Rematch theme for sectional title tests

The girls basketball teams from Hersey, Fremd, Rolling Meadows and Maine West each face familiar foes in Thursday's Class 4A sectional final matchups.

Here is a look at the three games involving those four teams.

At Libertyville: It's down to No. 1 vs. No. 2.

State-ranked and top seeded Hersey (27-3) faces 2015 and 2016 Class 4A state runner-up and No. 2 seed Fremd (26-6) for the second time in 15 days.

Fremd led by 9 points in the third quarter (24-15) before Hersey rallied for a 36-33 triumph to win the Mid-Suburban League championship in the Carter Gymnasium in Arlington Heights.

The Huskies' only losses are to St. Joseph in South Bend, Ind. (64-44), Geneva (51-43) and Glenbrook South (42-39).

The Huskies are making an 11th sectional appearance under coach Mary Fendley, who guided them to fourth place in the Class 4A 2010 state tourney.

The 19-year veteran is coaching in her 11th sectional and fourth straight. The Huskies' current senior class is the winningest in school history, boys or girls, with 101 wins.

Hersey has won two sectionals, in 1994 and 2010.

Hersey made it to today's title game with a 52-34 win over No. 5 Lake Forest while Fremd gained its berth by defeating No. 6 Libertyville 58-40.

Fremd's other five losses besides Hersey are to Rock Island (49-42), Rolling Meadows (42-37), Benet (62-60), Evanston (46-35) and Rockford Boylan (42-41).

Fremd coach Dave Yates has the Vikings looking for a third straight sectional title after finishing second in the state the last two seasons.

The Vikings are making their 22nd appearance in a sectional (sixth under Yates) and have won seven times.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and the winner advances to the Dundee-Crown supersectional on Monday at 7 p.m. to face the winner of today's 7 p.m. sectional final at Hampshire between Rockford Boylan and Rockford East.

At Glenbard West: No. 3 seeded Rolling Meadows (23-7), which survived 43-40 in overtime in Monday's semifinal over Wheaton North, gets another shot at Geneva (25-4), the top seed.

The Mustangs fell to the state-ranked Vikings 54-48 in the third-place game of the Montini Christmas tournament on Dec 30.

Coach Ryan Kirkorsky has Meadows playing in its third sectional in school history, all under his guidance.

The Mustangs were 4A state runners-up in 2013 and 2014. Their only losses this season in the MSL East were to champion Hersey (56-44 and 60-44). Their other four losses are to Rock Island (53-49), Mukwonago, Wis. (54-49), North Lawndale (54-42) and Benet (51-50).

Geneva, coached by Sarah Meadows, is playing in its 12th sectional in history.

The Vikings were fourth in the 2009 and 2014 state finals and won their last sectional two years ago before losing to Rolling Meadows in the supersectional.

The winner between Rolling Meadows and Geneva meets the winner of the Niles West sectional (Maine West or Evanston) at Monday's 7 p.m. Addison Trail supersectional.

At Niles West: Third-seeded Maine West (27-3) continues its season dedicated to late Hall of Fame coach Derril Kipp when it faces top-seeded Evanston (27-3) for the title at 7 p.m. Thursday in Skokie.

The Warriors defeated Maine South 44-33 in the semifinal on Monday after winning its 25th regional in program history last week over No. 5 New Trier. Twenty three of those regionals came under the 35-year veteran Kipp, who coached almost every player on this year's squad.

His wife Marianne has attended all the postseason games.

"Kim (deMarigny, the Warriors first-year coach and Kipp's assistant the last six seasons) is doing an unbelievable job with these girls," Marianne said. "I'm so proud of her. I'm sure Derril is, too. She has stepped up just like he thought she would be able to."

In all, the Warriors have won 10 sectionals and are appearing in their 25th. Their last sectional title came in 2007.

Besides Evanston, the Warriors' only other losses were by 1 point to New Trier (45-44) and Rolling Meadows (same score of 45-44).

First-year coach Brittany Johnson has Evanston going for its first sectional crown since 2013.

The Wildkits have been in 18 sectionals, also winning titles in 1988, 1991 and 2000. The Wildkits' only supersectional title came in 1991.

Evanston defeated Maine West in the regional championship a year ago.

The winner between Maine West and Evanston meets the winner of the Glenbard West sectional (Rolling Meadows or Geneva) at Monday's 7 p.m. Addison Trail supersectional.