West Cook News

The post-season is approaching and the Lyons Township High School Lions girl's basketball team has been making extra preparations to iron out any weaknesses and be ready for the challenge.

According to the schedule, the LTHS girls basketball team will play in the WSSC Crossover game on Feb. 7. After that, the team will begin playoff play in mid-February before the playoffs begin.

Senior Ella Ormsby, a starter for the LTHS Lions girls basketball team, told West Cook News the team would need to make adjustments to the mental game to get downstate again this year.

"We're hoping to redeem ourselves, but we need to do our best to prepare for some really good teams," Ormsby said. "I'm honestly thinking being mentally ready is the biggest thing. Last year, we were a little nervous. This year, we have a bunch of confidence and trust in each other."

On Dec. 29 the Lions lost to Whitney Young Magnet High School – the team that took them out of contention in last season's state tournament. 

"We just weren't hitting shots that we're normally used to hitting, so I hope that we can learn to adjust when that thing kind of happens," senior Ally Cesarini said, according to Riverside-Brookfield Landmark.

"[This is] always a great tournament for us to learn some more of our strengths and weaknesses as we compete with better teams," Meghan Hutchens, LTHS coach, said.

Going into last year's state tournament, the Lions had won 16 straight games, their first regional championship since 2016, and the Silver Division of the West Suburban Conference. 

Ormsby believes in her team's strength and remains confident in case the Lions face Whitney Young again.

"We can be really good; we have some really great players," Ormsby said. "Anyone can have a big game at any time. It's really nice to not just have one dominant player. We all share the ball, pass really well, and have great chemistry on the court."

"We've been struggling from the line, so we're shooting a lot of free throws, but really I would say our confidence is a lot higher. We're young but very mature with how we play. Everyone believes, and being a senior I'm a lot more confident."

Ormsby is a big part of the team's success. She was recently selected as Lyons Township High School's Athlete of the Week.

"We are extremely proud of Ella for her three years on the varsity team," the Lyons Township Athletics department said in a Twitter post on Feb. 2. "Ella showed determination and grit to help solidify a win against a tough DGN opponent. Ella nailed a contested 3-pointer with 1:30 left in the game, giving LT the lead. This win secures first place in WSC Silver."

Ormsby told West Cook News that she was not expecting the recognition and was surprised to find out that she was named an Athlete of the Week.

"It's one of my best moments at LTHS," Ormsby said. "I'm definitely proud to have been chosen out of all the other talented athletes at the school. I was a bit surprised and actually only found out after some of the other students were congratulating me. I looked on my phone and saw it on social media."