IHSA Girls Class 4A Maine South (Park Ridge) Sectional Semifinal. #1 Loyola Academy (Wilmette) and #2 Maine South (Park Ridge) advances. Issue with Loyola student using racial slur gets section tossed

Big Tim
6 hours ago
4 min read

I will start with what happened with Loyola Student Section getting thrown out of the game because one of them used a racial slur, then recap of the games.

PARK RIDGE: First game was won handily by Loyola Academy, but story was the racial slur used. Loyola had game in hand, there was a foul with 1:20 left in the game. Evanson player (will not name the player) was on the free throw line shooting two. While she was shooting the first free throw, a fan from the Loyola student section hollered "CHEWBACCA" (yes I heard it clearly). Before the second free throw was administered, the official nearest the scorers table, stopped the game, said "We're not having this". He went to get game personnel and tried to find out who said it? None of the students would say who said it, so he threw the entire student section out of the gym, told them to "Get out". Credit to game personnel for ushering them out, and the official who had the guts to toss them. Some person behind me (I was at the media table), said "we're getting the W". I turned around and told them it's not about winning and losing, it's about sportsmanship and racism. I alos said you shouldn't be condoning it. I turned around and covered the rest of the game, which went without incident. My issue is with the security working the game on Loyola's side not recognizing it and taking action. It's tragic the referee had to take the action they should have.

1) What are you teaching your students about racism Loyola Academy? That behavior should be unacceptable anywhere much less at a game. I feel there needs to be some sensitivity training on racism and what it is at the school. A black person should be the teacher of the class, also it's a failure on the parents of that student, and the rest of the students in that student section. His peers should have checked the behavior, instead they laughed at the slur that was shouted out.

2) Suspend the student. That's the only way to deal with the situation not happening again. Those students in that section should identify the culprit, and if they don't suspend them too. Silence is complicity allowing the behavior to go unchecked and continue to happen.

3) Disqualified from IHSA Sportsmanship awards for the season. The IHSA gives out sportsmanship awards for the best student section in the state. Loyola Academy should be barred from the award this year. Using a racial slur is not sportsmanship at all. Yes one student shouted it out but no one, not even the Loyola parents on that side said anything, or even thought about saying anything. Says alot about the attitude of these parents and fan section of their team. It's supposed to be cheer for your team not against the other.

4) Kudos to the official. He was the one furtherest from the action and heard it. He was the only one that took action. Could be because he was assigned as the head official for the game, but the other two were close enough to hear it, and did nothing. That was disapointing to see, hard to believe they did not hear it, because it was audibule enough for the entire gym to hear it. The Evanston fans clapped when he ejected the entire student section, and they were on the other side of the gym so they definitely heard it.

5) The players, coaches of Loyola Academy had nothing to do with the incident. They competed hard on the court and got the win to advance. It doesn't help though that this came from their student section, their peers.

6) Do better Loyola Academy, I suggest you have some classes not just for those students, but for the enitre student body so this doesn't happen again.

#1 seed Loyola Academy (Wilmette) 41 #5 seed Evanston Township 24:

Low scoring game especially in the first half. Loyola Academy led from the start leading 10-7 after one, 20-9 at recess, and 28-14 after three. Junior Emily Naraky was consistent in scoring, hitting the glass, and rim protection. Evanston shot 7/35 from the floor 20% from the field and 0/16 from three. Loyola shot 16/37 from the floor 43% and 0/11 from three but their defense on the ball and in the post kept Evanston Township at bay.

Loyola Academy moves to 31-2 and advances to Sectional Final on Thursday vs Maine South (Park Ridge). Evanston Township ends season at 18-11.

Top performances:

Loyola Academy:

Junior Emily Naraky 15 points 5 rebounds 2 steals 3 blocks

Junior Madison Locke 15 points 5 rebounds 3 steals

Evanston Township:

Freshman Simone Hewitt 8 points 4 rebounds 1 block

Junior Payton King 7 points 2 steals

#2 seed Maine South (Park Ridge) 55 #6 seed Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) 48:

Maine South's hot second half from three combined with Lane Tech's foul trouble turned the game in the second half. Lane Tech (only one senior) looked good early, pushing the pace and getting easy baskets. The pace though led to a lot of turnovers throughout the game. Lane Tech led 18-8 after one quarter, 27-20 at recess. Maine South starting hitting their three point shots in the third quarter 6 of their 8 in the second half. They came back and had the lead 38-37 at the end of three. Seperation came on two banked threes by junior Hayden Fahy to give Maine South some breathing room. Lane Tech was down 50-48 when a moving screen was called on Maine South with about 1;23 left, and then next possession a few seconds leter, Lane Tech was called for a moving screen. Maine South hits some free throws including a technical foul for the final margin.

Maine South (Park Ridge) moves to 25-8 advances to sectional final vs Loyola Academy (Wilmette). Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) ends season at 17-16. They only graduate one senior, started three sophomores and two juniors. They'll be a threat next season.

Top performances:

Maine South:

Junior Hayden Fahy 17 points (4/7 3PT) 4 steals