Girls Basketball: Maine East gets Valentine’s date with Loyola

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Maine East Monay Crawford dribbles up court next to West Leyden junior Victoria Galizia (right) and ahead of West Leyden senior Jeanine Hannoun (left) during a varsity girls basketball game at West Leyden High School in Northlake on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:23AM

The IHSA has made its decision. Maine East, a four-game winner, will compete in the Evanston Regional against No. 4-seeded Loyola Academy on Valentine’s Day.

Most observers are expecting the Ramblers to roll the Blue Demons, a No. 13 seed.

And maybe that will happen. Or maybe Maine East senior Monay Crawford will take over the action and score a ton of points to help produce a major upset. Or Shaylee Sloan will grab every rebound and feed Crawford for easy layups.

The record may not show it, but this has been a season of progress for Maine East.

“We have a very talented team,” said Maine East coach Karol Hanusiak. “The wins don’t quite equate, but we’ve had our closest games in the conference. I hope to think that we are no longer a sure win for other teams.”

As Crawford goes, so goes Maine East. She joined the varsity as a junior but didn’t really make an impression.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations with her,” Hanusiak said. “She loves basketball. She’s been working hard all year. She pushes other kids in practice.”

The 5-foot-5 guard has turned into a scorer during her final season. She poured in 21 points against Glenbrook North and 18 against Highland Park this season.

And she likely could score even more points if she wanted.

“She’s so unselfish,” Hanusiak said. “Sometimes, I have to kick her in the pants to score. She has that ability to score but she’s worried about being a ball hog.”

It seems the senior can score from most everywhere on the court. She can certainly get to the hoop following fast breaks.

“She has a really nice outside shot,” she said. “And she can take it to the basket.”

Hanusiak noted that Crawford also plays solid D.

“She leads our team in steals,” she said. “She’s a good on-the-ball defender. She could play in college. I know I’m going to miss her so much.”

Elmwood Park, a club that had beaten the Blue Demons earlier in the campaign, did not have the same result on Jan. 30. Crawford scored 18 points and Sloan added 16 in a 50-40 win.

“We still need to change the reputation of our program,” Hanusiak said.

The Blue Demons were to host Resurrection on Tuesday. The final regular-season game is at Niles North on Friday.