Both Barrington Basketball Teams Bring Home Trophies

In a busy day of basketball for Barrington, the Fillies repeat as regional champions while the Broncos bring home their own hardware: a division title.

Repeating at Regional:

The Fillies seem to be traveling a similar path through Grant Regional as they did last year, by upsetting the regional favorites, as Stevenson falls 60-48.

The number six seed Barrington (20-11) jumped out to a quick 15-7 first quarter lead over the three seeded Patriots thanks to the hot shooting of senior forward Brooke Chandor. Chandor scored eight first quarter points thanks to two deep three's before leaving with a left shoulder injury. Chandor would end the night with her eight first quarter points as she wouldn't return, despite her desire.

“[Brooke] was big tonight early,” Barrington's coach Babbi Barreiro said. “She wanted to get back in, we just couldn't take the risk.”

Stevenson (21-9) responded with defensive pressure during the second frame that allowed them to cut into their early deficit as they managed to hold the Fillies to only six quarter points. Stevenson's senior guard Imus McKinley scored four points in the quarter, and led the Patriots with 17 points.

But Barrington found a defensive spark from the bench, senior forward Kiersten Tinkoff, that would help the Fillies match the Patriot's defensive intensity. Tinkoff was inserted, with her presence immediately felt as she wrecked havoc on the Patriot offense and the boards, after senior forward Shelby Whigham (six points before fouling out in the fourth) earned her second foul and had to sit. Tinkoff ended with five points for the game but her pesky defense and rebounding helped keep Barrington in the lead heading into halftime 21-17.

“Kiersten off the bench was outstanding tonight,” Barreiro said. “She rebounded, she boxed out and her defense was great.”

Whatever halftime adjustment Barrington's coach Babbi Barreiro made, they worked, to the tune of a 13-4 run that would give the Fillies their largest lead of the night at 13 points. Barrington did well spreading the ball and saw five different Fillies score during the spurt that helped the Fillies to 36-26 third quarter lead.

"I'm really proud of these kids," Barreiro said.  "The team really had a good, hard practice yesterday and we were very focused on the things we wanted to do."

Officially taking over the game during the fourth quarter was Barrington's senior guard Abby Kirchoff who scored 15 points in the frame. Performing just like you would expect from the MSL-W's most valuable player, she used physical play on the defensive end to disrupt any attempts by Stevenson to comeback. Scoring 20 points in the second half, Kirchoff led all scorers with 24 points and contributed four steals as she helped Barrington to a 60-48 victory to win the Grant Regional.

“Abby was a little under the weather tonight but had a real gutsy performance,” Barreiro said following the game.

The Fillies will be back at it on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at neutral sectional site Mundelein High School. Barrington will be playing an all to familiar foe, Fremd, who beat the Fillies in both match-ups earlier this year. First, Barrington lost at home 54-42 on Dec. 3 and just recently when the two teams ended the regular season, and the Fillies hopes for an MSL-W title, 38-48 at Fremd on Feb. 4.

But the Fillies faithful can take stock in knowing coach Barreiro has something she is cooking up for this contest.

“It's going to be a great game and we will be fired up,” Barreiro said.

Broncos Mid-Suburban League West Champs

None of the current players on the Broncos Basketball team were even born the last time the team took home the MSL-W divisional title. After a 20 year absence, Barrington has that all important plague back in the trophy case, where it belongs.

Having owned all the West tie breakers, the Broncos (18-9, 7-3) had their divisional fate in their hands against Hoffman Estates (5-19, 0-10) at home, and cruised to a 61-27 victory.   The win gives the Broncos a chance at the even more elusive MSL title.

Barrington crept out to an early 9-4 first quarter lead but continued to push the offensive action spurred by their defense.  The Broncos easily handled the Hawks and soared past them to final score of 61-27.

The Broncos will play their next two games against MSL East opponents; first, Barrington will be at Wheeling on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m.  A day later the Broncos will be playing for an even more elusive trophy, the MSL title on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. against Mount Prospect.  The MSL title has eluded the Bronco trophy case sine 1979, so it is long overdue.