By Joey Gelman

Kenwood head coach Andre Lewis had one word to describe his Class 4A Semifinal game against Alton.

“Dogfight,” he said.

He then had only seven words to describe his backcourt of Ariella Henigan and Danielle Brooks, who combined for 35 total points.

“Best backcourt in the state of Illinois.”

The game began fast, as Kenwood jumped out to a 10-2 lead early in the first quarter, highlighted by the incredible scoring ability of Henigan and Brooks, coupled with the team’s signature full-court press defense, stifling the Redbirds early on.

However, in the second quarter, the Redbird came back, cutting the Kenwood lead to five, 35-30 at halftime.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” Lewis said. “You gotta just be able to withstand it and in the critical moments, execute.”

The game was previewed by some as the premiere matchup in the 4A bracket and it lived up to the hype. 

In the third quarter, behind Alton’s leading scorers Jarius Powers (19), Talia Norman (12) and Kiyoko Proctor (12), the Redbirds made their run, cutting it multiple times to a three-point game, including late in the fourth quarter. 

“The action was physical, extremely competitive, contentious on both ends. Both teams didn’t wanna lose,” Lewis said.

But Kenwood locked in and closed out the victory in exciting fashion, 61-55, securing its first-ever trip to the IHSA State Championship Game.

“I knew we were built for this,” said senior Icesis Thomas, “I’m so proud of our team, this is where we are supposed to be. We set goals at the beginning of the year that we are now fulfilling. I think it’s a good feeling knowing and seeing all of our work finally paying off.”

“I was kind of nervous,” Brooks said. “But as soon as the game started, I just wanted to win for my team.”

“It was definitely fun, I haven’t experienced [anything] like that before. Definitely cool,“ Henigan said.

“We’ve never gotten to this point, so it’s more motivation to win it all, and everybody has to do whatever it takes, “ said senior Diann Jackson.

During one of the last possessions of the game, Alton tried to save a ball from going out of bounds and threw the ball directly off of Kenwood senior London Walker-George, who had dove for the ball, to save it. 

While Alton got the ball back, all Walker-George could do was smile with her teammates after being on the receiving end of a basketball body-blow.

“I was just enjoying the game,” Walker-George said on why she smiled after the play. “During rough moments, you just have to find a way to laugh about it. That’s how we get our wins, just having fun.”

The Broncos will try to make history on Saturday, when they play Fremd for a chance to bring home the 4A State Championship.  In their meeting earlier this season, Kenwood won 69-63.

The Broncos will look to take all they have learned during wins and difficult losses, this season and last, when they take on the Vikings on Saturday.

“We’ve endured. This veteran group knows how to play in tight situations. I think it’s critically important for growth for teams to go through failure, we’re forced to learn from them,” Lewis said.

Lewis also relished the opportunity to be able to coach this senior-led group one more time on the biggest stage.

“It means a lot. It means I get to coach this group one more time. This group has been excellent, they hold each other accountable, they support each other, it’s truly a family.”

The Broncos and Vikings will tip off at 8 pm on Saturday at CEFCU Arena. The game will also be broadcast LIVE on WCIU The U.

Photos by Joseph Gelman/OSA