By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
Mother McAuley’s Morgan Feil hit the 1,000-point milestone on Jan. 11 against DePaul Prep.
Three days later, one of her coaches was honored for passing that mark last season.
For Feil, hitting that milestone was a big deal, but she added to that big night by getting the game-winning basket in a 51-49 victory in a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference battle in Mount Greenwood.
The McKendree commit led the team with 17 points in the thriller. Maeve Egan added 12 points, and Grace Gambotz had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Mighty Macs assistant coach Grace Hynes was honored at the University of Chicago for finishing with 1,045 points during her three years with the Maroons.
Hynes, who starred at Mother McAuley and helped the team to a Class 4A runner-up finish in 2019 , attended Chicago for four years; however, her sophomore season in 2020-2021 was wiped out by the Covid pandemic.
Hynes was able to witness the Maroons stun Emory University — ranked sixth in the nation in NCAA Division III — 72-58. The victory snapped Emory’s 12-game winning streak.
McDonald’s nominees
Nazareth’s Mary Bridget Wilson and Stagg’s Ameli Sanchez are two of 19 players from Illinois to be nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game, which takes place in April in Houston.
Out of the hundreds of nominees, the list will be pared down to 24 of those who will get to play in the game.
Bombs away
Sandburg hit 11 3-pointers in a 63-44 win over Lyons at the Coach Kipp’s Hoopfest event held Jan. 13 at Montini.
Eagles sophomore Ellie Driscoll continues to show she is an emerging star, as she led the Eagles (13-9) with 25 points. Sophomore Zoe Trunk added 17 points and hauled down 10 rebounds.
Driscoll and Lyons’ Emma O’Brien were named players of the game.