Lyons Township High School senior Nora Ezike finished her historic career with the Lyons Township High School girls basketball team with one last honor. The 6-foot-2 Stanford recruit was named Class 4A first team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association after being on the third team in 2024.
“I was very proud and grateful for the honor,” Ezike said. “Just having what you’ve done being acknowledged and honored makes you feel good and that what you’ve done has paid off.”
Nazareth Academy junior Stella Sakalas was named to the 10-player first team for the first time as one of only two non-seniors.
“I’m extremely honored to be one of the few that got this acknowledgement,” said Sakalas, who was special mention all-state in 2024. “The state of Illinois girls basketball is only getting better and there’s so many great players.”
LTHS junior Emma O’Brien and Nazareth sophomore Sophia Towne were named to the 15-player all-state third team. Towne was among only two sophomores or freshmen.
Nazareth senior Allia von Schlegell received special mention.
This past season, Ezike averaged 21.0 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Lions (program-best 31-3). Ezike scored a single-game school-record 40 points against Prospect and passed 1,000 career points, followed soon afterwards by O’Brien. As Ezike prepares for Stanford this spring, she continues to work with personal trainer Sean Boateng as she has since eighth grade.
As for other sports, she’s with the track and field team for the first time as a sprinter and serving as a manager for the girls soccer team. Ezike previously played goalie for the Lions.
“I’ve done soccer the last three years and I knew I had to step away to train. But we’re close like family and I didn’t want to leave them,” Ezike said. “So far I’ve been able to make most soccer games. I know things come up. [But] most things don’t overlap. I feel like I’ve had a lot more time this year without AAU [basketball].”
Sakalas averaged team bests of 17.2 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Roadrunners (31-3). She was named the East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year and also scored her 1,000th career point. She was integral to the Roadrunners’ continued success after the other four starters graduated from their 2024 4A state runners-up.
Returning from a recent trip to Australia, where she once lived, Sakalas now prepares for her fourth traveling season with the Wisconsin Lakers based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin — a two-hour drive one way.
“It’s just me getting back into shape, working on all of the thing I found flawed in my game during the high school season,” Sakalas said.
“I’ve especially liked [the commute] because I get to spend quality time with my parents. And they like it as well. [The Lakers] do a really good job and treat us like family.”
Riverside Brookfield senior Alyssa Morris was named to the All-Upstate Eight Conference team. Senior Bella Perez and sophomore foreign exchange student Gaby Graupera were honorable mention.
Ezike and O’Brien were joined by juniors Gwen Smith and Avery Mezan on the All-West Suburban Conference Division team.
Sakalas, Towne, von Schlegall and junior Lyla Shelton were the Roadrunners’ All-ESCC players.
Boys basketball
RBHS senior Danny Loftus received special mention on the IBCA 4A all-state team.
Loftus and junior Cameron Mercer were unanimous selections to the All-UEC team. Senior Vince Dockendorf received honorable mention.
LTHS senior Ian Polonowski received All-WSC Silver honors. Senior Josh Gutierrez was honorable mention.
Nazareth senior Danny Wrzesinski was on the All-ESCC team.
Boys and girls wrestling
Five RBHS wrestlers received All-UEC honors – seniors Edgar Mosquera, Matt Elzy and Ricky Blanco for the boys and juniors Danely Villagomez and Estefany Bejarano for the girls.
Girls flag football
LTHS junior Anna Bigenwald was named to the Illinois Girls Flag Football All-State team. The LTHS girls soccer team goalie has verbally committed to Loyola for soccer.