March 2020

16 sports/westerner
Knowing their worth
WITH RECORDS IN THE BOOKS,
GIRLS BASKETBALL ENDS SEASON 30-4
BY SUZANNA LINEK
sports editor
Finishing the season with the sectional
title, regional title, and conference title,
the girls basketball team made their final
plays of the season last Monday in an attempt
to make it to state for the third year
in a row. Hosted by Conant, the stands
overflowed with West fans in their 49-57
loss to Fremd.
Earlier in February, the girls had a
dominating win over Fremd, 59-42. The
Warriors came to super-sectionals confident
they could do it again, especially
with such a strong winning streak propelling
them forward. Within the first quarter
of the super-sectionals, though, the
Warriors found themselves down 19-9,
and they continued to be behind through
the third quarter, which ended 41-30.
The Warriors roared back, though,
going on a 17-2 run led by senior All-
American Angela Dugalic, with the Warrior
fans electrifying the stands.
In the end, Fremd held the Warriors
off, winning 57-49. On Saturday, Fremd
went on to win the state 4A title game in
Bloomington.
On their path to the elite eight -- the
top eight schools in Illinois -- the Warriors
went up against Loyola Academy on
Feb. 24 for the sectional semifinals where
they took the win, 31-21. That led them
to face their rivals, Evanston, head-tohead
for the sectional finals on Feb. 27.
After Dugalic took the jump ball, the
scoreboard was an ongoing strobe light
of each team scoring alternating points.
Last year, the Warriors and Wildkits went
into overtime battling for the sectional
championship, and this year was just as
intense. The Wildkits had a two-point
lead at the end of the first and just a onepoint
lead over the Warriors at the end of
the second quarter, 19-18.
The fourth quarter ended 40-40 before
the Warriors sealed the sectional
win, 43-42, in overtime again.
“The highlight of my season was playing
Evanston at home and being able
to beat them once again and winning
sectionals,” senior Melissa Gomez said.
“The support from the school was amazing.
The whole gym was packed, and my
teammates and I enjoyed playing for a
very hyped crowd.”
Watching the team and the fans from
the sidelines, athletic director Jarett Kirshner
said the Evanston game was one of
his favorites, too. “That amazing overtime
win in the IHSA sectional championship
game was so special, and to have
the game here in our own gym, it was incredible,”
he said. The three seniors who
were part of the starting lineup won four
sectional titles during their four years at
West.
“Head coach Kim DeMarigny is the
only head coach in the state to coach four
seasons and to win an IHSA sectional
championship each season,” Kirshner
said. For DeMarigny and this group of
seniors, their four-year record was 124-
10, going 40-0 in the CSL North.
Over the last four years, the team has
earned four consecutive conference, regional,
and sectional titles. “This season
was incredible as it made for the type of
four-year run that will always be remembered
and may never be duplicated by
any sport,” Kirshner said.
march 13, 2020
GRETA MARTIN
Top right: At the super-sectional game vs. Fremd, senior Angela Dugalic
helped lead the Warriors on a 17-2 run. At right: West fans showed up
energized to pack the Conant gym and cheer for the Warriors against
Fremd. Below: Junior Briana Hernandez
sets up to pass the ball
during the super-sectional
game.
CLASS OF 2020 LEGACY
124-10
record in the CSL
4 YEARS
Zero conference losses
Four CSL North Championships
Four IHSA Regional Championships
Four IHSA Sectional Titles
35-0
2018-19 undefeated season
STATE
GRETA MARTIN
2017-18 3rd place (31-2 overall)
2018-19 IHSA Class 4A State Champions