Lady Raiders Roll Into Normal With Eyes On a Third Straight Title

ihsa class 4a state preview

• When: Tonight
• Where: Redbird Arena (Illinois State University), Bloomington
• Game 1: Zion-Benton (26-6) vs. Maine South (27-8) at 6:30 p.m. 
• Game 2: Bolingbrook (26-2) vs. Whitney Young (27-2) at 8:15 p.m.
• Third Place Game: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2; Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
• Championship Game: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2; Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

Bolingbrook head coach Tony Smith was rather blunt with his answer when asked what a super-sectional title meant to him after the Lady Raiders knocked off Edwardsville Monday.

"It means that we get a chance to go back downstate and play for another title," he said. "That's big."

"Big" might be an understatement. In fact, "big" is just the beginning.

Bolingbrook has its eyes on bigger and better things, such as a third-straight IHSA Class 4A championship. The first step toward accomplishing the Lady Raiders' ultimate goal is a semi-final showdown with Chicago powerhouse Whitney Young.

Tipoff is slated for 8:15 p.m. at Redbird Arena in Normal, on the campus of Illinois State University.

The highly anticipated matchup between the Lady Raiders and the Dolphins will follow the first semi-final showdown, which pits Zion-Benton against Maine South.

Ariel Massengale, who has played her best ball over the last two games, said she looks forward to ending her high school basketball career on a high note.

"Taylor Tuck and I were talking about that this is our last two games to play with each other and we've been playing with each other since the fifth grade," Massengale said, referring to her fellow senior backcourt teammate. "It's very sentimental and it means a lot to us. It's a bittersweet feeling, but we're trying to go out in our senior year with a bang."

Bolingbrook has been a dominant force on both ends of the floor.

On the offensive end, the Lady Raiders are trouncing their opponents, pouring an average of 74.2 points per game and having outscored competitors by a score of 371-182.

Defensively, Bolingbrook has turned the dial on the intensity to unseen levels. The 45 points allowed against Edwardsville on Monday was the most the team has given up during its postseason run. Even then, it came as the Lady Raiders forced 28 turnovers.

Bolingbrook has handcuffed its postseason foes, allowing a stingy 36.2 points per contest.

The last three contests have brought out the best in the Lady Raiders, partially because opponents have brought along their best efforts.

A feisty Benet Academy showed no quit in the Romeoville semi-final before bowing out. Naperville (Central) hung tight with Bolingbrook until a big second-half push put the Lady Raiders in the next round. Edwardsville and Bolingbrook traded blows in the game's first 16 minutes before Massengale carried her teammates through a 18-8 third quarter run en route to a super-sectional title.

Bolingbrook's coach appreciates his team's perseverance through moments of adversity this postseason. Smith expected it to come along the way after starting the postseason by throwing up 96 points against Plainfield East and 85 on Romeoville in the team's first two playoff wins.

He surely expects it again over the next two days.

"We are seeing everybody's best game. That's no surprise," Smith said. "Every team that sees Bolingbrook High School plays us so hard. Every kid comes out against us comes out and plays hard. And that's nice."

How did the Lady Raiders Get Here?

Playoff results: