Madison Davis opened her varsity career for Marian Catholic wearing a mask because that was the mandate during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Western Illinois-bound senior guard ended her four-year varsity career Monday night with tissue in her nose after taking an elbow in the closing minutes of her final game.
But in the middle of the mask and tissue there were a lot of points, rebounds, steals, assists and — most importantly — wins before she saw the door close on her high school career.
“It’s been an honor to play here,” Davis said of Marian Catholic. “These have been the best four years of my life. The girls have been great teammates. To get to play under coach (Dan) Murray, who is a Hall of Fame coach, has been an honor.
“To be able to contribute and leave a mark that I have, it’s been four of the greatest years and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.”
That season came to an end for the Spartans with a 36-30 loss to the host Hornets in the Class 3A Hinsdale South Supersectional in Darien.
Davis finished with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals for Marian Catholic (28-8). Gracie Jensen added 10 rebounds and LaParis Poe contributed seven.
Hinsdale South (26-10) was led by Amelia Lavorato with 15 points. The Hornets take on Chatham Glenwood at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the state semifinals at Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena in Normal.
Marian, which shot 12 of 44, played catch-up the whole game Monday night and had trouble putting together a big run.
When Davis took the elbow to the nose, she ran off the court as fast as she could for assistance and ended up missing just one play.
“I wanted to keep pushing,” Davis said. “I knew if we were going to go down, I was going to be on that court fighting to the end. If someone was going to knock us down, I was going to be on the court and giving it my all.”
Murray appreciates all that Davis has given to the program the past four years.
“Obviously, she means a ton,” Murray said. “She does so much on the floor. She’s definitely one of the best players to ever come through Marian, no doubt about that.
“The younger kids are going to have to step up when she’s gone.”
Murray also enjoyed watching her leadership skills develop.
“She was a little more vocal than she was in the past,” Murray said of this season. “She’s a great example in terms of the work ethic and the way she goes about her business on a daily basis.
“She’s the epitome of the type of kid you want.”
Hinsdale South coach Scott Tanaka knew Davis needed to be slowed down, so he put his top defensive player in sophomore Maeve Savage on Davis.
“I think she is the best defender in the entire state,” Tanaka said of Savage. “She had that assignment, and I thought she did an amazing job on her.”
This is the third straight season Marian made it to the supersectional round and also the third time the Spartans walked away disappointed.
In 2022, they lost to Morton 49-40 at Streator. Last season, they dropped a tight 37-34 decision to Peoria at Pontiac.
Davis’ next stop, meanwhile, will be in Macomb to play for Western Illinois.
“They were so supportive of me,” Davis said of the Leathernecks’ coaching staff. “They came to every AAU tournament I played in. You could tell that I was really wanted there.
“One of the things my dad (John) said is to go somewhere where you are actually wanted. I can’t wait to play for them.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
