Scouting Lisle

Lisle

Coach: Nick Balaban

Last year: 19-10, 10-1, tied for first in Interstate Eight Conference, lost in Class 2A regional semifinals to Westmont, 43-40.

Top players: TyAnn LeGrand-Melton, jr., G; Natalie Takahashi, soph., G; Sammi Maas, sr., G; Melissa Ericson, sr., G; Abbey Kretman, jr., C/F.

Scouting report: The departed Sarah Mogensen, who led in scoring and rebounding last year, will be missed, but fellow all-conference players LeGrand-Melton and Takahashi will be back strong. The 5-9 LeGrand-Melton can drive to the basket as well as hit from the outside, while Takahashi is back to run the point. The Lions' deep guard rotation also features captains Ericson, a three-sport athlete, and Maas, who has gone downstate the last two years in the 3-point shooting contest. "If we defend and rebound, we'll be pretty good," said Balaban, who has won 19 games in each of his first two years at Lisle. "We've got a lot of options offensively. We don't have a great deal of height, but I think we'll be a little more athletic and we'll have a lot more firepower on offense." Also expected to play key roles for the Lions are Nicole Cyranoski, who led the sophomore team in scoring the last two years, sophomore point guard Kelly Hennessy, and junior posts Sarah Oard and Anna Palicka.