Ramblers Punch State Ticket with Authority

The fat Tuesday was still a few hours away, but the Ramblers still ate.

The Loyola Academy Girls Basketball (34-2) chewed itself on Monday evening according to another state, the Basketball of the Loyola Academy (34-2), in an IHSA-Class 4A superseection at the Warren Township High School in Gurnee.

In the celebration after the game, Clare Weasler, Junior Guard, wore a royal cake, a traditional fat Tuesday that was also part of Loyolas Super Sectional celebration last season.

“It's a kind of tradition,” said Weasler. “Must be very lucky.”

While that may be true, Loyola had a more foolproof schedule for Monday, which rarely lets her down:

Defense.

Rambler's defenders provided for Huntley all night, limited the Red Raiders to only nine field goals and forced them to more than 20 sales.

The defense of Loyola has approved an average of 30 points per game to his five playoff opponents.

Junior Marycait Mackie, who recorded at least 5 steals, said that Loyola's strategy on Monday was to put Huntley's Ball handler under pressure and restrict her shooters.

“We did a good job to guide you from the (three-point) line,” she said. “You didn't get many three-point shots, which is huge because you are a shooting team.

“We started the energy from the start and didn't stop, and that was the key.”

The Red Raiders scored 16 three -pointers against Libertyville on Thursday, February 27, at their section against Libertyville. They made one on Monday.

The Ramblers, on the other hand, found their shooting blow early and often.

In the first quarter, Loyola drained five three-point three-point-pointers-von two of two from Mackie and Senior Guard Aubrey Galvan when he gave the lead with 21-10 lead.

Loyola's defense looked up a level in the second quarter and forced nine sales to extend the lead to 14 (35-21) into half.

“I think our press surprises teams,” said Weasler about the new competition. “Sometimes you don't expect us to run them and jump them.”

The Ramblers put the game away in the third quarter and exceeded the Red Raiders 18: 6. Galvan scored nine of her game height of 17 points in the stanza.

Mackie scored 16 points, including four three -point.

“I can always rely on my teammates take open shots with the best point guards in the state,” said Mackie and gave Galvan and Weasler recognition.

Weasler had 10 points. Senior Grace Bronski and Sophomore Emily Naraky each divided 7 points for the Ramblers.

The Ramblers go to the state finals in the Grosssinger Motors Arena in Bloomington and will try to get out of the last four to win their second 4a state championship in a row.

Loyola has a profit series of 28 games to the state weekend, which begins on Friday, March 7th at 1:15 p.m., in a retirement of a semi-finals 2024 4a won by Loyola 43-40.

“We just have to maintain the energy, do not underestimate teams and take the entire game 100 percent from the start,” said Mackie.

The Ramblers surpassed the Vikings 66-41 in a day of MLK Jr. Day on January 20.

Alton (32-2) and Kenwood (33-3) play in the other 4A semi-final.

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