By Michael Wojtychiw
The Phillips girls basketball team is starting to get quite familiar with deep runs into the state tournament.
Following last season’s fourth-place state-finish, the Wildcats were making their third straight trip to the supersectional earlier this month when it headed to Dominican University for the second consecutive season to play for a state final four berth.
“This shows that our program is out here,” Phillips coach Larry Stokes said. “Losing four seniors, we started with a young crew, so we should be primed to be back next year.
“But it’s up to them. We put in work all year-round, it helps us get to the point we’re at right now. Our schedule is one of the toughest around, we start off playing 4A schools for this moment. Once they figure out the basketball part, we’ll be fine.”
In their way stood a St. Edward team that had lost only three times since the New Year.
After falling behind 16-2 in the first quarter, the Wildcats slowly but surely made their comeback, using their pressure defense that would frustrate the Green Wave into numerous turnovers.
Phillips was able to cut the lead down to 28-24 at halftime thanks to Akyla Williams’ five points in the quarter, as well as Kamaria Sephus’ and Skyla Bouie’s four points apiece.
“We’ve got new kids, bright lights, they’re nervous, haven’t been there before,” Stokes said. “There are going to be big moments, but you have to be there to absorb those moments when they happen.”
Phillips took a 32-31 lead with 3:59 remaining in the fourth quarter when Williams put in a basket of her own. The Wildcats would build the lead to eight and not allow St. Edward to get closer than four until later in the fourth quarter.
With 1:40 remaining, the Green Wave cut the Phillips lead to 46-44 on a basket by Savannah Lynch, who drew Williams’ fifth foul in the process, fouling out the star Wildcat. Zariah Clark also fouled out with 42.4 seconds remaining, with the score still 46-44.
The Wildcats had a chance to run the clock out but a steal by St. Edward led to a Jordin Sauls basket with eight seconds remaining, tying the game at 48 at the end of regulation the game went.
The Wildcats grabbed a quick 51-48 lead in the overtime period, but St. Edward roared back to finish the game on a 9-0 run over the last 3:31 of the game, securing the supersectional title.
Despite playing in Class 2A, the Wildcats challenged themselves throughout the year, playing against mostly 3A and 4A schools and starting the season in the New Trier Tournament, against teams like Loyola, Carmel and Fenwick, all teams that made as deep of runs in the state playoffs as the Wildcats did.
“We had a lot of growth,” the coach said. “We started bonding, gelling, getting it together. When you have a new team, everybody is trying to figure it out.”
Williams led Phillips with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Sephus and Mia Scott both added nine points apiece.
Photos by Ezekiel Williams, Phillips student
