March 2009 Archives

By Jason Ivanitz
Three Bolingbrook Raiders made the Illinois Basketball Coaches
Association Class 3A and 4A all-state team, which was determined prior to
the state semifinal games of both classes Saturday..
Morgan Tuck made the first team as a freshman and Ariel Massengale
achieved second-team honors. Satavia Taylor was the final Raider on the
list, earning third-team honors.

Here is the complete list of players for the first through third teams:

FIRST TEAM:
Adrienne GodBold, Chicago Marshall
Brooke Bisping, Morton
Toni Kokenis, Hinsdale Central
Tricia Liston, Frenwick
Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook
Kersten Magrum, Lincoln-Way East
Taylor Whitley, Geneva
Kaila Turner, Marian Catholic
Kelsey Smith, St. Charles North
Samantha Arnold, Lake Park
Ashley Wilson, Wheeling
Mariah Smith, Peoria Richwoods
Chanise Jenkins, Whitney Young
Lydia Bauer, Lake Zurich
Monica Albano, Trinity

SECOND TEAM:
Allison Anderson, Springfield
Chloe Barnes, Quincy
Katie Norman, Freeport
Kelley Hendrick, Naperville Central
Megan Holy, Loyola
Megan Sharpe, Edwardsville
Porsha Harris, Whitney Young
Suporia Dickens, Freeport
Katelyn Payne, Fenwick
Kelly Korza, Springfield
Ariel Massengale, Bolingbrook
Marquisha Harris, Moline
Natecia Augusta, Limestone
Whitney Holloway, Montini
Jewell Loyd, Niles West

THIRD TEAM:
Alexis Jenkins, Chicago University High
Ashlee Anderson, Whitney Young
Jasmine Poteete, Marshall
Katie Hannemann, Providence Catholic
Kristin Judson, Normal
Maddie Nieukirk, Peoria Richwoods
Molly Bardson, Ottawa
Satavia Taylor, Bolingbrook
Stephanie Harper, Charleston
Tiffany Kellum, Peoria Central
A.J.Ledbetter, R.I. Allenman
Ashley Capotoso, Elk Grove
Janelle Cannon, Wheeling
Karlee Gengenbacher, Quincy N.D.
Katie Murphy, Peoria Richwoods
Kharisma Chapman, T.F. North
Lauren Wicinski, Geneva
Uniquah Hampton, Hillcrest
Abbey Shmitt, New Trier
Megan Rogowski, Hersey

By Jason Ivanitz
NORMAL -- Hopefully all of the events that have transpired to me outside of
Redbird Arena are not an omen of how the Bolingbrook players will
perform on the court in the state title game against Whitney Young at
approximately 8:15 p.m.

In less than a 24 hour time span, I have narrowly avoided three
accidents where people were too busy looking at their Garmen or
Mapquest directions instead of the road, had an Illinois State
University student flash me a not so nice hand gesture as I pulled out
quickly from the Redbird Arena's parking lot, a sleepy kid walking
blindly into my breakfast table, spilling coffee onto my pants and
finally the one or two jokes from my editor because of my choice of
hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. He quoted the familiar commercial "Are
you a (fill in the blank of a profession, in this case journalist)? No I
just stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Speaking of the hotel, it was a special night as it was housing all the
participants of a chess tournament and while I was writing down some
notes this morning I enjoyed watching the parents be all over their
kids discussing chess strategy and telling them to play warm-up games
and not make silly mistakes. All of this made me even more thankful
that my parents introduced me to sports and they were active in my life
it but not consistently over my shoulder.

Even though there were negative or simply amusing events that happened
here in Normal, I still wouldn't change it for the world as just hours
from now I will see the two best teams (who are nationally ranked) in
Illinois square off for a state title.

While both teams are serious on the court I know that they have having
a blast at the Double Tree Hotel and regardless if it a player's first
time like Morgan Tuck or fourth time like Satavia Taylor or Candance
Nevels, something about staying over somewhere new or away from home is
special.

Satavia Taylor said "Each year is a different and fun experience" and
for Morgan Tuck, she was excited knowing that for the first year that
she will be going to state with her sister Taylor. Morgan is just a
freshman while Taylor, a sophomore, went to state by herself last year.
Raider coach Tony Smith said. "I'm sort of starting to get used to
this," and this is his fifth consecutive year downstate and taking up
a room in the Double Tree Hotel.

When IHSA preaches about teamwork and a fun experience in sports this
is what they mean and it is a shame that only 16 teams (all four
classes) in the entire state of Illinois have the chance to go through
this bonding in these past few days. Geneva and Wheeling have made
their first state final appearance this year and despite losing in the
semi-finals, the energy and excitement they brought to the arena
overshadowed the fans of both Bolingbrook and Whitney Young.

Basketball is more than a game, it's an experience and I'm glad that
all teams are here enjoying their time regardless of their final place.
The players who won't go to the next level and play college basketball
will forever remember this moment. Most of the time, only half of the
memories are on the court and for a coach that is perfect as every
coach preaches teamwork and togetherness.

As for me, well ,I hope the experience gets just a tad better for the
rest of Saturday so I can just focus on the Raider team and the state
final instead of out of control cars, flying hot liquid or one hand
salutes.