Oak Forest coach Steve Schanz has never had to deal with a situation like this in his coaching career. On Saturday morning, three girls (two of them starters) left the team after breaking a team rule. Junior Aubrey Sparrey and senior Cy White were the two starters who departed and junior Amanda Sheppard also left.
Thursday, Oak Forest hosts Rich South in a Class 3A regional final. But on Tuesday, Schanz said the team played its best game of the season, a 78-35 win over Seton in a regional semifinal. The win improved Oak Forest's record to 18-9.
"We went out and played the best game of the year," Schanz said. "The rest of the girls really stepped up and played. I understand that teenagers get upset, but the team really stepped up Tuesday."
Schanz said he had already brought up four sophomores for the playoffs and isn't planning on adding anyone else for the stretch run.
With the way his girls are playing now, he shouldn't have to.