A Rose who blossoms as a leader? That’s Oak Lawn’s Rose Savaglio, the team’s only senior. ‘She’s the heart and soul.’

Rose Savaglio won’t forget any of them.

But Oak Lawn’s third straight South Suburban Red championship will stand out for her just a bit more.

This season, she was a senior — the only senior.

“Our team was so young,” Savaglio said. “We didn’t have as many experienced players on the varsity as most of our opponents would have.

“Stepping into the senior leadership role, showing people the ropes and leaving a legacy was what I was trying to accomplish.”

The Spartans clinched the conference title on Feb. 7 with a 45-25 victory over Richards. Savaglio, a 5-foot-4 guard, had nine points and four rebounds.

Savaglio’s role with the Spartans grew in a major way when senior forward Kate Dillon suffered a knee injury during volleyball season in the fall.

It changed Oak Lawn coach Mark Sevedge’s game plan.

“Kate Dillon would have been Rose’s running mate,” Sevedge said. “We actually envisioned Kate as being a conference player of the year candidate.

“Not having her put a lot on Rose’s shoulders. Kate was always with us, but Rose had the responsibility of being a leader on the court. She took our team through some difficult stretches and kept everybody positive.”

Savaglio averaged 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals for the Spartans (14-15, 9-4).

Gaudy stats? No. But she played another key role that doesn’t stand out on the stat sheet.

“Rose is just unbelievable on defense,” Sevedge said. “For a girl who is 5-4 on a good day, she’ll guard anybody we ask her to. She guarded Janae Kent. We put her on Bella Kedryna. She went up against a lot of the best players we faced.

“She has meant so much. She’s the heart and soul of our program.”

Savaglio was all-conference for the second time. This season, she shared the honors with sophomore Danielle Dempsey, sophomore Teagan Krystof and junior Maeve Hassett.

“Winning conference was really a team effort,” Savaglio said. “Last year we only had Mia Kennelly as the senior. When she left, no words needed to be said. Everybody knew what was expected of them the coming year.

“We were definitely underestimated going into this season. It felt real good to pull it off. It was an honor to be a part of it.”

Right hands: T.F. South led for much of its Feb. 7 game against Oak Forest but had trouble putting away the win.

It was 66-64 in the closing seconds when sophomore guard Tariya Wright went to the free-throw line looking to ice the game.

Red Wolves coach Eric Bryce wouldn’t have chosen anyone else.

“Tariya is not scared to have the ball in her hands and take the last shot,” Bryce said.

Wright hit both free throws to help T.F. South (27-4, 12-1) tie Lemont for the South Suburban Blue title.

For the season, the 5-8 guard is averaging 15.2 points. She finished with 19 points against the Bengals.

“Tariya has improved so much over the course of the season,” Bryce said. “We’re not a one-man band, where if you stop one person you pretty much have us. We’re unselfish with the ball.

“But Tariya will come up big when you need her to. She’s great.”

Tough luck: Lincoln-Way East will start the Class 4A playoffs without standout center Hayven Smith. The 6-foot-5 junior hurt her left ankle during a practice.

“Hayven helped us play some good games this season and beat some good teams,” Griffins coach Jim Nair said. “She made huge strides, attacking and going after the rebounds. She has been a consistent finisher.

“A lot of our game is getting the ball in to her. Now, we’re going to have to shoot exceptionally well from the outside, which can happen with Lilly Dockemeyer and Lana Kerley.”