Coach Dineen Recalls BGHS State Champion Team

Not a day goes by in Tom Dineen’s life without a thought given to the winter of 2000.

Here’s what senior Allison Guth uttered to a Pioneer Press reporter in early March that year.

“They say when you win a state championship, your season never really ends.”

Dineen had a successful run as Buffalo Grove girls basketball coach beginning in 1979. His first Bison club finished fourth in the state. His Bison clubs beginning in 1990 did not win fewer than 20 games for nine straight seasons. Entering the 1999-2000 season, the Bison brought back plenty of experience.

“We had two- and three-sport athletes,” Dineen said. “We had a lot of volleyball and basketball players. We didn’t have the best players in the state. But this group was the best of friends. Their parents were all friends. This group was very special.”

The Bison had a strong point guard in senior Piper Mead. She actually would lead a very balanced team with a 10.6 scoring average.

“All she wanted to do was win,” Dineen said. “She had a lot of point guard skills.”

In 6-foot-1 Kendra Ryl, the Bison had a serious defender.

“Her shot blocking was huge,” Dineen said. “We could take chances because she was back there to alter shots.”

The guard Guth helped out with 9.6 points a game. Three-sport athlete Lindsey Hamma paced the team in three-point shots (41) and chipped in with a 9.9 scoring average. There was help as well from Kathleen Nowicki (7.3 points), Patty Vermiglio (4.9), Tiffany Mah (4.3) and Melissa Counley (2.9 points).

Despite scoring 81 points in two games, Buffalo Grove was just 5-2 in the early season. And then the Bison caught fire, winning 15 of 16 games.

“They were so happy,” Dineen said. “They were such good friends. I never coached such a cohesive group.”

On Jan. 28, the Bison played in the Sweet 16 Tournament against Washington. Hamma had 15 points in a 66-33 loss.

“They kicked our butts,” Dineen recalled. “There was no other way about it.”

The Bison would not lose again the rest of the season. The sectional at found Buffalo Grove hammering both Antioch and Carmel. The Bison slipped by Libertyville 49-39 to earn a date with Frank Mattucci’s Stevenson Patriots on Feb. 24. The sectional title game between these neighbors saw starter Nowicki go down with a season-ending knee injury.

“I remember Stevenson had a five- or six-point lead late in the second half,” he said. “And we fought back. That’s when Pee Wee had her 15 minutes of fame.”

Counley, known as Pee Wee, calmly dropped in two free throws in the final seconds to give Buffalo Grove a heart-stopping 33-32 win.

Dineen’s team was off to the super-sectional against Barrington. New starter Vermiglio led the offense with 14 points and Ryl added 12 rebounds in the 55-52 win. Buffalo Grove was headed to state.

Buffalo Grove’s state schedule was daunting at best. Thornwood, Fenwick and Washington combined for 90 wins on the season. Fenwick and Washington already had beaten the Bison during the season. And Dineen’s team hadn’t reached a semifinal downstate since that 1979 team.

“Thornwood was really fast so we just ran with them,” Dineen said. “No one expected us to win.”

On a Vermiglio drive, the upstart Bison grabbed a quick 10-2 lead. This senior would score 17 points in Buffalo Grove’s 43-36 win. Mead would add 10 points.

Next up on March 4, 2000, was the Fenwick Friars. Once-beaten in Illinois, this was one major powerhouse. There was Erin Lawless (Purdue), Katie O’Grady (Marquette), Sarah Kwasinski (Northwestern) and Claudette Towers (DePaul).

“Some teams had Division I players,” he said. “But nobody played better together than we did.”

On a three-pointer from Hamma it was 19-12 Bison. At halftime, Buffalo Grove held a commanding 36-22 lead over Fenwick.

“I went to halftime at the semis and thought, ‘What am I doing?’ ” he said. “I told them to just go and play. We weren’t supposed to be here.”

Guth had 12 points and Vermiglio added 10 points in the surprising 45-34 win. Hamma added 10 points.

The Bison would play for a state championship against a team they had been beaten by more than 30 points during the season.

Hamma’s three-pointer closed the first quarter scoring with the Bison up 15-14. Dineen’s club took a 30-26 lead to halftime.

“I don’t think I coached any differently,” he said. “I did wonder if I was dreaming this up.”

On another three-pointer from Hamma the Bison lead reached double figures in the second half. Washington did rally to take a late lead. Another Hamma three-pointer forced overtime.

Washington did not score another point. Guth had 5 points in the OT session. Buffalo Grove won the state title 60-51.

Again, three Bison scored in double figures. Hamma’s four 3-pointers and 15 points led the way. Mead (14 points), Guth (11), Vermiglio (9) and Ryl (8) all chipped in.

“I think about this every day,” Dineen said. “People think I’m nuts. However, that was the ultimate experience. I don’t think I slept at all.”

It has been 11 seasons since that special run. And Dineen makes sure to keep up on the lives of those players.

“I had them all over in my living room,” he said. “I stay in touch with them. That was one special class.”