Glenbard South earns sixth straight regional title
In the spring junior guard Mady Carli contributes to the more than decadelong success of the Glenbard South softball program.
On the basketball court Carli and her fellow non-senior returning starters continue moving in the same successful direction.
The Raiders captured their sixth consecutive regional title Thursday in convincing fashion by defeating IC Catholic Prep 41-18 for the Class 3A ICCP regional title in Elmhurst.
"Every girl on this team is very athletic and has the love for the game, so that really helps. And we're so close," Carli said. "It's always great to win regionals and now we're focusing on the next games going forward."
Glenbard South (23-5) the No. 3 seed in the Glenbard South sectional, plays at home against No. 2 North Lawndale at 7:30 p.m. Monday in a rematch of the 2016 sectional semifinal won by North Lawndale 31-22 on the Raiders' home floor.
Carli had 14 points with three 3-pointers, and sophomore Maggie Bair had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Juniors Ally Daca and Sarah Cohen added 7 and 6 points, respectively.
Sophomore reserve Jaida Smith had 11 second-half points for No. 9 ICCP (16-12). The Knights actually scored first on a 3 from senior Tess Reardon, but by the time they scored a field goal again, it was just before halftime and the Raiders were ahead 21-4.
"Our defense the first half was really tough. Holding a team like IC to 4 points was impressive, so I was really proud of that," second-year Glenbard South coach Morgan Kasperek said. "(But) still not happy with the 'D.' It could be better."
The Raiders have won six straight and 16 of their last 17. Before their current regional streak started by previous coach Julie Fonda, the program had won just four regional basketball titles with two of those also under Fonda.
Softball has 12 consecutive regional titles, 11 under Fonda with two state titles. Basketball has yet to win a sectional.
"I love what Fonda set in place, but our expectation is to win regionals. If we don't, it's a bad season," Kasperek said. "Our expectation is to get past regionals, get downstate. You have to build that in your program. It has to become a belief."
The Raiders previously beat ICCP 56-27 Jan. 20 and 50-18 Dec. 6 in Elmhurst en route to capturing the Metro Suburban Blue title. Two Carli 3s and three Daca free throws accounted for Glenbard South's first 9 points Thursday.
"We didn't think about the last two times. We came into this playing our game and really trying to take control ourselves," Carli said.
The Knights graduate four seniors, including starters Reardon and Katie Hendricks. They took part in the Knights' back-to-back fourth-place Class 2A finishes in 2014 and 2015.
"(Glenbard South is) a good team, pretty disciplined defenders, so they always make it tough," said ICCP coach Kelsey James, whose team had won six straight, one by forfeit.
"(Our season was) basically up and down. The last couple of games finally we were putting it together. It stinks to lose this way, but looking forward to next year."
And don't forget the Raiders' sports success in the fall. The 6-foot-1 Bair, who had 7 points with a 3 in the third quarter, has contributed to two straight regional titles in volleyball, yet another up-and-coming program.
"We're so young (in basketball) that we could do it last year and we can keep doing it. We can keep that up until (the juniors) graduate and until I graduate," Bair said. "Just the fact that all of our sports teams are so young for the most part, we know from experience and we can keep it going."