Girls Basketball notes: Lyons’ Ally Cesarini, York’s Mariann Blass fuel WSC Silver contenders

As two of the area’s top guards, Lyons senior Ally Cesarini and York senior Mariann Blass rarely catch a break from their high-energy games.

Cesarini tries beforehand.

“I don’t sleep on the bus on the way back, but I do sleep on the way there. That kind of helps prepare me,” Cesarini said. “I have my pregame play list and I put my headphones on and try to sleep.”

They’ve helped their teams be the front-runners in the West Suburban Conference Silver and they’ll continue to face each other in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. Cesarini will play for Lewis University in Romeoville like her mother Julie (Giles), who starred at Proviso West. Blass will play at downstate Quincy University.

Their next meeting is Friday in La Grange and it likely will be with the Silver title on the line. Lyons (23-4, 10-0 in Silver) has won nine straight games and York (20-5, 9-1) has won 10 of its last 11.

Cesarini guarded Blass, York’s top scorer, throughout the Lions’ 49-39 victory Dec. 16.

“I know she’s an incredible player. That whole [GLVC] is filled with incredible athletes, incredible players,” Blass said. “A big university is not what I’m looking for, so I do love the small class sizes and just the family atmosphere that Quincy has to offer.”

Blass averages just under 20 points a game. Cesarini averages 13 points and prides herself more as the Lions’ top defensive player. Cesarini averages four steals and five deflections, which often lead to transition baskets. She collected nine steals in a 63-48 victory over St. Charles East on Jan. 16.

Cesarini scores when needed. Her career-high 23 points, 12 in the fourth quarter with two 3-pointers, fueled a 55-46 victory at Mother McAuley.

“If she doesn’t get in foul trouble, she plays the entire game,” Lyons coach Meghan Hutchens said. “She has [to guard] the toughest offensive matchup. For her to be a threat offensively and defensively with that assignment is impressive. And to have the endurance to play the entire four quarters, it just goes to show how fit she is and honestly how much she wants to win.”

Blass is part of York’s tireless defensive efforts. The Dukes had 10 steals in a 50-42 victory over Maine South, snapping the Hawks’ 16-game winning streak. Blass had 10 points in that game.

“Even though we do play a zone, it’s fast-paced. It is exhausting, but we’re all in it together and that kind of drives us to be better,” Blass said. “But it is a ton of fun to play and we love it. I think it really brings us together.”

Blass became even more focused on basketball after back-to-back undefeated seasons at Bryan Middle School. Even before increased interest from Quincy after an elite camp, Blass heard great things from the parents of friend Madison Peck who both played basketball at the university.

What will Cesarini work on before college? Increased conditioning.

“Normally I have a big crowd [at games] – parents, aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa, friends,” Cesarini said. “I really liked the [Lewis] coaching staff and team and that it’s close to home so [they] can watch me play.”

Zeroes tolerance

For her first varsity season, St. Francis junior Lynsey Cleveland initially wanted uniform No. 25 for her birthdate of Aug. 25. When that number was taken, Cleveland became the latest Spartan sporting No. 00.

“I love being 00,” Cleveland said. “When I brought it home, my mom was kind of like, ‘Oh, that’s an interesting number.’ I was like, ‘I’m going to make it my number.’ Now that it’s my number and I’m used to it, I want it next year.”

Cleveland said she rarely sees other 00s and sometimes just No. 0, but the Spartans have employed the number for years. Two famous 00s were 2018 graduate and four-year varsity standout Antwainette Walker, who played at Marquette and Arkansas-Little Rock, and 2011 graduate Fiona McMahon, who also wore 00 playing for Elmhurst University.

“We just thought it was a cool number – and it’s legal,” St. Francis coach Jeff Gerdeman said.

Cleveland also embraces her unique first name.

“When you go to the store and there’s all of the personalized stuff, I have to get it my own way,” Cleveland said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, here’s your name,’ and my name isn’t out there.”