Ramblers punch state ticket with authority

Fat Tuesday was still a few hours away, but the Ramblers feasted anyway.

Craving another state berth, Loyola Academy girls basketball (34-2) chewed up previously unbeaten Huntley (35-1) on Monday night, winning 57-33 in an IHSA Class 4A supersectional at Warren Township High School in Gurnee.

In the postgame celebration, Ramblers junior guard Clare Weasler was carrying around a king cake, a traditional Fat Tuesday treat that also was part of Loyola’s supersectional celebration last season.

“It’s kind of like a tradition,” Weasler said. “Must be good luck.”

While that might be true, Loyola had a more foolproof game plan for Monday, one that rarely lets them down:

Defense.

Ramblers defenders caused Huntley fits all night, limiting the Red Raiders to just nine made field goals and forcing them into more than 20 turnovers.

Loyola’s defense has allowed an average of 30 points per game in its five playoff games. The Ramblers have won their last two contests by a combined 48 points.

Junior Marycait Mackie, who recorded at least 5 steals, said that Loyola’s strategy on Monday was to pressure Huntley’s ball-handlers and limit their shooters.

“We were doing a good job of running them off the (three-point) line,” she said. “They didn’t get a lot of three-point shots, which is huge because they are a shooting team.

“We started the energy from the beginning and didn’t stop and that was key.”

The Red Raiders made 16 three-pointers in their sectional win against Libertyville on Thursday, Feb. 27. They made one on Monday.

The Ramblers, on the other hand, found their shooting stroke early and often.

Loyola drained five three-pointers — led by two each from Mackie and senior guard Aubrey Galvan — in the first quarter as it took off to a 21-10 lead.

Loyola’s defense kicked it up a notch in the second quarter, forcing nine turnovers to extend the lead to 14 (35-21) going into halftime.

“I think our press surprises teams,” said Weasler about playing against new competition. “Sometimes they aren’t expecting us to run and jump them.”

The Ramblers put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Red Raiders 18-6. Galvan scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the stanza.

Mackie scored 16 points, which included four three-pointers.

“I can always count on my teammates to get me open shots, with the best point guards in the state,” Mackie said, giving credit to Galvan and Weasler.

Weasler had 10 points. Senior Grace Bronski and sophomore Emily Naraky chipped in 7 points apiece for the Ramblers.

The Ramblers are headed to the state finals at CEFCU Arena in Bloomington-Normal and will attempt to emerge from the final four to win their second straight 4A state championship.

Loyola carries a 28-game winning streak into the state weekend, which begins at 1:15 p.m. Friday, March 7, against Fremd in a rematch of a 2024 4A semifinal won by Loyola 43-40.

“We just gotta keep up the energy, don’t underestimate any teams, take it from the beginning, 100 percent all game,” Mackie said.

The Ramblers topped the Vikings 66-41 in an MLK Jr. Day shootout on Jan. 20.

Alton (32-2) and Kenwood (33-3) will play in the other 4A semifinal.

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