Girls regional basketball at a glance:
Comments (...)At Princeton (2A)
Team to beat: St. Bede (24-5).
Pairings: Monday: Game 1 - #4 Princeton (14-14) vs. #5 Mendota (6-20), 6 p.m. Game 2 - #3 Hall (16-11) vs. #6 Bureau Valley (1-27), 8:10 p.m. Tuesday: Game 3 - #1 St. Bede vs. winner 1, 6 p.m. Game 4 - #2 Kewanee (20-8) vs. winner 2, 8:10 p.m. Feb. 9: Title, 7:30 p.m.
BCR insider: Top-seeded St. Bede stands 7-0 against the regional field going 3-0 against Princeton, 2-0 against Mendota and 1-0 against Hall and Kewanee. ... BV has not won a game since defeating LaMoille/Ohio in the Princeton Thanksgiving tournament. The Storm have been held to single-digits several times since leading scorer Sam Neahring went down with a knee injury at Christmas. ... PHS senior Jasmine Kunkel (13.5 ppg) has come on strong late in the season, averaging 16.9 ppg in her last six games, including 32 against Roanoke-Benson and 28 vs. Henry. ... Hall’s last regional championship came at Princeton in 2008 over St. Bede. They’ll likely have to knock off the Lady Bruins again to win another. “We’d love to do it again,” Hall coach Dave Kain said. ... Kewanee coach Chuck Blake and his Boilers, who like to play get up and go, haven’t played Hall since the 2009 Prophetstown Christmas Tournament, but knows they will have to contend with the physical size inside of Lady Devils Jaclyn Kain (15.4 ppg) and Kelle Nett (13.6 ppg) in their probable semifinal matchup. St. Bede also possesses a formidable inside presence with 6-foot-1 Kayla MacDavitt (9.7 ppg) and 6-foot Mo Dean (8.3 ppg), who has returned to the eligible list this week. .. PHS coach Matt Huber grew up watching Blake’s Neponset Lady Zephyrs, which won three straight sectionals in the early ‘90s.
Last year’s finals: St. Bede 54, Hall 37.
BCR pick: St. Bede over Kewanee.
At Amboy (1A)
Team to beat: Annawan (26-1).
Pairings: Monday - Game 1, No. 4 LaMoille/Ohio (4-23) vs. No. 5 DePue (0-14), 6 p.m. Wednesday - Game 2 - #1 Annawan vs. winner 1, 6 p.m. Game 3 - #2 Amboy (13-13) vs. # 3 Putnam County (7-14), 8:10 p.m. Thursday: Title, 7:30 p.m.
BCR Insider: The Bravettes are not only top-seeded, but ranked No. 1 in all of 1A. Annawan carried the No. 1 ranking into the postseason in 2009 and lost to Stark County in the regional finals, but the Amboy field does not pose an upset threat this time around. “The key is for the girls to play a couple high-energy games and work on fine tuning some things that will prepare us to be at our best come sectionals. We are looking forward to getting the postseason underway and we feel we are in a great place mentally. Being ranked No.1 in the state by multiple people who have seen teams from all over gives us a great deal of confidence,” AHS coach Jason Burkiewicz said. ... AHS senior Jordan Jackson, who will play Division I volleyball for Western Illinois University, joined the 1,000-point club on Senior Night in her final home game, scoring 14 points in an 81-37 win over Galva. Sophomore center Celina VanHyfte is the real deal and a strong all-state candidate for the Lincoln Trail champions... LaMoille/Ohio has come on strong, winning three out of its last four games heading into the postseason, including a 57-28 win over DePue. The Lady Lions have a strong 1-2 punch in senior guard Aubrey Molln (12.5 ppg/10.5 rpg) and sophomore guard Shiela Browning (11.0 ppg/5.0 rpg), who Stouffer said is probably the most improved player he’s ever coached.
Last year’s finals: Annawan 60, Ottawa Marquette 48
BCR pick: Annawan over Amboy.
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