York nets regional crown against St. Charles North
Kaitlyn Kjome beamed as the cutdown net draped around her neck.
The York junior forward and her teammates had just done something that no Dukes girls varsity basketball team has done since 2008-09, win a regional title. It is the school's 18th in program history, dating back to 1979.
"It feels pretty amazing, and I think I'm still kind of in shock," said Kjome, who had 15 points and 8 rebounds in a 47-39 victory over St. Charles North in the Class 4A Schaumburg regional final.
"From the beginning of the game, the beginning of the season - since we've worked from the summer - this has been one of our biggest goals. To achieve it and finally come so close, it really means something to be with everyone on the court and win."
Kjome and the second-seeded Dukes advanced to the sectional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Monday against third-seeded Lake Park, which beat Bartlett.
"These girls are amazing. The work they put in this year, this was a goal our entire summer," York coach Brandon Collings said. "We had a great summer; they came out, they worked hard. I couldn't be happier for these girls. They've earned this. They deserve it."
St. Charles North (20-12), meanwhile, narrowly lost out on its first regional title since 2007.
"We left it on the floor today," North Stars coach Mike Tomczak said. "Our girls are proud of their performance; their coach is proud of what they were able to do. We put our name on this game, and we're proud of what we did. We came up short today, but I thought we gave it everything we had."
York (25-7) got off to a red-hot start with a 12-2 first-quarter lead, but the North Stars bounced back to trail just by 2 at the half. St. Charles North struggled on the boards, outrebounded 20-9 in the first half.
In the fourth quarter North Stars freshman guard Alyssa Hughes scored on a layup to pull her team within 36-35 with 3:10 remaining, but St. Charles North ultimately couldn't come up with a momentum-changing shot and York took advantage with free throws down the stretch.
North Stars guard Launi Chanthaboury hit a pair of free throws to pull within 40-37 with about a minute left in regulation, but Sara Krissinger and Kjome each split a pair of free throws to increase the York lead to 5. Caroline Jakaitis hit two free throws for St. Charles North with 31 seconds left, but York went 5 of 6 at the line to close out the win.
A key piece to the Dukes win - they won the rebound battle 32-18.
"It's not how we wanted it to end, but we talked about how we got a lot farther than we thought," said North Stars junior Tatum Settelmyer, who finished with 13 points, 9 coming in the third quarter, and 5 rebounds.
"We have a lot to be proud of, especially our culture," Settelmyer added. "We wish we would've won, but we put up a good fight and we have a lot to be proud of."
York was also led by Krissinger's 15 points and 3 rebounds. Megan Juneman had 6 points and 7 rebounds, while Amaya Rufus had 7 points and 6 rebounds.
In her final game for St. Charles North, senior Emma Nawara finished with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Talia Pellegrini had 3 points and a rebound. St. Charles North graduates five seniors.
"There's a lot to be proud of," said Chanthaboury, who finished her sensational senior season with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. "(The Dukes are) a two seed, and we were making them real uncomfortable; especially when we started doubling and trapping. I was just proud of all the girls and how we came out and fought."
"I just don't want this to end, but unfortunately, it had to," Chanthaboury added.