Morgan Park Academy’s varsity girls basketball team ended the season with smiles after capturing the program’s eighth regional championship with a 57-45 win against Aqsa School on Feb. 18, 2022.
Three days after earning coach Tom Drahozal’s 500th career win in the semifinals, the Warriors (12-7) took control in the second quarter, opening a 15-point halftime lead, when junior guard Nora Perry scored 13 of her team-high 18 points, including a quick trio of 3-pointers.
Sheridan Harris, MPA’s do-everything junior forward, added 17 points, with supplementary contributions from junior Michaela Olimene, sophomore Jayden Boughton, and freshmen Madison Olimene and Anna Sheppard.
As one of 32 regional champions in IHSA Class 1A, the Warriors (12-7) advanced to the sectional semifinals, where their season ended with a loss to Orr Academy High School.
Drahozal’s teams won regional championships in six of seven seasons from 2008-2014 and fell agonizingly short several times before breaking through again in 2019-2020. After not playing last season because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they have a .682 winning percentage since 2009, including seven seasons with at least 19 wins.
