Queen of Peace High School Basketball Team Brings Pride to Hoops Program

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

Congratulations to the Queen of Peace High School

basketball team on a successful 2015-16 season.

Though the girls lost a heartbreaker to Phillips, 43-42 in the IHSA sectionals, the Burbank school's hoops program has made a spectacular 47-game turnaround--from 28 losses during the 2013-14 season to 19 wins in 2015-16.

This year, Queen of Peace won an IHSA Regional championship for the first time in three years.

The duo of Jovanna Martinucci and Kara Shimko carried the load, both offensively and defensively, and led the Pride to a 19-12 record. That's the best record at Queen of Peace since the 1992-93 team, which won 22 games.


Here are some notable stats on Martinucci and Shimko

Jovanna Martinucci and Kara Shimko

Jovanna Martinucci
• second in scoring, with 322 points
• led team in assists with 135
• led team in steals with 136
• GCAC All-Conference
• GCAC Academic Team

Kara Shimko
After recovering from surgery in early August, she:
• led the team in scoring, increasing from 13 ppg last year to 17 ppg this year
• led team in scoring, increasing from 390 points to 485 points
• led the team in 3-point shots taken and made (66/128)
• led team in free-throw shooting at 91 percent (87/96)
• second in assists, with 92
• second in steals, with 95
• third leading rebounder on the team, with 112
• All Conference selection in Riverside Brookfield Christmas tournament
• GCAC Academic Team
• GCAC All-Conference
• one vote shy of being named the GCAC White Division Player of the Year

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