Early observations on fast-breaking season

The high school basketball season is off and running. Here are some things I've noticed in the early going:

Girls

Fast conference start for St. Charles North: They don't have a legitimate low post threat like two years ago with 6-foot-3 center Kelsey Smith, nor a four-year varsity point guard like Kiley Hackbarth, but there's still plenty of reason for optimism for the North Stars and second-year head coach Colleen Brennan.

Senior twin sisters Sydney and Taylor Russell have been causing double trouble for their opponents through the first three weeks of the 2010-11 campaign. They're both good shooters, playmakers and defenders, and Sydney is one the area's leading 3-point shooting threats with seemingly unlimited range.

“You know that she's 3 feet behind the (3-point) line,” St. Charles East coach Lori Drumtra said after watching Sydney Russell pour in three second-half 3-pointers during the Saints' 48-39 loss to the North Stars last Friday. “That is hard to guard.

“It seemed like every time we'd make a run, she would drain a 3-pointers that would crush you.”

St. Charles North had opened its Upstate Eight Conference River Division season with a 59-57 homecourt win over Geneva last week.

“You've got to love rivalry games,” said Brennan, who prefers the home-and-away aspect of the new conference schedule. “You play everyone twice so it's a great opportunity to have to use different strategies and a different learning experience for the kids.”

If the North Stars continue to get consistent play from Tess Fischer, Leah Horton, the Russell sisters, and others, they should contend for a conference championship by season's end.

Youth movement at St. Charles East: With the return of just two seniors from last year's squad Dani Asquini and Chanel Stephens who received limited playing time a year ago due to the senior-laden team's overall experience, you need a program to identify this year's roster.

While the Saints have dropped 5 of their first 7 games, they've been competitive and should be much-improved come February.

After watching the Saints give St. Charles North all it could handle last weekend, I came away impressed by the poise shown from first-year varsity players Morgan Vyzral, Paige Jordan, Annie Martines, Amanda Hilton, and Laney Deckrow.

And I wasn't alone.

“(St. Charles) East played a great game,” said North Stars coach Colleen Brennan. “Those kids hustled 100 percent of the time.”

The Saints also played their cross-town rival without the services of senior starter Lauren Rohrmeier (illness).

“We're a little banged up,” Saints coach Lori Drumtra said last weekend. “But they scrapped and everybody contributed.”

Playing against St. Charles North so early in the season may later work to the Saints' advantage.

“This was a big game with a big crowd and it was loud,” said Drumtra. “We'll have to work at improving and getting back to full strength. I think we'll be OK.”

Back-to-back losses a rare sight at Geneva: There's definitely no need to panic and it's probably not even fair to say but Geneva (4-2) has already lost one more conference game than it did the previous two seasons.

The Vikings, who own a remarkable 63-3 overall record the last two seasons, suffered rare back-to-back losses to defending Class 3A state champion Montini (55-44) and perennial pest St. Charles North (59-57).

However, with the talented, veteran backcourt of Kat Yelle and Sammy Scofield, plus junior Division I prospect Ashley Santos, the Vikings will likely remain in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division race right to the wire.

Circle Jan. 27 on your calendars – that's when Geneva plays host to St. Charles North in a rematch of their Nov. 30 clash.

One more thing on Geneva Assistant coach Tim Pease is certainly very capable and qualified but I wonder how much the Vikings miss the presence of head coach Gina Nolan (receiving treatment for breast cancer).

I know I sure miss seeing her on the bench.

Boys

Super sophs: I can't remember the last time our local basketball teams possessed so much underclass talent.

Sophomores like St. Charles North's Quinten Payne and Tony Neari; St. Charles East's Kendall Stephens; Batavia's Zach Strittmatter and Mike Rueffer; Aurora Central Catholic's Joe Medgyesi; Aurora Christian's Ryan McQuade; Marmion's Alex Theisen and Colin Kavanaugh; Kaneland's Kory Harner; and West Aurora's Jayquan Lee, Chandler Thomas and Spencer Thomas, have already proven to be exciting players to watch.

It figures to get more entertaining as these sophomores continue to grow over the next couple seasons and should make the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns even more fun.

And don't forget about Kaneland freshmen Danny Helm and Drew David; and West Aurora point guard Jontrell Walker. Helm and David were the Knights' leading scorers during last Friday's 54-49 win over Morris – not too shabby for a pair of freshmen.

Saints crack the win column: St. Charles East's 43-41 win over Elgin last Saturday wasn't the prettiest but the Saints will take any win after their 0-5 start against quality opponents.

“It was a great team win,” said Saints coach Brian Clodi. “This team can win games.”

The game-winning basket came from 6-2 senior reserve Matt Ray with 43 seconds remaining.

“When we go man (defense), Matt does a great job,” added Clodi. “He's always in the right spots and you're always going to get his best effort.”