Stagg, which will swim at …

Wrestling: Sandburg sends nine to state finals

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:11:01 -0600

Locked in a competitive match with Hinsdale Central’s T.J. Sally Saturday at the Class 3A De La Salle Sectional, Ricky Robertson wasn’t worried. “I know I’ll always have a spladle in my pocket,” Robertson said of one of his favorite moves. “I know how to set guys up. ... If it’s open there, go for it. If not, look for something else.” The move was there, and Robertson pinned Sally eight seconds into the third period to win the 170-pound title and remain unbeaten at 40-0. It was part of a big day for Sandburg, which had a meet-best nine …

Wrestling: Lockport advances five to state

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:15:41 -0600

Lockport followed up on its big performance at last week’s Andrew Regional with an equally impressive showing Saturday. At the Class 3A Lincoln-Way Central Sectional, the Porters had three champions and qualified two others for next weekend’s state finals in Champaign. Winning titles for the Porters were Brian Rossi (106 pounds), Shaun’Qae McMurtry (160) and Brad Johnson (195), while Austin Strzelczyk (113) was third and Dominic Naso (120) placed fourth. McMurtry and Johnson both repeated as sectional champions, while Johnson qualified for state for the fourth time and McMurtry for the third time. “This was a great couple of days …

Wrestling: Bremen’s Wright advances to state

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:15:30 -0600

It’s been three years since Bremen’s Chris Wright reached the state finals, but Wright now can book his ticket to Champaign after winning the Class 2A Lemont Sectional at 160 pounds. Wright showed off exceptional quickness for his class as he beat a familiar foe, Mark Kirkman of South Suburban conference rival Lemont, by a 14-7 decision. “We actually never wrestled until this meet. I was out with a rotator cuff injury until January and we didn’t go against each other at conference,” Wright said. “He was tough. I’m just really excited to be going back to the state meet.” …

Boys Basketball: Ulis powers Marian Catholic to win

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:15:21 -0600

When a game gets tight late, it sure helps to have a point guard like Marian Catholic sophomore Tyler Ulis. After the visiting Spartans squandered a large early lead and allowed Marmion back into Saturday’s nonconference game, Ulis took over. In the fourth quarter, Ulis dished out four of his nine assists, hit 7-of-8 free throws and milked time off the clock with his flashy ball-handling, leading Marian to a 51-41 win. “He’s tremendous,” Marmion coach Ryan Paradise said of Ulis. “He’s got it all. He can handle the ball, unbelievable range. When you’re fighting back and trying to come …

Girls Basketball: Marian Catholic upends Fenwick

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:15:15 -0600

The last thing an expectant mother such as Marian Catholic coach Annie Byrne needs is too much excitement. But, apparently, her team likes to keep her on edge. “If we made half of our layups, we win by 30,” Byrne said shortly after No. 5 Marian Catholic defeated Fenwick 62-48 in both teams’ East Suburban Catholic finale Saturday in Oak Park. “They just like to keep me nervous on the sidelines,” she joked. “They want to make sure I’m not too comfortable.” Both teams had trouble finding the basket, but Marian Catholic (19-11, 7-2) was able to convert a number …

Baranek: It’s tough everywhere in girls basketball playoffs

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:11:20 -0600

Sat and talked with Fenwick girls basketball coach Dave Power the other night before the Friars’ East Suburban Catholic showdown against Marist. Dave mentioned how ridiculous the postseason sectional and supersectional assignments were this season. I said something to the effect of, “Yeah, the IHSA sure didn’t do us any favors in the south suburbs.” He rolled his eyes and looked at me like I had six eyes on my forehead. Can’t say as I blamed him. I should have realized that I was talking to a guy who, just to get out of the Class 4A Lyons Sectional, will …

High School Sports/Local College Roundup for Feb. 12, 2012

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:52:01 -0600

Boys Basketball Mount Carmel 65, Lincoln Park 52: Billy Patterson scored 17 points for host Mount Carmel (10-13). Boys Diving Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational: Marian Catholic’s Joey Cifelli was fourth with a score of 370.15 over 11 dives. The next two spots were held by Lincoln-Way North’s Ryan DePorto (361.60) and Lincoln-Way Central’s Ryan Kojder (358.55). In the team standings, Marian and Lockport tied for third with 15 points each. Wheaton co-op (45) was the champion. Boys Indoor Track & Field Thornwood Invitational: Abraham Oshipitan won the 50-yard dash (5.52 seconds) and 300 dash (33.93) in leading Thornwood (200 points) to a …

Boys Basketball: Marist finds road to victory over Marian

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:11:15 -0600

Marist hadn’t walked out of Marian Catholic’s gym with a win since 2005. Trailing by six and having gone more than five minutes without a point to start the third quarter, it appeared the RedHawks’ streak of misfortune in Chicago Heights was going to extend another season. But Lexus Williams’ basket snapped a 5:35 scoreless streak and Tyler Oden followed with a three-pointer, igniting a 20-4 run and eventual 56-45 Marist victory in East Suburban Catholic play. The No. 5 RedHawks outscored the Spartans 28-11 over the final 10:25 of the game. “We’re on the road and we didn’t score …

Boys Basketball: Moore, Bloom too much for Rich South

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:11:09 -0600

Bloom senior Donald Moore has been tearing up south suburban basketball courts for three seasons, but the games have taken on extra meaning lately. Moore became an academic qualifier in mid-January, and he’s trying to get the word out to as many colleges as possible. Friday’s 59-52 win over Rich South in Richton Park should help. The 6-foot point guard scored 22 points. “I hope some of the Division I schools find out he qualified and he starts to get some offers,” Bloom coach Jasper Williams said. “Donald has set the tone for us all year. He’s one of the …

Boys Basketball: Andrew answers call vs. Lincoln-Way North

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:10:53 -0600

Andrew had no trouble with Lincoln-Way North one month ago on the Phoenix’s court. Friday night, though, North put up a strong showing early and looked poised to make a run to hand Andrew its second loss of the season. No. 2 Andrew used a 10-2 run to open the second half to fend off its SouthWest Suburban Red foe en route to a 60-34 win in Tinley Park. “I think we got their attention at halftime, and they came out with a little sense of urgency,” Andrew coach Mike O’Halloran said of his halftime speech to his team. The …

Boys Basketball: Lockport bursts past Lincoln-Way Central

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:10:49 -0600

Considering its previous meeting with Lincoln-Way Central resulted in a 33-26 win, the 20-point second quarter Lockport was able to put together Friday night certainly qualified as an offensive explosion. The host Porters rode their hot outside shooting to a 29-21 halftime lead and went on to a 60-51 SouthWest Suburban Blue win. “Sixty points is a lot for us,” Lockport coach Lawrence Thompson Jr. said. “We got going in transition, we made some threes and we did a really good job sharing the ball. I’m proud of our kids for bouncing back after a tough shooting night Tuesday against …