Carmel junior guard Grace Booher remembers making a series of turnovers in the final minute of a game against Peoria Richwoods in late December.
The Corsairs’ three-point loss was a valuable experience for her.
“We lost that game because I pretty much passed the ball to the other team, so that was really, really hard for me to deal with it,” Booher said. “I learned that happened because of fear. I was afraid to mess up.
“I had to learn not to be afraid. I learned to trust myself more.”
Carmel coach Ben Berg already had confidence in Booher, a second-year varsity player.
“We had conversations that you can’t let things from a previous game or possession bother you,” Berg said. “In the last three weeks to a month, we had the old Grace back.”
Carmel’s Grace Booher indicates she’s open during the Class 4A Dundee-Crown Supersectional against Rolling Meadows in Carpentersville on Monday, March 2, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / News-Sun)
The “old Grace” was definitely back during the Class 4A Dundee-Crown Supersectional in Carpentersville on Monday. While seemingly every other player struggled to hit shots or got in foul trouble, the 5-foot-7 Booher played an integral role, running the offense, making two key shots and playing hard-nosed defense in the Corsairs’ 41-37 loss to Rolling Meadows.
Senior point guard Josie Hartman scored a team-high 11 points for Carmel (25-10), which had won the regular-season matchup 43-17. Star freshman guard/forward Liv Johnson, who was averaging 17.8 points, fouled out late in the fourth quarter and finished with eight points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Booher and senior forward Maron Bowes, who also fouled out, each scored six points.
Eastern Illinois recruit Dalia Grandberry, a 6-4 senior center, had 10 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks for the Mustangs (22-10), who erased Carmel’s six-point halftime lead to go ahead 34-27 early in the fourth quarter.
Booher hit a 3-pointer to pull the Corsairs within 39-34 with 47 seconds left. Freshman forward Ada Lindal, a key figure in the sectional final against Libertyville last week, then hit a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game with 14 seconds to go.
“That shot was big because I knew it wasn’t over yet and we all knew we had to keep it going,” Booher said. “When I saw people go out tonight, I knew I’m capable of scoring even though my role hasn’t been to score a lot of points.
“I put in a lot of work in the offseason. So I knew if I needed to, I could step up.”
Booher entered the game averaging 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds but had made 38 3-pointers.
“Grace put in the work,” Hartman said. “She took thousands of shots outside of the season. She brought that into this year. It was crucial, like today, in her hitting shots. It really brought another level to our team.”
Berg said Booher also helped steady the Corsairs on the defensive end.
“I put her on other players when we had players with foul trouble today,” Berg said. “She can guard multiple players. She’s tough.
“I’m so proud of how she played tonight. Her play gave us a chance to win.”
Booher, who also plays flag football and lacrosse, is already thinking about more wins.
“I’m excited for next season,” she said. “We have a lot of returnees. I’m looking forward to getting back on the court.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
