The reminder is written on a banner on the east wall of T.F. North's gymnasium.

It was a quote from Whitney Young's Porsha Harris after the Dolphins beat the Meteors 74-44 last year. It reads: "They got tired. We can go the entire game and they couldn't."

Meteors girls basketball coach Tim Zasada points it out to his team and if he doesn't, it stares them in the face as they run.

"We will not be outhustled, outworked by anyone," Zasada told his team at a recent practice. "You younger kids, working hard is what it is to be a Meteor. We always hustle."

The Meteors hustled the rest of the way, losing again only to Hillcrest in the regular season and 36-35 to Marian Catholic in the Class 4A T.F. North Sectional championship. A few days later, the Spartans would fall 78-76 in double overtime on a last-second shot to Whitney Young at the Class 4A St. Xavier Supersectional.

Both North and Marian are very talented and have high expectations heading into this season. Marian is in 4A, but North moves down to Class 3A, where it is expected to be one of the best.

Marian has been among the state's elite, winning nine consecutive regional titles, six sectionals and five supersectionals. The Spartans finished second in Class AA 2002 under coach Shannon Reidy. Current coach Annie Basic took control in 2005 and has won 100 games faster than any coach in school history. She is 105-25 in four seasons, which includes two trips to the state finals.

Zasada built the North program into a power. He has won 96 of 116 games in four seasons and each year the program has gone one step further. He is seven wins away from passing Roger Yochem as the program's winningest coach. Taking it one more step would mean getting to the supersectional. But he and his players want to take it up a couple more notches. The Meteors move down to Class 3A and have four Division I college signees on their roster and would like a trip to Redbird Arena, the site of the state finals.

While the two won't meet in the postseason, they could meet at the Montini tournament in December and could find themselves both on the road to Redbird Arena. It would be the first time since 2004 that two girls teams in the Times' coverage area made trips to the state finals. Illiana Christian and Marian Catholic each took fourth place in Class A and AA, respectively, that year. Last season, the Seton Academy and Thornton boys made the trip to Peoria with Seton winning the Class 2A state title.

"We want to get downstate," Illinois signee Centrese McGee said. "We just want to get it done. We are seniors and we want to end with something and I think we have the talent."

Jeanise Randolph (Cincinnati), Karisma Chapman (Alabama-Birmingham) and Dawn Luster (IUPUI) give the Meteors a strong senior-laden team. Luster added that while the team must play one game at a time, it wants to prove something.

"We could be very good, but you have to work hard and hustle," Luster said. "Our goal is to win state, but we know we have to do those little things. Nothing is going to be given to us."

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The Spartans lose several players each year, but as is the case with a top program, people step up each year. The Spartans lost Times two-time Player of the Year in Kaila Turner (Notre Dame) and post player Mallory Eggert (Saint Louis), but return experience in Emily Kobel, an Illinois-Chicago signee, Valerie Finnin, a SIU-Edwardsville signee, plus juniors Simone Law and Jasmine Matthews.

Kobel said she grew up dreaming of playing for the Spartans. She used to go to games and watch her heroes like Mary Basic, Kelly Duewerth, Lauren Lacey and Missy Mitidiero. the current seniors were freshmen when Marian took third place in Class AA in 2007.

"I remember I couldn't wait to have the opportunity to play here," Kobel said. "You were in awe of them and now I am on that same court playing for Marian. It gives you pride and you want to hold up that tradition that is here."

Basic said there are three keys to the success Marian has had. The first is the players are goal-oriented.

"We have good kids, and their parents make an investment in their education and in their futures," Basic said. "The second is our players love the game of basketball. Whether they are playing for Marian or a club team (AAU) or in their driveways, they are committed."

She said the third reason stems from principal Sister Kathleen and the school administration's support.

"Dedication is important and the kids are (dedicated) to the program and the school," Basic said. "They take pride in wearing the black and gold."

Law, who has several offers as does Matthews, said the Spartans know what they need to do to meet their goals.

"Kaila, Mal, they set a good example for us about hard work and making sure the younger kids felt part of the program," Law said. "Now, it's our turn to step up and make sure we finish. Our goal is to get downstate. we came away short last year, but we want to get there and (to do so), we have to play hard."

GIRLS BASKETBALL | 2009-10 SEASON PREVIEW

T.F. North with coach Tim Zasada

Year Record Advancement

2005-06 18-9 Lost in Class AA Thornwood Regional final

2006-07 24-4 Lost in Class AA Bremen Regional final

2007-08 26-4 Lost in Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional final

2008-09 28-3 Lost in Class 4A T.F. North Sectional final

Totals 96-20 .828 winning percentage

Marian Catholic with coach Annie Basic

Year Record Advancement

2005-06 23-10 Advanced to Class AA Elite Eight

2006-07 29-4 Third place in Class AA

2007-08 23-6 Lost in Class 4A Andrew sectional final

2008-09 30-5 Lost in Class 4A St. Xavier Supersectional

Totals 105-25 .808 winning percentage

More prep coverage inside

Check out scouting reports and predictions for local football quarterfinals. PAGE C2

Find out which girls basketball players made the Times Preseason All-Area team, view capsules about each local squad and check out the Times' preseason Top 5. PAGES C3-5