Eilish Raines, Providence roll past Hillcrest
Senior point guard Eilish Raines sees the game a little differently for Providence.
She opens every angle, every seam, every cut of the basket with certainty and determination.
“In my eyes I see the whole field when I play,” Raines said. “As soon as I see someone open or I see a good opportunity or I give the ball to someone, I get it there.
“Whatever it takes.”
Raines had seven assists with no turnovers Thursday night, leading the Celtics to a 72-44 victory over the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game at Country Club Hills.
Pepperdine-bound senior center Landrie Callahan had 38 points and 14 rebounds for Providence (31-4), which won its second section title in program history and first since 2020.
Junior forward Layken Callahan, Landrie’s sister, added 13 points and five rebounds for the Celtics, who play Monday at 6:30 p.m. against Northern Washington (32-2) in the Kankakee Supersectional.
Senior guard Da’Jha Johnson was spectacular in her final high school game, scoring 32 points for Hillcrest (27-8). Senior guard Davia Cobb also contributed seven points.
However, without scoring a single point, Raines had a profound impact on the game. His best pass Thursday was a 45-foot dime that Landrie Callahan caught in stride for a 3-point play.
“She had almost eight assists in every game,” Callahan said of Raines, who recorded 157 assists this season. “I’ve never played with a leader like her.
“She’s amazing at getting the ball to me every time. I’m open and she knows how to get the ball to me. She draws people away from me and makes the pass every time.”
Raines – whose American “Eye-lush” pronunciation of his Gaelic first name has never been more apropos – is the perfect orchestrator for the Celtics’ read-and-react move attack.
“It’s like having an extended coach on the field,” Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said of Haines. “She controls the tempo. She understands me. Her eyes are just incredible.
“She anticipates then reads open holes.”
Raines’ willingness to sacrifice scoring maximizes the Celtics’ size inside and shooting from the wing.
“I always felt like scoring was never really my thing,” she said. “I feel like there are better scorers. I’ve learned how to pass and I’ve worked to get better at finding open girls.
“Once I realized I was good at it, I kept going.”
The 5-foot-9 Raines has great size for a point guard that she combines with balance and an uncommon feel for the game. Maybe his secret advantage is being left-handed.
She throws the ball with authority, power and precision from the top of the key or to either wing.
“I grew up playing softball, so I always had one arm,” Raines said. “I’ve always been able to shoot the ball. When I started playing basketball and passing, I realized I could do it.
“I kept doing it and worked on it from there.”
Raines, however, gave up softball in college to focus exclusively on basketball. By the time she was in eighth grade, sports consumed her.
She’s been varsity since her freshman year and a starter since her sophomore season, but surprisingly, she’s never played the point guard role until now.
“I definitely had to adapt every year,” she said. “I played the post. I played wherever my coaches needed me to play. We had a great guard last year in Molly Knight.
“Someone had to step in when she left and I just said why not.”
The Providence playoffs mark the end of his basketball career for Raines, who plans to attend Kentucky as a student. She grew up competing with three older brothers.
“I scored in double figures back when I was shooting more,” she said. “Now I don’t shoot as much. My assists are what really motivates me.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
