Geneva hungry for continued success
Bartlett Hawks
Coach: Dave Mello (1st year)
Conference: Upstate Eight Valley
2014-15 record: 20-10, 11-3
Top returning players: Kaitlin Brohan (Sr., 5-8, G), Kelly Harris (Sr., 6-1, C), Nicole Gerdevich (Sr., 5-10 F), Shelley Lyjak (Sr., 5-6 G), Mariah Martinez (Sr., 5-7, F), Nina Pavell (Sr., 5-3, G), Jamie Kenna (Sr., 5-6, G), Genesis Kelly (Sr., 5-5., G), Veronika O'Donnell (Sr., 5-5, F), Kayla Hare (So., 5-9, G).
Top newcomers: Sara Jurek (Jr., 5-6, G), Ashley Gal (Jr., 5-5, G), Katherine Obrzud (Jr., 5-8, F), Taylor Tomasek (Jr., 5-7, F), Lucy Manriquez (Jr., 5-6, F)
Season outlook: Mello takes over for retired longtime coach Denise Sarna and the new coach has a ton of talent returning from a regional championship team. All-Area guard Brohan (14.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.5 apg), Harris (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Gerdevich (3.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 spg) and Lyjak (3.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 spg) are all seasoned varsity veterans and should put the Hawks in good position to contend for the UEC Valley title as well as make a deep postseason run. “Our main goal is to be playing our best basketball in late February and early March,” Mello said. “We are treating each day as a step in our process of reaching our full potential.” The Bartlett program had great success under Sarna, including two trips to state that ended in second and third-place trophies. Mello hopes the school's success with the boys soccer team reaching state this fall will add to the fire the girls basketball team will need to have another banner season. “Obviously, seeing what our boys soccer team accomplished had given us a taste of what it is like when a team makes it to state,” he said. The coach believes his team's success will start on the defensive end of the court. “Our strengths are going to be our defense, our ability to score in bunches at times and our depth,” Mello said, adding he sees the UEC Valley being a wide open race. “The obstacles standing in our way are the next team on our schedule. We are truly taking it one game at a time.”
Batavia Bulldogs
Coach: Kevin Jensen (5th season, 67-49)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 15-15, 6-6
Top returning players: Hannah Frazier (Sr., 6-2, F), Bethany Orman (Sr., 5-7, G), Shea Bayram (Sr., 5-10, F), Jess Koch (Sr., 5-9, F), Emily Lasse (Sr., 5-9, F), Katie Weber (Sr., 5-6, G), Jessie Costello (Sr., 5-6, G), Mackenzie Foster (Jr., 5-8, G), Stephanie Rodriguez (Jr., 5-6, G), Morgan Erickson (Jr., 5-6, G) Top newcomers: Elena Cabrera (Jr., 5-8, G), Alex Piron (Jr., 5-8, G), Kaley Lorenz (Jr., 5-10, F), Shannon King (Jr., 5-9, F), Geddy Rerko (Fr., 6-0, F), Hailey Orman (Fr., 5-6, G)
Season outlook: Frazier, headed to St. Louis University, enters her senior season on pace to become Batavia's all-time leading scorer after averaging 22.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during a junior year when she had 11 20-point games and six 30-point games. Needless to say, she'll be the focal point both for the Bulldogs, and their opponents. “Our top player will still be our top player,” Jensen said. “Frazier is going to be one of the best players in the state and we are lucky to have her.” The reason Jensen thinks Batavia can improve on its .500 record are the players around Frazier. Players like Bethany Orman, a third-year starting guard and fourth-year varsity player. Bayram also is a third-year varsity starter. Koch, Lasse, Foster and Rodriguez all have been varsity players three years. “Our depth should be a strength this year,” Jensen said. “The pieces around her have become more confident and more balanced.” Add to that newcomers like Rerko, who Jensen said will complement Frazier inside, and Jensen is optimistic. “I don't think anyone was satisfied with how the season came to a close last year,” Jensen said. “We are anticipating a very competitive season. We prepared all summer and competed in some a very competitive summer league. Our seniors are looking to finish their careers on a very high note. We have goals like competing for a conference title and winning another regional title. We have a new mix of talent on the varsity team. Top to bottom our team is very excited about the season. We know we have may obstacles in our way, but we feel we will be prepared.”
Elgin Maroons
Coach: Dr. Nick Bumbales (7th year, 21-145)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 3-24, 0-14
Top returning players: Lakiya Harvey (Sr., 5-7, G), Alisha Panthier (Sr., 5-10, C), Leesa Mena (Sr., 5-6, G), Kylie Graves (5-9, So., F), Tianna Stewart (Jr., 5-7, G), Jasmine Beckett (Sr., 5-2, G), Daisy Vargas (Sr., 5-8, F), Da'Janel Williams (Sr., 5-10, F), Marisol Luevano (Sr., 5-8, F), Jessica Rago (Sr., 5-8 F).
Top newcomers: Kayla Thomas (Sr., 5-3, G), Raechal Untalan (So., 5-8, G), Ali Reynolds (Jr., 5-10, F), Lola Quadri (Jr., 5-10, C), Genesis Alfaro (Jr., 5-1, G), Luz Silva (Jr., 5-3, G), Kelsie Chanthaving (Jr., 5-0, G)
Season outlook: The Maroons return three starters, including three-year varsity players in Panthier (6.2 ppg, 10 rpg) and Harvey (4.7 ppg. 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg), who was the starting point guard last year. Bumbales is hopeful sophomores Graves and Untalan, who played for a 15-win freshman team last year, will add depth, as will Thomas, a transfer from Proviso West. Bumbales projects Mena, Graves and Stewart, the leading scorer on the sophomore team last year, to join Panthier and Harvey in the starting lineup. “Overall we look to be deeper than previous teams and more competitive,” Bumbales said. “The Maroons still boast great program numbers having over a record 80 girls try out this year.” Elgin defeated Fenton in its season opener Tuesday night, the first time in Bumbales' tenure the Maroons have won their season opener.
Geneva Vikings
Coach: Sarah Meadows (5th season, 92-31)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 23-7, 11-1
Top returning players: Grace Loberg (Jr., 6-2, C), Margaret Whitley (So., 5-6, G), Stephanie Hart (So., 5-6, G), Colleen Grady (Sr., 5-8, F), Taylor Williams (Sr., F, 5-10)
Top newcomers: Maddy Yelle (So., G/F, 5-10)
Season outlook: The Vikings are coming off another excellent season — conference, regional and sectional championships until a loss to New Trier in a tight supersectional game. It was the fifth time in the last seven years Geneva has played in a supersectional — and the Vikings return 3 starters from that team. While forwards Abby Novak and Janie McCloughan will be missed, Geneva has the building blocks any coach would love with experience at point guard and center. Loberg, a Wisconsin volleyball recruit, already is a two-time all-area choice in basketball who shot 60 percent from the field last year with averages of 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. Whitley and Hart showed tremendous maturity beyond their years while starting as freshmen. Williams returns after missing last year with a torn ACL, and Yelle will play a full varsity season after being called up at the end of last year. “We will be an athletic and quick team,” Meadows said. “We will work extremely hard on defense. Offensively we will get up and down and we must make good decisions with the ball playing the up-tempo style of ball.” The Vikings won conference last year with a loss to St. Charles East, who Geneva came back to beat in the sectional championship. Repeating that title is another goal for Geneva. “It will be a fun and very competitive year,” Meadows said. “We are well aware of the talent that is around us. We will have to limit our turnovers playing that style, have to be good decision-makers with the ball.”
Glenbard East Rams
Coach: Don Finnie.
Last year: 16-15, 6-8 in Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division; lost to St. Charles North 53-20 in Class 4A St. Charles North regional semifinal.
Top players: Ashley Brown, sr., G; Brasia Solid, sr., F; Amanda Chlebek, sr., F; Amber Llorens, sr., G; Meghan Ryan, sr., G; Kacey Taylor, sr., G; Grace Ludwig, sr., G.
Scouting report: The Rams' goal is like any other team's goal — to improve upon last season, which was the Rams' best in many seasons. Finnie believes strong defense will again be a Glenbard East strength. “They play strong defense. They enjoy playing defense and that was the key last season,” he said. If the Rams are to keep improving, Finnie also expects contributions from first-year varsity players Dana Plotke, Christina Dolinski, Kate Tada, Katie Hansen, Bethany Imlah and Audry Moore. Dolinski and Tada are centers, Imlah is a forward and the other three are guards.
Larkin Royals
Coach: Steve Knapp (1st year)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 7-23, 2-12
Top returning players: Marlee Kyles (Jr, 5-8, G), Sam Wahl (Sr., 5-7, G), Shawniece Douglas (Jr., 5-11, F), Sarah El Rahmany (Sr., G), Vanessa Soto (Sr., 5-7 G), Megan Chwee (Sr., 5-5, G/F), Maggie Kohler (Jr., 5-11, F), Tyra Lindsey (Sr., 5-4, G)
Top newcomers: Haley Bohne (So., 5-6, G), Amber Bultnick (Jr., 5-5, G), Diamante Nieves (Sr., 5-6, G), Layla Wisser (Jr., 5-10, F)
Season outlook: Knapp takes over the Royals' girls program after spending the past few years in Deryn Carter's highly successful boys basketball program and the Larkin alum has high hopes to turn the girls' program around. And with one of the best players in the area returning in Kyles (19 ppg), as well as experienced varsity players in Wahl, Douglas (6 ppg. 6 rpg) and El Rahmany, he has some talent to work with. “We want to make a run in the postseason and turn some heads,” said Knapp, whose team won its season opener over Marengo on Tuesday. “We will be an up-tempo team and run the floor. We make other teams make mistakes on our side of the court and try to get some quick points and layups. We want to be the most conditioned team in the conference and use that to our advantage.”
St. Charles East Saints
Coach: Lori Drumtra (11th year, 158-135)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 22-8, 10-2
Top returning players: Hannah Vitkus (Sr., 6-0, G/F), Sara Rosenfeldt (So., 5-10, F), Samantha Munroe (Jr., 5-6, G), Kelly Rinker (Sr., 5-6, G), Kathleen Townsend (Sr., 6-0, F)
Top newcomers: Marissa Urso (Jr., 5-4, G), Brooke Wellman (Jr., 5-5, G), Ashley DiOrio (Fr., 5-6, G)
Season outlook: The Saints are coming off their best season in a decade, taking second at the Schaumburg Thanksgiving Tournament, second in the Upstate Eight River with a win over Geneva, beating St. Charles North to win a regional title and knocking off No. 1 seed Conant in the sectional semifinals. St. Charles East graduates two All-Area players — Katie Claussner and Kyra Washington — who leave big shoes to fill. Claussner, an Honorary All-Area co-captain, averaged 16.9 points and 4.2 assists and Washington scored 10.9 points with 5.8 rebounds and 57 3-pointers. The Saints will try to fill the void with a team effort that includes returning starters Vitkus, Rosenfeldt and Munroe, a junior guard who gave the team a big spark when she was inserted into the starting lineup last January. “After losing two prolific scorers to graduation, we look to be much more balanced in offense with contributions coming from everyone on the floor,” Drumtra said. Unfortunately for the Saints they also lost 6-foot-1 Gabby Butkute, out for the year with an ACL injury. “She will be a major challenge to replace,” Drumtra said. Urso and Rinker are looking to join Vitkus, Rosenfeldt and Munroe in St. Charles East's starting lineup. Drumtra said the Saints' goals remain battling for the Upstate Eight River championship despite strong competition from Batavia, St. Charles North and defending champ Geneva. “We would like to build on the accomplishments from last year,” Drumtra said.
St. Charles North North Stars
Coach: Sean Masconcup (3rd year, 34-21)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 19-9, 9-3
Top returning players: Morgan Rosencrants (Sr., 6-1, C), Kyla Helsel (Sr, 5-9, G), Claire Jakaitis (Sr., 6-2, F), Sammie Sample (Jr., 5-9, G)
Top newcomers: Grace Quinn (So., 5-8, F)
Season outlook: As good as 2014-15 was for the North Stars, it also was a season of near-misses, of what could have been. With graduated Nichole Davidson — a two-time All-Area pick who averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals — along with Jakaitis and Rosencrants inside, the North Stars had plenty of talent and pushed Geneva in the Upstate Eight River race. But it never quite went their way, losing to Geneva twice by a total of 4 points, 50-48 and 60-58, as they ended up third in the River. They went on a 7-game winning streak after the second Geneva loss, but then in a regional championship game on their home court, the North Stars lost to their cross-town rival St. Charles East. Needless to say, the fourth-year varsity player Rosencrants and company have plenty of motivation this winter. “Geneva is the top dog until someone takes it from them,” North Stars coach Sean Masoncup said. “We are trying to get better each day.” Rosencrants is a double-double threat every game. Helsel and Sample are both third-year varsity players who will be counted on in the backcourt. Jakaitis transferred in last year from Montini and ended up making All-Area by averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2.8 assists with 2 blocks a game. “We try to be one of the hardest working teams around,” Masconcup said. “We will play a fast tempo type style.”
Streamwood Sabres
Coach: George Rosner (36th year, 410-518 with 368 wins at Streamwood)
Conference: Upstate Eight River
2014-15 record: 10-18, 7-7
Top returning players: Jenejha Williams (Jr, 6-2, C), Maddie Exline (So., 5-9 F), Jaimee Melo (Sr., 4-9, G), Danielle Cavnar (Sr., 6-0, C)
Top newcomers: Claudia Karaluch (Jr., 5-6, G), Jovelle Gadiana (Jr., 5-7, F), Jacqueline Herrera (Jr., 6-0, C), Becky Roncone (So., 5-7, G), Angela Mitchell (Jr., 5-7, F), Monica Brown (So, 5-6, G), Andrea Bracy (So, 5-10, F)
Season outlook: The Sabres will be as young as any team Rosner, the dean of Fox Valley area coaches, has ever had but Streamwood does have one of the top players in the area returning in Williams (11.6 ppg. 12 rpg, 119 blocks), who Rosner said is getting a lof Divsion I interest. Also back is Exline, who saw significant varsity time as a freshman last year. “We're awfully young,” said Rosner. “We'll probably start four sophomores and a junior but they're doing great so far. They're working hard in practice and they have great attitudes. They're very fun to coach so far. It's going to be a learning process. I've never had a team this young before. We'll get better as the season goes on and I truly think Jenejha is one of the top players in the area.”
South Elgin Storm
Coach: Dan Mandernack (2nd year, 19-10)
Conference: Upstate Eight Valley
2014-15 record: 19-10, 10-4
Top returning players: Bridgette Williams (Sr., 5-9, F), Nadia Yang (Sr., 5-4, G), Mackie Kelleher (Jr., 6-0, C)
Top newcomers: Kennedy Wells (Jr., 5-8, G), Tegan Pompa (Jr., 5-8, G), Emmy McIntosh (Jr., 5-7, G), Grace Franks (Jr., 5-9, G/F), Jasmin Duncan (Sr., 5-10, G), Bailey McClure (Sr., 5-10, G/F/C), Brynee Struer (Sr., 5-10, F/C)
Season outlook: The Storm isn't long on experience but what they do have is seasoned. Williams (11.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg) can be a bruiser inside and Yang (5 ppg, 3.8 apg), a four-year starter, is back to 100 percent after missing much of last season with a knee injury. Kelleher (9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg) gives the Storm some punch inside. “We're healthy now and we'll be a very very deep team,” Mandernack said. “We have juniors who played together on freshman and sophomore teams and are used to playing together and winning which will make practice more intense and competitive. Our goal is to improve daily and the scoreboard will take care of itself. Our three main preseason focus points are rebounding (we're not tall), free throw shooting and turnovers. In preseason meetings our goal is to ‘Respect 20.' If you get to 20 wins you've done well in conference and in tournaments and you'll get a good seed for the playoffs.”
West Aurora Blackhawks
Coach: Connie Siljendahl (11th year, 109-137)
Conference: Upstate Eight Valley
2014-15 record: 8-19
Top returning players: Carley Frauenhoff (Sr., 5-6, G), Ashley Williams (Sr., 5-5, G), Sklar Doby (So., 5-4, G), Kayla Battle (Jr., 5-9, F)
Top newcomers: Kianna Rogers (So., 5-6, G), Jemya McClendon (Jr., 5-9, G), Selen Martinez (Jr., 5-8, F), Teryn Griffin (Jr., 5-9, F)
Season outlook: The strength of the Blackhawks lies in the backcourt with a pair of seniors. Frauenhoff, a rare three-sport standout who also excels in tennis and softball, can hit 3-pointers with the best of them. Williams gives West Aurora another experienced ballhandler who can thrive on the defensive end and penetrate on offense. Doby is a third guard to watch. “Those three will be the leaders scoring-wise,” Siljendahl said. “Jemya McClendon also has been looking good.” Inside, the Blackhawks will look to Battle, Griffin and Martinez. “We have a lot of guards,” Siljendahl said. “We're fast so we're working on pushing the ball and doing a lot of pressing and forcing the ball out of the middle.” Despite the youth on this year's team, the Blackhawks are aiming big. “I believe we can win conference,” Siljendahl said. “It's going to be a matter of being in control of themselves and doing the little things correctly and working hard in practice. We're young but we're still experienced.” Siljendahl listed Bartlett, South Elgin and Glenbard East among the teams to watch in the UEC Valley race. “Bartlett is going to be a tough one,” Siljendahl said. “South Elgin is another one. Glenbard East is going to be stronger this year also.”
West Chicago Wildcats
Coach: Kim Wallner.
Last year: 8-20, 4-10, sixth place in Upstate Eight Conference River Division. Lost to Lake Park in first round of Class 4A regionals.
Top players: Bria Williams, sr., C.; Sofia Radice, soph., G; Amari Stafford, sr., G.
Scouting report: The 5-foot-10 Williams is one of three starters back for the Wildcats, but the young team will miss three-year starter Mae Elizabeth Gimre, who did a little of everything on the court before graduating. Senior forwards Nayeli Lara and Kathy Quiroz, senior guard Kelly Conlon and 5-11 sophomore forward Catherine Miller return to the varsity and will be aided by newcomers like guards Sierra Koenig and Maddie Brotnow, and post players Delaney Doell, Neida Guevara and Daniela Flores. “The team will go as far as how they improve on the defensive side of the ball,” Wallner said. “We have a nice combination of returners and some newcomers that as the season goes on can contribute to our success. We are excited to start the season and see where this team can go and attempt to earn a few more victories this season.”