Glenbard South Dominates West Chicago, Secures Ninth Straight Win

Glenbard South High School’s girls’ basketball team delivered an impressive performance on January 18, 2024, defeating West Chicago with a commanding score of 69-28. The victory marked the Raiders’ ninth consecutive win, showcasing their dominance in the Upstate Eight Conference.

The Raiders opened the game explosively, scoring a remarkable 31 points in the first quarter alone. Senior guard Rheayanna Ferguson contributed significantly to this success, scoring 13 points, while classmate Jamie Mizwicki led all scorers with 14 points. The team’s balanced scoring effort was evident, as sophomore Julia Alcala added 11 points and Callie Hardtke chipped in with nine.

Ferguson, who has been a part of the varsity team for four years, emphasized the importance of teamwork in their victory. “(This win) shows that we’re a team that works together,” she stated, crediting head coach Eric Daca for his belief in the players. She also noted her evolving leadership role, stating, “I’m trying to be more vocal this year… as you get older, you have to use your voice more, especially for the incoming freshmen.”

Among the newcomers is freshman guard Jordan Bailey, who played a key role off the bench, contributing seven points. Bailey expressed her surprise at being called up to the varsity team, having initially anticipated playing junior varsity. She attributed the Raiders’ success, who now hold a record of 10-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play, to their supportive team environment. “We encourage each other,” Bailey said. “My goal this year is to help my team get better any way I can.”

On the opposing side, West Chicago’s sophomore McKenzie Hanrahan led her team with 12 points. Senior captain Sneha George added six points and six rebounds. Despite the loss, the Wildcats maintain a respectable record of 9-4, with a league standing of 4-2. Hanrahan reflected on the game, noting, “What we take out of this game tonight is that we’ll look to see how we can improve.”

Defensively, Glenbard South applied consistent pressure throughout the match. The Raiders registered 15 steals, with seven occurring in the first quarter, and dominated the boards with a 31-15 rebounding advantage. Coach Daca praised his team’s overall performance, stating, “We’ve got a lot of girls who can play this year… the girls know how to work together. It’s definitely nice to have those options.”

As the season progresses, Glenbard South seeks to maintain its momentum, driven by teamwork and individual contributions. The Raiders’ next challenge will be crucial as they aim to extend their winning streak and solidify their standing in the conference.