Record-setting season ends for TF South girls basketball – other local scores

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Gigi Dillon
Freshman Gigi Dillon made an impact for TF South girls basketball this year. (Photo: Mike Clark)

Scores from TFS, TFN, Marian Catholic, and Illiana

By Mike Clark

TF SouthLANSING, Ill. (February 17, 2023) – One of the most successful chapters in TF South girls basketball history wrapped up on Tuesday night, but the Red Wolves already are looking forward to the next one.

Sandburg used an 18-1 run spanning the first and second quarters to take control and went on to beat South 64-47 in the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional semifinals.

The Red Wolves had a 12-game winning streak snapped and finished 27-5, setting a program record for wins. They also repeated as South Suburban Blue champs, a year after winning their first conference title since 1979.

And South did it with a remarkably young roster that included just two seniors along with five juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen.

Unfortunately, the Red Wolves did not have Markeyta Nelson and Cherish Boothe, two key contributors, available much of the season because of injuries. Their absence was felt on Tuesday when South was trying to dig out of its early deficit.

South led 14-10 before Sandburg went on its decisive run to go up 28-15 early in the second quarter. The Red Wolves soon responded with an 8-0 run of their own — highlighted by two 3-pointers from Rayvan Rush — to cut the gap to 31-25 with 1:48 left in the first half. But they could get no closer.

Freshman Gigi Dillon delivered another double-double for South, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Rush had a team-high 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Coach Eric Bryce said the Red Wolves, with most of the roster returning, will keep working to raise their profile. South has had three straight winning seasons, the first time that’s happened since a run of six in a row from 2006-12. But the program is still trying to end a regional title drought that dates to 1985.

“We played Lake Central three times last summer,” Bryce said, referring to the Region power that’s in the Class 4A Elite Eight in Indiana. “We’re just making sure we’re playing the tough competition consistently in the summer.”

Boys basketball

The Red Wolves continued their strong late-season play on Tuesday, winning 64-55 at Lake Forest Academy.

South (17-13) has won a season-best four in a row and is four games over .500 for the first time this season.

Romello Ali led the Red Wolves with 21 points, three rebounds, three deflections, and three steals. Sam Townsend added 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Caleb Newman contributed 12 points, two assists, and two steals.

TF NorthTF North

Girls basketball

The Meteors’ season ended with a 50-48 loss to Richards on Monday in the Class 3A Brooks Regional semifinals. North finished 7-25.

Marian CatholicMarian Catholic

Boys basketball

The Spartans wrapped up their East Suburban Catholic Conference schedule with a 47-41 overtime win against visiting Marist on Tuesday in a matchup of Chicagoland top 25 teams.
Donovan Juzang led Marian (23-7, 11-5 ESCC) with 21 points and seven rebounds. Quentin Jones had 13 points and three assists for the Spartans, who outscored the RedHawks 7-1 in overtime. Tre Davis contributed seven points and six rebounds.

Girls basketball

The Spartans opened postseason play with a 51-19 win over the host Wildcats in Tuesday’s Class 3A Thornton Regional semifinals.

Alainna Poisson led Marian (25-7) with 14 points, Madison Davis added 13, and Taylor Bolton scored 12.

Illiana Christian

Boys basketball

The Vikings (16-3) had a 15-game winning streak snapped with a 63-62 road loss to Michigan City Marquette on Tuesday.

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