Senior standout Nora Ezike and her Lyons Township High School girls basketball teammates added several pages to the record book this season.
The Lions finished with a program-best 31-3 record. The Stanford-bound, the 6-foot-2 Ezike achieved a single-game school record 40 points and Ezike and junior Division I prospect Emma O’Brien surpassed 1,000 career points.
Add to that an unofficial school record – the longest pre-game meals.
“Our pasta parties last for hours. Nobody really wants to leave,” said Ezike, a varsity standout since the latter half of her freshman year.
“This season I would say was my favorite. These girls, I feel like half of them I’ve played with since seventh grade and a few of them as freshmen. I feel like we’ve been friends for so long, which really helped our connection. We had such a strong bond.”
That was just another reason the Lions’ season-ending loss to No. 4 Whitney Young 65-52 in the Class 4A Lyons Township Sectional semifinals Feb. 25 was so painful.
The Lions, the sectional’s No. 1 seed, hoped to capture both their first sectional and get downstate for the first time since 1999 (30-5), the previous single-season record for victories.
Instead, their fourth straight regional title season ended in the sectional semis for the third straight year. The 2022 Lions lost in the sectional finals.
“It was just a little extra disappointing because we had such a great season. We went just as far as we did last year and we kind of expected to go farther so it also was just a shock,” Ezike said.
Following the loss, LTHS coach Meghan Hutchens and the coaching staff left the players alone for a significant time in their post-game classroom to reflect and comfort each other. Even their run to the West Suburban Conference Silver title was a perfect 12-0.
“Obviously, this wasn’t the way we wanted the season to end or expected,” O’Brien said. “(The coaches) just wanted us to not have the loss take away from how historic of a season we had. We were kind of telling each other the same things. We’re just so grateful to have had a season like this together.”
After splitting their first two meetings, No. 2 Kenwood (33-3) defeated No. 4 Whitney Young 71-55 in the sectional final Thursday and beat Marist 62-48 Monday to advance to the state semifinals. No. 3 seed Nazareth Academy (31-3), last year’s 4A state runners-up, lost to Kenwood 72-71 in the other sectional semifinal, a rematch of their 2024 sectional final.
“I think it was especially hard for everyone because they believed they could win. We just started the game off digging ourselves a pretty big hole we couldn’t climb out of in four quarters,” Hutchens said.
“We didn’t execute what our game plan was early on and they came out shooting really well. You can’t let Whitney Young get ahead by too much. (But) this season was nothing short of extraordinary. The last game is just not the way you want to go out. It happens in sports. Unfortunately, we experienced one of the lows.”
As usual, Ezike (22 points, 11 rebounds), O’Brien (20 points with 2 threes, 12 rebounds) and junior Gwen Smith (7 points) led the Lions. They also graduate starting senior guard Tess Bernson and return starting junior guard Avery Mezan for her fourth varsity season.
Whitney Young (25-9) jumped to an 11-1 lead behind four three-pointers. The Dolphins led 18-7 after one quarter and three more threes fueled a 16-7 second-quarter finish for a 36-18 halftime margin.
LTHS was 7 for 27 shooting in the first half with no threes. Ezike (14 points on 6-for-13 shooting) and Smith (4 points) accounted for all of the scoring.
“At halftime I told the girls to follow (Ezike’s) lead. She was attacking,” Hutchens said.
After going scoreless, O’Brien had all 18 of the Lions’ third-quarter points with the Lions’ lone threes in the game. LTHS still trailed 52-37 entering the fourth quarter.
“I knew if we wanted to get back in the game, I had to play better. We couldn’t let it rest all on Nora’s shoulders,” O’Brien said.
“She’s definitely the best player I’ve ever played with. The best thing about her is she gets so much attention but it doesn’t go to her head at all.”
Ezike ranks among the greatest players, if not the greatest, in LTHS history. As a freshman, Ezike began on varsity, returned to the sophomore team for more playing time and then returned to varsity as she began making the most of her potential.
“I feel like I’ve grown so much the last four years. A lot of people believed in me and I believed in myself and that’s really what I’m most proud of,” Ezike said. “But I feel like I wouldn’t have done it without such great teammates who play good defense, feed me the ball and trust me on the court and my coaches who trust me. I’m really just grateful how they’ve helped me grow to be the player I am now.”
“Looking at her career and where she ended up, there’s a testament to her dedication and pursuit of excellence,” Hutchens said. “She set the bar really high and had community members, younger players, people that just love basketball coming out to watch her play. I’m really excited for her about the next level (at Stanford).”
Nazareth’s loss ended a 31-game winning streak dating back to Dec. 4.
The Roadrunners had another impressive season, especially considering junior Stella Sakalas was the lone returning starter from last year’s senior-led group that also contributed to the 2023 3A state championship and second in 3A in 2022.
“As soon as we ended last season we knew we were going to be good,” Sakalas said. “It was not a shock to us. This team is such a special team. We put so much effort and work into where we were. That showed. (Kenwood) was a great game.”
Sakalas had 23 points and an 11-point second quarter with three of her team’s 12 three-pointers and three assists. Sophomore Sophia Towne (17 points with 3 threes, 6 rebounds), senior Allia von Schlegall (15 points with 2 threes), sophomore Samantha Austin (8 rebounds) and junior Lyla Shelton (3 assists) also contributed.
Nazareth led 55-52 after three quarters but Kenwood scored on nine of its first 11 possessions of the fourth quarter in pulling ahead 60-57. The Roadrunners closed within one point four times, but the Broncos scored again every time.
After Nazareth missed a three to tie the game, Kenwood free throws opened a 72-65 lead. The Roadrunners added two late threes from von Schlegall and Towne from beyond halfcourt at the buzzer.
“(Kenwood’s) whole team is seniors but our young group gave them everything they could handle. I was just begging for one stop and we couldn’t get it,” Nazareth coach Ed Stritzel said.
“That’s a top team in the state. I’m not even disappointed (about losing). We left it out there and our future’s so bright.”
Nazareth was East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champions with Benet. Sakalas was the ESCC Player of the Year, von Schlegall, Towne and Shelton also were All-ESCC and Austin was honorable mention. Austin and sophomore reserve Molly Moore missed last season with injuries.
“(von Schlegall) was the best point guard I ever played with and really took leadership,” Sakalas said. “Coming from what we had, never really playing together and becoming what we were today, I think it’s remarkable. It just reflects the coaching staff and how much work and effort they put into making us what we are today.”