Girls basketball: Scouting the MSL championship game

Girls basketball: Scouting the MSL title game

What: 42nd annual Mid-Suburban League girls basketball championship

Where and when: Prospect High School, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Teams: MSL East champion Prospect (24-1, 10-0) vs. MSL West champion Fremd (22-4, 10-0)

How they got hereProspect went 10-0 in the MSL East for the first time since 2001, winning every game by at least 8 points except for 52-48 and 47-44 win over second-place Hersey.

Fremd went 10-0 for the fourth time in five years and owns a 23 game-winning streak in the MSL West. The Vikings' 46-41 win over Conant in round one was its closest game in the West. Fremd has won 53 of its last 55 games in the MSL West.

The coachesDave Yates, in his eighth season running the Fremd program, has become the only person to coach in an MSL title game six straight years. Tom Dineen did it five straight times at Buffalo Grove from 1996 to 2000. Yates lost to Wheeling in 2010, defeated Hersey in 2011, lost to Rolling Meadows in 2012, defeated Rolling Meadows in 2013 and defeated Rolling Meadows in 2014. "I think the six straight appearances speak volumes to the talent run we have had and to the buy-in we have gotten from our players," said Fremd coach Dave Yates. "We lose good kids every year but we have good ones coming up to replace them. We have one of the better feeder programs around. I know that has helped us."

Prospect's Ashley Graham is making her first appearance in the MSL title game in three years as the Knights' coach. The former Illinois State standout guard is only the second person to play and coach in a MSL title game. Graham (Sandstead) was an all-state guard (1,817 career points) for Buffalo Grove when her teams lost to Fremd in the 2002 and 2003 title games. Linda Walkowiak Mass, now an assistant at Barrington, coached Hersey to the 1994 MSL crown. As a player, she won with Hersey over Conant in 1979 and lost to Schaumburg in 1980.

Previous meeting: Fremd and Prospect met Dec. 6 in an MSL crossover game in Palatine. Fremd prevailed 76-45 with Haley Gorecki (23 points), Bryana Hopkins (17) and Brianna Lewis (13) leading the offense. Prospect, playing without point guard Haley Will (illness) was led by Taylor Will (13 points) and Catherine Sherwood (10). "Haley is an instrumental part of our team and the success we have had throughout the year," said Prospect coach Ashley Graham. "She just adds a whole other level of confidence to our team and the dynamic out there. With her handling the ball, it takes a lot of pressure off our other kids. We are looking forward to her being out there this time around." Fremd coach Dave Yates said his team "got lucky" and did not have to face Haley Will the first time. "I know they are a completely different team with her on the floor," he said. "So there is very little we can pull from the last game because we are facing a different team." It was Prospect's first loss after starting out the season 13-0 and winning the York and Dundee-Crown tournaments. "We must learn from the first time we played them and make the correct adjustments in order for us to be successful," Graham said. "They really hurt us on second- and third-chance opportunities the first go-round. Offensively, we have to be prepared for their pressure and the different defenses they will throw at us throughout the game."

The playersProspect starting lineup: Taylor Will (5-11 senior guard), Catherine Sherwood (6-0 senior forward), Haley Will (5-10 sophomore guard), Brenda Kendziera (5-9 junior guard), Nikki Matter (5-6 junior guard)

Prospect reserves: Hannah Grott (5-6 senior guard), Clare O'Carroll (5-10 junior forward), Katie Olson (5-5 senior guard), Emily Frasco (5-11 freshman guard), Angelina Villasin (5-3 junior guard), Olivia Sykes (5-8 junior guard), Angela Roman (5-10 junior forward)

Fremd starting lineup: Haley Gorecki (6-0 senior guard), Brianna Lewis (5-2 junior guard), Bryana Hopkins (6-2 junior forward), Erin Lenahan (5-10 junior guard), Grace Tworek (6-2 sophomore forward)

Fremd reserves: Emily Bieda (5-7 senior guard), Lauren Glaser (5-4 junior guard), Caroline Macius (5-11 senior forward), Amanda McCartney (5-7 junior guard), Julia Wacker (6-2 junior forward), Mackenzie Bednarek (6-0 junior forward), Jenna Simios (5-9 junior forward), Megan Chernich (5-9 senior guard), Missy Adrian (5-9 sophomore guard/forward), Haley Williams (5-5 sophomore guard), Becca Stapleton (5-10 junior forward), Emilija Peleckas (5-9 sophomore guard/forward).

Coaches' thoughts Prospect's Graham on Fremd: "First of all, we have to understand their individual player and team tendencies. They are extremely tough at every position, while also having one of the best players in the state in Haley Gorecki (Duke recruit) who has scored more than 2,000 points). Another huge factor will be our defensive rebounding. They have a ton of length and height and we must understand that and take care of the basketball and not force our shots."

Fremd's Yates on Prospect: "Prospect is a different team with Haley Will in the lineup. They have not lost with her on the floor. That says a lot about her impact on the team. The keys will be limiting the looks that both Taylor (Will, the school's all-time leading scorer with more than 1,600 points) and Catherine (Sherwood, who is 4 points shy of 1,000 for her career) get. That is easier said than done."

Graham on THE GAME: "The girls are so excited to be playing on this stage. None of them has ever experienced this before and I know they will be ready for this moment. All season long they have believed that they belong in this game and they could not be more ready to go."

Yates on THE GAME: "The kids know this is a special night. We have been lucky enough to be part of a bunch of them as of late. Nobody does this (conference championship game) better than the MSL. Many leagues have copied our format. I know they are excited to participate in this game. We are honored to represent the West in one of the top conferences in the state. There are a lot of strong basketball programs and coaches in the MSL."

The historyFremd's 15 MSL crowns are a record. Former Hall of Fame coach Carol Plodzien was 12-for-12 in the showcase game while Yates is now 3-for-5 and his Vikings have won a record six straight MSL division titles. Fremd has won 53 of its last 55 games in the division.

Prospect is making its first appearance in the title game since coach Mike Nocella's 2004 team won 24 games to equal this year's team for the school record. Nocella's 2001 team also advanced to the title game. The Knights also played in the 1984 and 1990 title games under coach Jean Walker. All four of the past Knights' division champs lost to Fremd in the title game.

Halftime honoreesAll-conference players will be introduced to the crowd at halftime along with the 'Players of the Year' from the MSL East and West.

- John Leusch