For one, it was the culmination of a season-long, and even decade-long, goal.

For the other, it was a heartbreaking end to what was to be a dream season.
For all in attendance it was a perfect example of what makes high school basketball as dramatic as the latest episode of “Days of Our Lives.”

Fenwick’s 35-27 victory Saturday over defending champion Bolingbrook in the IHSA Class AA girls basketball title game at Redbird Arena had as many highs and lows as an elevator’s journey.

In the end there was the feel-good ending for the Friars, the heart-wrenching conclusion to the Raiders’ most successful four-year run ever, and the return to glory for one of the state’s most storied coaches.

Happy ending

In 2003 Fenwick head coach Dave Power landed one of the top freshman classes in the state, which included four players who will go on to play at major Division I universities.

But for all the considerable talent on the floor for Fenwick the past three years, a state title proved to be all too elusive for the Friars.

The fab five freshmen — Holly Harvey, Alison Jackson, Devereaux Peters, Erin Power and Samantha Woods (who transferred to Bolingbrook two years ago) — placed third in their 2003-04 debut season but then lost in the quarterfinals in 2004-05 and failed to qualify for state last season.

Needless to say, the pressure was on Fenwick this season. A failure to win a state title wouldn’t have diminished the high regard with which the Friars’ standouts were viewed. But a loss would have had basketball teams mentioning them as one of the great teams never to win a title.

So when Peters calmly converted a three-point play with 20 seconds left to simultaneously give Fenwick its largest lead of the game, cap the scoring and ensure the Friars their first state title since 2000-01, it was hard for Fenwick’s coaches, players and fans to contain their excitement.

When the last seconds melted off the clock and the final buzzer sounded, Fenwick’s cheering section erupted and the coaches and players flooded the court, forming an improvised, rugby-style, celebratory scrum just in front of the bench.

It was the kind of passion that can only come from realizing a 4-year-old goal, the kind of enthusiasm that can only come from lifting the monkey off the back by achieving the ultimate standing in Illinois girls high school basketball.

Heart-wrenching finale

Prior to three years ago Bolingbrook had never advanced past the sectional round of the playoffs and had just four winning seasons in 29 years.

But when Tony Smith took over as coach in the 2001-02 season, things started to change. He led the Raiders to their first 20-win season and first postseason trophy in his inaugural season, and it didn’t take long for the team to rise up among the elite teams in the state.

Bolingbrook broke through with a fourth-place finish in 2004-05, reached the apex with last year’s state title and along with Fenwick was a favorite to win this year’s top prize.
Following a 54-48 win over Fenwick at the McDonald’s Shoot-out earlier this season Bolingbrook believed a repeat title was in the script, but the streaming tears and red eyes following their championship game loss told the final tale.

Bolingbrook’s four Division I-bound seniors — Mauvolyene Adams (Northern Illinois), Shantina Boyd (Northwestern), Brittney Thomas (Michigan State) and Woods (Purdue) — were inconsolable after the loss.

It was the kind of heartache that can only come when reality intervenes and alters aspirations.

Return to glory

In 30 years as a girls basketball coach, Dave Power has had just two losing seasons and those came in his first two years as Fenwick’s coach in 1992-93 and 1993-94, the first two years Fenwick had a girls program (up until that point it was a boys-only school).

By 1995-96 Fenwick had its first 20-win season (a streak that continued this year) and postseason trophy (regional title). And by 1999-2000 it had its first state trophy (third place) and had made its way into the discussion among Illinois’ elite girls programs.

A state title followed in 2000-01, the first of what was to be many to follow. It took six years for Power and Friars to take the top prize, and the coach’s nervous exuberance after this year’s title game victory said it all.

Power’s career record at Proviso West (1977-78 to 1981-82), Immaculate Heart of Mary (1982-83 to 1991-92) and Fenwick (1992-93 to present) stands at 706-190. Saturday’s state championship marked his third (he took IHM to the 1986-87 Class AA title).

But after Saturday’s final victory, the coach could hardly collect his thoughts enough to comment on the Friars’ most recent title.

The grin on his face could only come from utmost satisfaction and wanted relief — satisfaction in another state title and relief in the fact the Friars matched their lofty expectations.