By Joey Gelman

Kenwood head coach Andre Lewis has said all year that he has the best backcourt in the state of Illinois, led by senior Ariella Henigan (16 points) and junior Danielle Brooks (24 points). The duo proved to be just that, providing 40 points on the biggest stage, helping the Broncos secure their first-ever state championship in girls basketball.

“I knew Dani had it in her,” Henigan said. “Me and Dani have been together since we started playing basketball, and I just wanted to bring it out of her and she did amazing today. I am so proud of her, I have so much love for her,” she said, running over to hug Brooks.

While Kenwood can fly up and down the court, turnovers were the headline to start out the game for both the Broncos and their opponent Fremd, as both teams tried to get the early jitters out in the first quarter of the title game.

And even though Kenwood can always put up plenty of points, in this game totaling 65 points, it was its defense that turned the game around in the second quarter, applying their signature full-court press to throw off the Vikings.

“We take pride in our defense,” Henigan said. “In our huddles, that’s the first thing we talk about is stopping them with the ball, because offense comes easy to us, you know, because Danielle and I are the best backcourt in the state of Illinois. “

“We definitely won tonight because of defense,” said Lewis.

The change defensively stifled the Vikings in the second half, and they held Fremd’s star Ella Todd (University of Utah-bound) to just 11 total points in the game. An 11-0 run in the fourth quarter secured the crown for Kenwood, 65-50.

However, the game was not without its adversity. Late in the third quarter, both Henigan and fellow senior Diann Jackson amassed their fourth fouls, leaving them little room for error if they were to complete the game without fouling out. When Jackson fouled out late in the fourth quarter, she and her team were incredibly emotional, now knowing they had to win this game without one of their best players.

“I felt everything for her when she fouled out,“ Henigan said. “I told myself I’m doing this for her and that’s what I did.”

This mindset allowed their lead to grow and Kenwood could sense the title was imminent as the clock ticked down, with Jackson, Brooks, Henigan and the rest of the squad beginning to hug each other on the bench as the buzzer was about to sound. 

“It means everything,” Henigan said. “We’re a predominantly senior team, so coming home with a state championship with these seven seniors means everything. As the time was ticking down, we knew we had it.”

“This group is a testament to staying together,” said Lewis. “If we stayed focused, the talent we have, I knew this team could get it done.“

“It means a lot,“ said Brooks. “Since my freshman year, we’ve lost super-sectionals, so I knew we were going to come down here one way or another.”

Henigan and Brooks have changed the trajectory of Kenwood girls basketball in just four short years and  Lewis reminded everyone in the post-game press conference his mantra “I told y’all, best backcourt in the state of Illinois, Ariella Henigan and Danielle Brooks!”

Lewis added, “Sharing this with Ariella, that’s the best thing, I said to Ariella, ‘We got it done.’ I’m glad my last day coaching her ended like this.”

This achievement brings the first basketball state title back to the school for the first time in either boys or girls basketball program history.

“It means a lot,“ said Lewis. “Over the last decade, we have grown in athletics. It’s just a testament to what a great community, great academic background, and great athletic resources (we have). Especially when coaches and the community support you.”

“It means everything,” Henigan said. “We tried to go for state all four years, so coming home with a state championship my last year for them, winning it for my school… I love my school. They show so much love and support as you can see the fans were all here, so just bringing home a state championship means everything. “

And what do the seniors think about the future of the program?

“I know this will not be the last state championship for Kenwood,” Henigan said.

Photos by Andrew Rosenthal/OSA