By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
Rewind 366 days ago to February 22, 2018.
At Proviso West in Hillside, Montini ended Benet Academy’s 2017-18 season with a convincing 54-31 Class 4A Proviso West Sectional championship game victory.
Returning all five of the tear-stained starters from that sad night then junior-Lauren Stack summed up the feelings of her heart-broken teammates.
“Next year starts tomorrow for us.” Stack said. “We begin preparing for Montini, tomorrow.”
Before a capacity crowd in Darien at Hinsdale South on January 21, 2019, Stack and the Redwings avenged that defeat to the Broncos in style with a 61-33 IHSA Class 4A Hinsdale South Sectional championship total destruction of the top-seeded, 30-5 Broncos.
The most amazing story about the game began in the morning at Benet Academy. Redwing standout guard, Kendall Holmes was ruled out with an injury suffered in the closing minutes of the sectional semifinal win over Whitney Young when a trio of Dolphin players —in desperation mode trying to foul — threw Holmes out of bounds.
What started out as very disheartening news turned out to be the ultimate tool for the Redwings. Motivated by their star player’s injury, the entire Benet Academy roster played exceptional basketball.
“It’s just incredible to get this victory tonight,” Stack said. “We were embarrassed last year by Montini. I am so proud of all of us, for avenging that loss. Kendall’s injury clearly motivated all of us and our bench was outstanding. Contributions all over the board.”
For the second straight night, the Redwings never trailed as they took home the sectional championship back to Lisle.
Junior Lindsey Rogers (11 points, three 3’s four rebounds, two steals) off the bench buried a pair of three-point bombs to give the Redwings a 12-8 lead after one quarter.
The Redwings scored 23 second quarter points to open up a 34-21 led at halftime.
Senior Ashley Konkle (10 points, five assists, five rebounds) and junior Brooke Schramek (16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks) tallied 13 second quarter points between them.
“This is amazing,” Konkle said. “We prepared for this game for a year. Playing without Kendall Holmes motivated us even more. We wanted to win the game for Kendall, knowing she would be back with us on Monday. I am so proud of this team.”
Off the bench, sophomore Molly Sheehan scored five points including a long-range three and picked up a steal. Ashley Berry (four points, two rebounds, two steals) off the bench picked up a first-half bucket as the vaunted Redwing bench contributed 15 of the 34 Redwing first half points.
“When we received the news about Kendall this morning we really were motivated to win the game for her,” Sheehan said. “We all played so well tonight. I watched last year’s loss to Montini in the stands at Proviso West. I am so happy for all our girls who avenged that loss to Montini tonight.”
With the Redwings up 39-24 with 3:48 left in the third quarter, a Benet Academy long-range artillery show finished off the Broncos.
On three successive series senior point guard Clara Prasse (three points, seven rebounds, two assists), sophomore, Kendall Moriarty (six points, two 3’s three rebounds), who started for Holmes, and Rogers buried three-pointers to extend the Redwing lead to 45-24.
“We all played so well tonight,” Prasse said. “Our bench is impeccable. I have been saying all year how talented our bench is. We all wanted to step up and win this game for Kendall, coach Kilbride and ourselves. I’m shocked over our margin of victory, but it shows how great we all played tonight.”
“This was such a great victory for us tonight,” Rogers said. “We all have worked so hard all season to be in this position. I love my teammates. I love our coaching staff. We are ready.”
Redwing Nation, was out in full-force in Darien, led by Redwing boys basketball, star forward Kendrick Tchoua. The Redwing boys finished off a successful wee, by beating state-ranked Marian Catholic 62-57 on Wednesday night. Last Friday, the Redwings beat Notre Dame in Niles and then beat state-ranked Stevenson at home on Saturday.
The largest cheer of the night from Redwing Nation, was for Redwing senior Kaley Liszka when she buried a 15-foot jumper, or the last Redwing bucket of the night. Redwing Nation chanted her name after her bucket.
“I am very proud of our team tonight,” Schramek said. “We really wanted to avenge last year’s loss to Montini. Everyone contributed and we all want to go downstate. This was such a fun game for all of us. Our bench is amazing. Whenever Lindsey and all of them go into the game they contribute.”
Holmes was happy with the win, but is ready to get back on the floor.
“We all played so well tonight,” she said. “It was so gratifying for us to avenge last year’s loss to Montini. It was so nice to hear all my teammates, wanted to win this one for me. I will be back on Monday.”
Up next for the 27-5 Redwings will be a IHSA Class 4A Romeoville Supersectional at Lewis University against 24-7 Oswego High School. The game will tip-off at 7 on Monday night.
“We have really come together and our playing our best ball of the season,” Benet Academy coach Joe Kilbride said. “Lindsey Rogers and Molly Sheehan and all the girls on the bench played outstanding.”