Centennial Classic makes for historic MSL East finale

The 2014-15 history-making Mid-Suburban League girls basketball season continues.

First, it was Fremd's girls basketball team becoming the first MSL team to travel by plane, when the state-ranked Vikings competed in Arizona before Christmas.

Then it was five MSL squads playing for the first time on a Sunday when Fremd hosted the Chicagoland Invitational Showcase Jan. 10 and 11.

Now, for the first time, three Mid-Suburban League East games will be played at the same site - Robert Morris University's gymnasium in Arlington Heights - on the same day.

On Saturday, District 214 is hosting the Centennial Classic, a celebration of 100 years of educating students.

The three-day event at the Forest View Education Center features academics, arts and athletics, the latter including three MSL East boys basketball games interwoven with the three girls games.

There is no doubt which game is the showcase for the girls.

State-ranked Prospect (23-1, 9-0) will face powerful Hersey (20-5, 8-1) to decide the East champion.

It will be the first of the six games, with a tip off 10:30 a.m.

Prospect can clinch the outright title and advance to Wednesday's MSL title game against Fremd with a victory.

Hersey can gain a co-championship with a victory and advance to Wednesday's MSL title game with a victory of at least 5 points (because Hersey lost to Prospect by 4 points, 52-48 in the first meeting).

If Hersey wins by 4 or less, Prospect would represent the East in the title game.

Prospect is ranked No. 8 in the Class 4A state poll and is seeking its first trip to the MSL title game since 2004 when the West champ was also Fremd.

Hersey was last in the championship match in 2011.

"They're such a great team," said Knights all-time leading scorer Taylor Will of Hersey. "And actually we're close friends with a lot of their players, so it will definitely be exciting to play them."

Will plays alongside classmate Catherine Sherwood, who also averages double figures and needs only 17 points to become the eighth girl in school history to reach 1,000 points.

Third-year Prospect coach Ashley Sandstead-Graham, who scored 1,871 points at Buffalo Grove, is well aware of Hersey's versatile lineup.

"They have talent one through five on the floor," Graham said. "We have to respect everyone. We need to know our defensive assignment and understand what we have to do offensively to be successful."

Hersey features three players averaging double figures - sophomore Claire Gritt (12.8), senior Annie Korff (11.9) and senior Juliette Vainisi (10.7).

"Out of all the teams in the league, we know the Prospect girls the best," said Korff, who has played on teams with Taylor Will. "So it's kind of funny that they're the team we are playing on a neutral floor and in such a big game.

"It will be fun. We're all really close and it will be a good, competitive game as always."

Korff and the Huskies won both games against Prospect two years ago and then lost both to the Knights last year.

"So now we're hoping this year we split by winning the most important game in all three years," Korff said.

Huskies veteran coach Mary Fendley knows the Hersey-Prospect rival quite well.

"I've been here a long time and traditionally, this has always been a great competitive game with great crowds," Fendley said. "It will be interesting to see what happens playing at the breakfast hour."

It's an early wake-up call for both teams for sure.

"We are treating it like a normal school day," Taylor Will said. "We'll get up early and just try to be in the routine of a regular school day."

And at 10:30 a.m., it will be game time on a little different type floor.

"It's crazy how big the court is (college size)," Taylor Will said. "It's awesome."

Will believes rebounding will be a key factor.

"We have to make sure we box out," Taylor said. "Hersey is good at boxing out and getting second chances so we have to try and stop that."

The Buffalo Grove and Wheeling girls teams will tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday while Elk Grove and Rolling Meadows are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start in the final MSL East girls contest of the season.

Meanwhile, MSL West play wraps up Friday night.

Fremd, which has already clinched its sixth straight West crown under coach Dave Yates, will go for its 23rd straight win in the division when it hosts Palatine at 6 p.m.

Also at 6 p.m., Schaumburg visits Conant and Hoffman Estates travels to Barrington.

MSL position crossovers (at East sites) will be Tuesday, with the title game scheduled for 7:30 on Wednesday at either Prospect or Hersey.

District 214 Centennial Classic

All games at Robert Morris University (formerly Forest View High School).

10:30 a.m. - Girls, Prospect vs. Hersey

12:15 p.m. - Boys, Prospect vs. Hersey

2 p.m. - Girls, Buffalo Grove vs. Wheeling

3:45 p.m. - Boys, Buffalo Grove vs. Wheeling

5:30 p.m. - Girls, Elk Grove vs. Rolling Meadows

7:15 p.m. -Boys, Elk Grove vs. Rolling Meadows