Oak Lawn's girls basketball team won its third straight conference title. Oak Lawn Community High School photo

Oak Lawn's girls basketball team won its third straight conference title. Oak Lawn Community High School photo

Hoops Wrap | Oak Lawn girls win third straight conference championship

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

It couldn’t have been scripted much better than this.

Two neighborhood rivals, both with 8-4 records in the South Suburban Red, went to battle on Feb. 7 with the girls basketball conference title on the line, and the Spartans earned their third straight Red title by knocking off the Bulldogs, 45-25.

Oak Lawn has been riding a rollercoaster all season and was 14-15 after the triumph.

The Spartans lost their tops two scorers from last season — one to graduation and another to an injury — so a third conference crown was far from a guarantee for Mark Sevedge and his troops.

Some of the  players who made the three-peat a reality were senior Rose Savaglio, junior Maeve Hassett plus sophomores Jacky Canales, Danielle Dempsey, Teagan Krzystof, Lamia Quinones, Annie McGrath, Kaitlyn Berkery and Sinead Conroy.

TONY C SHEPARD scaled

Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello fires up his team against Evergreen Park Friday night. Photo by Jeff Vorva

 

Home sweet again for Shepard

Shepard’s boys basketball team entered this week with a 14-15 record but prior to last week’s action had a 1-9 record at home.

That changed with a trio of victories in Palos Heights.

The Astros won their second home game on Feb. 8 with an epic 91-62 victory over EPIC Academy in a non-conference game. It was a season-high point total for the Astros as Jermell Lymon scored 18 points, Tyrion McGhee had 16 and Payton Crims 13.

Two nights later, they knocked off South Suburban Red foe Evergreen Park, 78-66 as Lymon had a career-high 29 points while Crims added 15 and Kylan Rogers 10.

The Astros finished their three-game-in-four-day stretch on Saturday with a 63-30 triumph over Universal with Crims scoring 11 and Lymon 10.

The Astros were gunning for finishing above .500 heading into the postseason as they had a road game at Kennedy Tuesday and a home game with Southland on Wednesday scheduled.

 

Boys seeds announced
If the sectional seeds hold true in boys basketball, there could be some tremendous games in the coming weeks.

As far as area teams go, the hottest of the hot spots will be at St. Rita in Class 4A.

Kenwood picked up the first seed in the 18-team tournament followed by Brother Rice, St. Rita and Marist at two through four.

Oak Lawn grabbed the eighth seed, Stagg the 12th, Sandburg the 13th, Shepard the 16th, Reavis the 17th and Hubbard the 18th.

At the 18-team Hinsdale Central Sectional, Curie drew the third seed, while Lyons is fifth, Riverside-Brookfield is seventh, Morton is 12th, Argo is 16th and Kelly is 18th. Whitney Young earned the top seed.

In Class 3A, De La Salle picked up the top seed in its own 17-team sectional.

At the 16-team Glenbard South Sectional, Mount Carmel drew the second seed behind Simeon while St. Laurence was seeded fourth.

Bogan is seeded seventh, Kennedy eighth, Nazareth ninth, Goode STEM 12th and Solorio 16th.

In Class 2A at the Julian Sectional, Catalyst/Maria was third in the 12-team Sub-Sectional A division. Phillips drew the No. 1 seed. Chicago Christian was 11th in the 13-team Sub-Sectional B bracket. Perspectives/Leadership drew the top seed.

Regional quarterfinals start Saturday with the semifinals slated for Wednesday.

 

So many milestones
Scoring 1,000 career points in high school basketball is not easy, but area players are making it look so.

Brother Rice’s Ahmad Henderson, Mount Carmel’s Deandre Craig, Reavis’s Isabel Lopez and St. Rita’s Morez Johnson are the latest to hit that mark in recent weeks.

Local News

Senior Christian Flutman accounted for three touchdowns in Chicago Christian’s 53-16 playoff win against Illini West on Nov. 2. Photo by Mike Clark

Football roundup: Christian Flutman helps Chicago Christian advance

Christian Flutman rarely comes off the field for Chicago Christian and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior starts at quarterback and defensive back and also is the holder for kicks — duties that kept him plenty busy on Nov. 2 when the Knights rolled by visiting Illini West 53-16 in a Class…

CRR_NH

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound November 6, 2024

Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School took to the polls during a mock election. The event, held on Monday, Nov. 4, engaged all 1,100 students and staff in a hands-on experience of civics and democracy. (Supplied photos)

Oak Lawn-Hometown students back Trump in mock election

Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School took to the polls during a mock election. Even though they were too young to actually vote, students at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School participated in a mock election. The event, held Monday, Nov. 4, engaged all 1,100 students and staff in a hands-on civics and democracy experience. “I liked that…

Daniel Schmidt

Man arrested for battery at Orland Park polling place

A 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated battery, after causing a disturbance at the Orland Park Township Office on Sunday. Around 11 a.m., Orland Park police were dispatched to the polling location at 14807 Ravinia Ave. following reports of a man disrupting the voting line. Upon arrival, officers found Daniel Schmidt restrained…

Michaela Weaver sings the National Anthem at the beginning of the Veterans Day Observance in Worth Sunday morning. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Cloudy skies fail to dampen Veterans Day tribute in Worth

Under overcast skies and a brisk wind, Worth Mayor Mary Werner joined a crowd Sunday morning to honor veterans at the town’s annual Veterans Day Observance. The ceremony at the Eternal Flame Memorial on 111th Street and Harlem Avenue brought together local officials, Scouts, and community organizations to pay tribute to veterans from all eras.…

evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park cops nab suspects with license-plate reading camera help

Commendations are in order for members of the Evergreen Park Police Department who recently made a series of arrests that may have prevented major crimes. A license-plate reading camera alerted Evergreen Park police to a vehicle wanted by Markham Police for fleeing and eluding officers. Police found the vehicle parked at Aldi, 2541 W. 95th…

Students and staff at Argo Community High School are mourning the death of Jaydin Bahena, a 16-year-old junior who was killed in an act of violence over the weekend. (Photo posted on GoFundMe.)

Community grieves after 16-year-old Argo High student fatally shot

Students and staff at Argo Community High School are mourning the death of Jaydin Bahena, a 16-year-old junior who was killed in an act of violence over the weekend. Bahena, remembered for his vibrant personality and kind heart, was fatally shot in Summit on Nov. 1, leaving the school and community grieving his sudden loss.…

1

Illinois Philharmonic makes recording debut with Children’s Stories

The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, under Music Director Stilian Kirov, debuted its first commercial recording this fall with Children’s Stories, featuring debut recordings of Michael Abels’ Frederick’s Fables and Augusta Read Thomas’ Gwendolyn Brooks Settings. The works draw from children’s author Leo Lionni’s stories and poetry by former U.S. Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. Narrator Michael Sumuel…

Carmen Casillas, 18, a Reavis High School student, had a painting on display Friday night at the Acorn to Oak Studios in Oak Lawn. An open house and art sale was held at the studio. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Acorn to Oak studios highlight young artistic talent in Oak Lawn

The organizers of Acorn to Oak Studios in Oak Lawn aim to celebrate all things art. The studio was founded in November 2022, with an initial information event held in the north wing of Pilgrim Faith Church, 9411 S. 51st Ave. The first official session took place on Feb. 5, 2023. Andrea Zumhagen, a co-founder…

Owners Holli and George Gaitan hold the ribbon while their children, Kai and Quinn, cut it during the grand opening on Oct. 31 for the Ancestral Oven and Sourdough Bakery and Cafe in Oak Lawn. Just behind George and to his right is Mayor Terry Vorderer and Trustee Ralph Soch (6th). (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Loaf at first sight: Oak Lawn gets its first sourdough spot

The Village of Oak Lawn welcomed its first sourdough bread bakery and cafe last week, and judging by the reception, it couldn’t have come a moment too soon. The grand opening of Ancestral Oven Sourdough Bakery and Cafe, located at 4616 W. 103rd St., took place the morning of Oct. 31. The owners are the…

Neighbors

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in their deliberations over whether former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza bribed longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via a no-work contract for the speaker’s political ally. After nearly 15 hours of deliberation…

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of burnt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court,…

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. Judge Steven McGlynn, who has…

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt, a combat veteran and retired law enforcement officer who now owns a private firearms…

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had agreed to a…

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime. Smollett, who was an actor on the TV show “Empire,” was improperly charged with the same crime twice, his legal team…

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. James Ronkainen, a former engineer…

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. The documents were available through an unsecured cloud storage…

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois…

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target…