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36 | February 27, 2020 | the new lenox patriot sports newlenoxpatriotdaily.com Girls Basketball 6 Warriors brush off early scare, take over for regional title STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor Taylor Gugliuzza summed it up well. The Lincoln-Way West team on the floor for the first half of the regional championship game against Normal West did not resemble the team the Warriors have been all year. “We just weren’t playing like we play, at all,” Gugliuzza said. “We weren’t picking up our intensity. We were just chucking up shots which we don’t normally do, so I got a little bit nervous.” The top-seeded Warriors trailed by as many as eight points in the second quarter, but took over in the second half for a 70- 56 win in the Class 4A Normal Regional final Thursday, Feb. 20. It’s the second regional title in a row for LW West (28-3), which was set to take on Joliet West in a Pekin Sectional semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 25. A win would put them in the sectional final on Thursday, Feb. 27. Gugliuzza led the Warriors with 26 points, while sophomore forward Bri Wooldridge added 24 points and 15 rebounds. Senior guard Sydney Swanberg contributed Lincoln-Way West’s girls basketball team celebrates with its Class 4A Normal Regional plaque Thursday, Feb. 20. Photos by Steve Millar/22nd Century Media eight points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Tara Gugliuzza had seven points and seven rebounds. The last time the Warriors played in Bloomington-Normal, they were breaking the record for 3-pointers at the prestigious State Farm Holiday Classic with 45 in four games. Early on in the regional final, however, they could not buy a three. LW West did not hit any shots from beyond the arc in the first half, and Normal West fans were even yelling, “Don’t let them go inside, they can’t shoot.” It was certainly a bizarre experience for the Warriors. “We were overthinking,” Wooldridge said. “We were thinking ahead instead of thinking about right now. We are going to learn from that and hopefully be ready to win our next game.” Normal West (21-8) took advantage of the Warriors’ slow start, jumping to a 24-16 lead early in the second quarter. Wooldridge was the biggest reason the deficit was not bigger for West. She scored 13 points in the first half and was nearly unstoppable when she got the ball in the paint. Taylor Gugliuzza drives to the basket during Lincoln- Way West’s 70-56 win over Normal West in the Class 4A Normal Regional championship game on Thursday, Feb. 20. “I had the opportunities,” she said. “People weren’t expecting me to be able to make those shots.” Wooldridge, in her first season with LW West after transferring from Fremd, has provided an inside presence that has greatly elevated the Warriors all season, but was never more important than against Normal West. “The good thing is, when the threes weren’t falling, Bri got herself going,” West coach Ryan White said. “We had a matchup we liked there, and she stepped up huge.” The big momentum swing took place in the final 20 seconds of the first half. Taylor Gugliuzza drove for a basket, came up with a steal and scored again for a quick fourpoint burst that brought the Warriors within 28-27 at halftime. “That was big for the team and for me, as well,” Taylor said. “I had kind of a rough half and I needed something to pick me up. I was really happy because those two baskets picked up our team in such a huge way.” The Warriors scored the first seven points of the second half to take control. While Wooldridge and Taylor Gugliuzza combined for 25 of LW West’s 27 first-half points, others got involved after the break. Swanberg and Ava Gugliuzza finally broke the 3-pointer snide, each hitting one in the third quarter. Swanberg added another in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to stretch the Warriors’ lead to 49-40. Normal West did not get closer than seven points the rest of the way. Taylor Gugliuzza scored 12 fourth-quarter points as the Warriors pulled away. “We had the mentality that we didn’t want this to be our last game, especially the seniors,” she said. “We came together and said we were going to get it done, even if it was ugly. “We always have a three in a half, in any quarter really. Since we were able to push through without the threes, that shows we are a versatile team.” White knew his team cleared a major hurdle. “It feels like any team that goes on a run, there’s always a scare at some point,” he said. “[Normal West] definitely gave us one, so hopefully it’s a bit of a wake-up call.” This Week In KNIGHTS VARSITY ATHLETICS BOYS BASKETBALL ■March ■ 2-4 – Class 4A regional, TBA GIRLS BASKETBALL ■Feb. ■ 27 – Class 4A Stagg Sectional final, 7 p.m. ■March ■ 2 – Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional, 7 p.m. BOYS SWIMMING ■Feb. ■ 28-29 – IHSA State Finals at Evanston, TBA BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ■Feb. ■ 29 – LW East Invite at Olivet Nazarene U., 10 a.m. GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ■Feb. ■ 29 – LW East Invite at Olivet Nazarene U., 10 a.m. WARRIORS VARSITY ATHLETICS BOYS BASKETBALL ■Feb. ■ 28 – at Joliet West, 6:30 p.m. ■March ■ 2-4 – Class 4A regional, TBA GIRLS BASKETBALL ■Feb. ■ 27 – IHSA Class 4A Pekin Sectional final, 7 p.m. March 2 – Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional, 7 p.m. BOYS SWIMMING ■Feb. ■ 28-29 – IHSA State Finals at Evanston, TBA CELTICS VARSITY ATHLETICS BOYS BASKETBALL ■March ■ 2-4 – Class 3A regional, TBA GIRLS BASKETBALL ■Feb. ■ 27 – Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional final, 7 p.m. ■March ■ 2 – Class 3A Kankakee Supersectional, 7 p.m. HOCKEY ■Feb. ■ 29 - AHAI state playoffs vs. Carmel at Edge Ice Arena, 4:25 p.m. BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ■Feb. ■ 29 – ICOPS Invite at Lewis U., 9 a.m. GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ■Feb. ■ 28 – at Plainfield North Invite, 5 p.m.
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com sports the new lenox patriot | February 27, 2020 | 37 Girls Basketball 6 Raymer’s 3-pointer lifts Providence to regional title Sean Hastings, Editor In the final seconds of the game as Providence set up a play down one point, chants of “defense” and jumbled up yelling echoed throughout Sacred Heart Gym. But in the split second when Ashley Raymer’s 3-point attempt flew through the air, the gym went silent, then to pandemonium, as the ball fell through the net to give the Celtics a 49-47 lead with six seconds left. Host Providence held on to win the 3A regional championship over Morgan Park on Thursday, Feb. 20, in New Lenox. The Celtics did not need a 3-pointer on their final possession down one point with six seconds, but Raymer had a good look, and even with a defender running at her, she knocked it down. “The seconds were ticking down and I knew we didn’t have a lot of time,” Raymer said. “My coach gives me the green light to shoot when I’m open, so I just saw an open opportunity and took it.” Morgan Park (16-15) had just taken the lead for the first time in the game off a free throw with 23 seconds left. The Celtics (25-8) had just turned over the inbound pass and fouled Morgan Park on the layup try. Raymer and Lauren Knight each finished with 14 points to lead the Celtics, who won their first regional title since 2016-17. Providence was set to take on Rich South (25- 5) in the Hillcrest Sectional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. A win would put them in the championship game on Providence girls basketball players, including Jenna Spreitzer (53) and Ashley Raymer (5) celebrate after cutting down the net following the Celtics’ 49-47 regional championship win over Morgan Park on Thursday, Feb. 20, in New Lenox. SEAN HASTINGS/22ND CENTURY MEDIA Thursday, Feb 27. The regional championship game will be the last time the girls play at home this season. Raymer, as a junior, has one year left, but for seniors like Knight, Claire McGrath, Reagan Tokoly and Jenna Spreitzer, they are playing for their high school basketball lives. That’s what made Raymer’s shot all the more special. “It meant the world [to me],” Raymer said. “I’ve been playing with these seniors since I was a freshman and they’ve been my best friends, and to say this is my last time playing on our home court with them, and to hit a shot like that means the world to me.” Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said she was about four seconds from calling a timeout since she had one left, but then Raymer found herself open. “That was fun stuff,” Copenhaver said. Copenhaver also had high praise for sophomore Megan Duzansky, who early in the game, hurt her hand, but missed nearly no time. She just had it taped and she got back on the floor. Duzansky played with the varsity squad last year as the Celtics were short on size. Duzansky scored 12 points for the Celtics in the regional championship game. “She’s very confident and her shooting has improved tremendously,” Copenhaver said. Duzansky hit a 3-pointer to make it 44-35 in the final minutes and a possession later was one-of-two from the free throw line making it a 10-point game. “That 3 gave us some room, we tried to give it right back, but how fun was that?” Copenhaver said. After a fun-filled celebration with family and friends on the court, taking the net down, taking pictures, Copenhaver was sure to compliment the play from the Mustangs, who found a way to stay in the game. “With young kids, you have to find a way to relax and we hit a shot at the right time,” Copenhaver said. Girls Bowling 4 LW West seniors go out with solid state showing RANDY WHALEN Freelance Reporter Olivia Daujatas and Kenzie Ullian ended their high school bowling careers where everyone would like to: at the state finals. While neither of the Lincoln-Way West seniors ended up in the top 12 to get a state medal, they both were in contention and both bowled on the final day, Saturday, Feb. 22, at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford. Ullian (2,360 pins over 12 games) finished 35th and Daujatas (2,329) tied for 41st. Senior Mary Orf (2,743) from O’Fallon was the individual champion. Both West bowlers were four-year varsity members. As sophomores, they were the top two bowlers as West placed 11th at state. Daujatas made it as an individual last season, placing 59th overall (2,224) but Ullian didn't. So, it was nice that the pair could go out together. "I didn't bowl my best, but I was happy to make it to Day No. 2,” Ullian said. "I was here to watch last year. It's more fun to bowl." Both of them bowled very well on the first day. Daujatas rolled a 1,261 over six games that had her in seventh place and included five totals of at least 211. She opened the day with great games of 234 and 235. Ullian had a first-day total of 1,241, which left her in 14th. Every game was at least 192 and she had backto-back 226 scores in the third and fourth games. But the second day was a struggle for both. Daujatas had only two games over 200, a 213 in the second game and a 212 in the third. "It just wasn't my day," Daujatas said. The first day I was rocking and rolling, and I was picking up every spare. The second day I couldn't get more than a double, I couldn't string strikes together. "I'm definitely happy I made it to Day No. 2. But the second-day competition is way different. If you go downhill, you might never get up.” This is not the end of bowling for either one of them. Daujatas is heading to Saint Xavier University while Ullian will continue to bowl at Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Something that was great for Ullian was the fact that her dad, Scott Ullian, was the head coach at West the last two years, after previously coaching the boys bowling team there. "It was nice to have my dad here as coach the past two years," Kenzie Ullian said. Her dad was happy it worked out, too. "Both Olivia and Kenzie bowled well and I'm proud of them," Scott Ullian said. "[The second day] was a little difficult and they didn't score as well. I know Kenzie wasn't carrying well. "I'm going to miss all the seniors but especially [Kenzie]. I wanted to have the whole team make it here but we had two seniors and they both made it to Day 2”
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