Scouting the MSL championship game: Hersey at Fremd

What: 47th annual Mid-Suburban League girls basketball championship

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

Teams: MSL East co-champion Hersey (24-6, 9-1) vs. MSL West champion Fremd (22-8, 10-0)

How they got here: Hersey shared the East crown with Buffalo Grove, getting the nod to play in the title game due to its nine wins all by 7 or more points. Fremd went 10-0 for the second straight season and has won 24 straight games in the MSL West. The Vikings' two closest games were 41-37 and 60-47 wins over runner-up Barrington.

2019 title game: Playing one of its best games of the season, Fremd's record-setting number of MSL championships extended to 18 with a 51-35 triumph at Rolling Meadows. Olivia Hill scored a team-high 15 points, Ruthie Montella added 10 and Emily Klaczek chipped in 9 to lead eight Vikings who scored.

Hersey starters: Mary McGrath (6-1 Jr. F), Katy Eidle (5-11 Fr. G), Jordan Carlquist (5-7 Sr. G), Natalia Kubsik (5-10 Jr. F), Mary Kate Fahey (5-8 Jr. G).

Huskies' supporting cast: Jessie Carlquist (5-6 Sr. G), Claire Stollfuss (5-8 Sr. F), Maggie Kaepplinger (5-6 Jr. G), Meghan Mrowocki (5-9 Fr. G), Avery Larson (5-10 Jr. F), Megan Kleve 5-7 Jr. G), Jacqui Jacobson (5-11 Jr. F), Annie Lindgren (5-11 Jr. F), Megan Morris (5-3 Jr. G), Courtney Clayton (5-5 So G).

Fremd starters: Emily Klaczek (5-6 Sr. G), Grace LaBarge (6-3 Jr. F), Ruthie Montella (6-0 Jr. G), Olivia Hill (6-0 Sr F), Caroline Cochran (5-9 Sr. G).

Vikings' supporting cast: Allie Prigge (5-6 Sr. G), Grace Cox (5-11 Sr. G/F), Kendall Maloney (5-10 Sr. G/F), Ella Burns (5-7 Sr. G), Kate Beckemeier (5-10 Jr. F), Katie Hansen (6-3 Sr. C), Ally Sheehan (5-7 Sr. G), Liz Prigge (5-9 Sr. F), Maddy Fay (6-0 Fr. F), Anna Schmitt (5-5 So. G), Hanna Mahmoud (5-8 Jr. G), Eleanor Klink (6-3 Sr. C), Kace Urlacher (6-0 Fr. G/F).

The coaches: Fremd coach Dave Yates is appearing in his tenth MSL title game in 14 seasons (10 of the last 11) as the Vikings coach (320-118). He has won crowns in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. Hersey hall of fame coach Mary Fendley owns a record of 466 -211 in 22 seasons. She has guided the Huskies to the title match for the third time in the last four years. The Huskies won it in 2017 over Fremd and 2018 over Palatine.

Here are the D-I players: Fremd has three D-I commitments - Emily Klaczek (Alabama-Birmingham), Olivia Hill (Bowling Green) and Ruthie Montella (William & Mary). Teammate Grace LaBarge and Hersey's Katy Eidle have received D-I offers.

Fendley on Fremd: "They're obviously very experienced in this game. We can't match them in size but we'll try to balance that with our athleticism and shooting.

Yates on Hersey: "They can score the ball and shoot the ball so we need to play defense. If we can defend them, I think we can stay in the game, If we don't defend them, they'll blow us out."

Fendley on the game: "With MK (Fahey) being the only player for us who's been in the game, Fremd has the edge in experience and it's at their place. But we're playing well and there is no pressure in this game. It's a great event for our conference. We're thrilled to be part of it. I think it's going to be a great game."

Yates on the game: "It's an opportunity to play in a big environment. It doesn't end your season so I like that part. It's like a prelude to a regional championship or sectional game."

Best of the best: Fremd's 18 MSL crowns are a record. Former hall of fame coach Carol Plodzien was 12-for-12 in the showcase game while Yates is now 6-for-9. They have been the only head coaches in program history.

Players' thoughts: Two-time Mid-Suburban West Player of the Year Emily Klaczek is in the game for a third time. Her Vikes lost to Hersey in 2017 and defeated Meadows last year. "We've got to come out hungry and play better as team collectively than we did in our last game (59-42 loss at Maine West). Hersey stomps on people. When they get a lead, they crush people and we can't let that happen. We've got to play our game and we've got make sure we stop theirs."

Klaczek and LaBarge were AAU teammates with Hersey's Fahey last summer.

"It's awesome playing against Mary Kate," Klaczek said. "It's going to be fun. It's my senior year and I get to play against my former summer teammate."

Fahey is Hersey's only player who competed in the 2018 title game when the Huskies defeated Palatine 43-31.

"This game, to this day, is still probably the favorite game I've ever played in," Fahey said. "Just with the entire MSL there - it's such an awesome environment. I want to make sure I can help my teammates acclimate to such a big stage and high-stakes game."

On a roll: Hersey has not lost in 2020. Since a 62-47 loss to Geneva at the Montini Christmas tourney, the Huskies have won 12 in a row.

"I think the most drastic difference in our last 20 games has been our decisions offensively which have led to a much higher shooting percentage," said Fendley. "That's why we've been able to put so many points on the board (Hersey has scored at least 66 points in six of its last seven games).

Hungrier Vikes: From 2011 to 2017, Fremd was in the title game every year, so this is one of the first groups of Vikings that experienced a year when the Vikings had to watch the game (2018 when Hersey defeated Palatine). "I'm not going to lie, these kids will draw on that once in a while because they see it as a sense of pride looking forward to play in this game," said Yates. "They want to be part of it. I think that's a cool thing. Since a lot of these kids didn't get to play in it, I know they won't take it for granted."

Halftime honorees: All-conference players will be introduced to the crowd at halftime along with the players of the year from the MSL East and West.