Montini Preps

Nikki Kerstein scored a game-high 21 points, including five in the final 1:17, as banged-up Montini outlasted St. Ignatius 50-44 in the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday evening at CEFCU Arena in Normal. 

The 2025 high school soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The 2025 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The 2025 high school baseball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Here is the 2024-2025 Suburban Life All-Area girls basketball team.

Montini girls basketball defeated St. Ignatius to win the Class 3A state championship on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

All five Montini seniors played all 32 minutes of Thursday’s late night Class 3A state semifinal game.  Their reward? They will be playing for a state championship.

Montini’s bid for its first sectional championship fell short Friday night with a 44-28 loss to Christ the King in the Class 2A Christ the King Sectional championship in Chicago.

Montini Catholic played Quincy Notre Dame on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. Montini will play St. Ignatius College Prep for the Class 3A State championship on Saturday at 6p.m.

Montini's boys basketball team won a sectional game for only the second time in program history, beating Chicago Clark 52-46 in a Class 2A Christ the King Sectional semifinal on Wednesday in Chicago.

Montini faced Grayslake Central in a Class 3A supersectional on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Arlington Heights.

Montini recovered and never wavered after Grayslake Central had surged from 18 points down to take the lead, and the Lady Broncos made nine free throws – seven from Nikki Kerstein – to survive Monday's supersectional 51-45 to return to state.

IC Catholic Prep, after a dramatic semifinal win over rival Montini, knocked off two-time defending champion Washington 46-17 in the Class 2A final for the first state dual team championship in program history.

Montini cut the nets down for the fourth straight season following a 64-43 victory over IC Catholic Prep as they claimed another regional championship at its home gym on Friday night in Lombard.

Missouri commit Nikki Kerstein turned in a masterful effort with 24 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals, leading Montini past DePaul Prep 48-31 to the 21st sectional title in program history.

Brody Kelly erased the bittersweet experience of last year's narrow defeat with an emphatic win in the Class 2A 175-pound final, leading IC Catholic Prep's three state champs while Montini won two titles and Lemont's Judah Heeg sprung a stunning upset in the 190-pound final.

Jaxon Lane has already checked off one item of unfinished business in his athletic calendar this school year. Two more to go. The Montini senior, who lost in the blood round at state last year, is one of 10 Broncos' qualifiers at this weekend's state meet in Champaign.

Does the road to a state title go through La Grange? What about big-time sectional rematches? Can Glenbard South make a return to state? Here are five storylines to watch for Suburban Life area teams as the girls basketball postseason tips off next week.

Here is a list of CCL/ESCC football players who have committed to colleges at various levels and can sign their financial aid agreement or letters of intent starting on Wednesday.

Valparaiso recruit Allia von Schlegell hit six of seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points, and Nazareth shot 61% from the floor and from the 3-point line in blowing out Montini 67-33 at the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest at Benet.

Montini faced Nazareth in girls basketball during the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 at Benet Academy in Lisle.

Montini girls basketball face Neuqua Valley in the Montini Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 in Lombard.

Peyton Farrell had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds and Nikki Kerstein scored 11 of her game-high 18 points in the third quarter as Montini overcame horrible shooting in the first half to beat Neuqua Valley 40-30 in the first round of the Montini Christmas Tournament.

Here is the 2024 Suburban Life All-Area football team.

Meet Friday Night Drive’s 2024 All-CCL/ESCC team, which was selected by the Friday Night Drive staff with input from coaches across the 24-team league.

Montini senior guard Nikki Kerstein puts on a show-stopping performance, and scores a career-high, in game at the iconic "Hoosiers" gym," Benet's Aria Mazza doesn't let sickness stop her hot shooting and Lyons among area teams ranked in latest poll in girls basketball notes.

Nazareth seniors set a new standard for the Roadrunners' program on and off the field after winning their third straight state championship. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on Mount Carmel, Loyola, Montini, DePaul Prep and Joliet Catholic.

Montini rolled to its seventh state championship and first under head coach Mike Bukovsky with a lopsided 49-8 victory over Monticello in the 3A title game.

Israel Abrams spent four quarters Friday expertly distributing the ball to his playmakers, but Montini’s sophomore quarterback saved his biggest assist for last. To the teammate he shared the position with for four games.

Montini defeated Monticello 49-8 to win the Class 3A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Montini faces Monticello in the state title game of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Mount Carmel relished the opportunity to reach its third straight Class 7A state championship game after battling adversity this season. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on Nazareth, Loyola, St. Rita, championship numbers and the Prep Bowl.

Andrew Hill scored 26 points to pace IC Catholic Prep to a win, and York, Glenbard West and Downers Grove North boys basketball and Montini girls basketball were also winners in Tuesday's roundup.

The 2024-2025 boys basketball season tips off this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life area.

Sophomore quarterback Israel Abrams threw four touchdown passes, two each to Santino Florio and CJ Harkins, and Montini beat previously undefeated and defending Class 2A champion Wilmington 42-12 in Saturday's Class 3A semifinal.

Montini football hosted Wilmington in a Class 3A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Lombard.

Wilmington faces Montini in the semifinals of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Scott Schmid will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Here are previews and picks for all the IHSA semifinal football games for teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

Jeremiah Peterson isn’t surprised at his outstanding season playing a leading role for Montini. But Peterson, who had 120 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown in his junior season, is surprised at one aspect – his position.

Mount Carmel's offense has clicked during the playoffs, averaging 51 points in three games and advancing the Caravan to the Class 7A semifinals. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on DePaul Prep, St. Francis, St. Laurence and playoff numbers.

As the girls basketball season tips off this week, here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The Broncos (10-2) will host No. 2 Wilmington (12-0), which edged No. 3 Du-Pec 14-13 Saturday in next week’s 3A semifinals.

Montini beat Princeton 24-7 in Saturday's Class 3A quarterfinals. Here's a look at the numbers behind the Broncos' victory

Montini Catholic defeated Princeton 24-7 during the Class 3A quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Bryant Field in Princeton. The Broncos will face Wilmington in the semifinals next week.

Montini faces Princeton in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Kevin Hieronymus will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Here are previews and picks for all the quarterfinal-round games for teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

Lyons senior wide receiver/defensive back Travis Stamm and Downers Grove North senior linebacker/running back Jake Gregorio were among Suburban Life area football players named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State teams released Wednesday.

St. Laurence regained its explosivness at the beginning of the playoffs with the return of some key players. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on Mount Carmel, Montini and CCL/ESCC numbers.

Downers Grove North's boys cross country team, ranked No. 1 since preseason, ran away with a dominating repeat Class 3A state championship, while in a tight 3A girls race York took second and Downers Grove North third. And Benet's Finn Richards won the Class 2A boys state title.

Montini hosted Byron football on Saturday, Nov. 10. 2024 in the Class 3A second-round game in Lombard.