Burlington Central's 1,000-club trio quite unique

It's not every day a coach can say he or she has a 1,000-point scorer on the court.

Burlington Central girls basketball coach Mark Smith now not only has one, but three players who have eclipsed the 1,000 mark for their careers, something that's not unheard of but is quite rare in high school girls basketball.

With senior Kayla Ross reaching the milestone on Tuesday night, she joined teammates and classmates Sam Pryor and Shelby Holt in the 1,000 club as well as becoming the sixth girl in BC girls history to reach 1,000. Pryor reached the milestone last season and Holt earlier this season.

"It's definitely not normal," said Smith of having three players on the same team with over 1,000 points. "I don't know too many schools that have had that. It's a testament to the type of players these kids are."

In Ross' case she's become the defensive stopper for the Rockets first and foremost, which has helped her offensively as well.

"A lot of her scoring is the result of her defense. She gets a lot of steals and layups and her confidence in her scoring ability has skyrocketed since her freshman year," said Smith, who scored over 1,000 points in his career at Beloit College and whose daughter Kelsey also scored over 1,000 in her career at St. Charles North.

Smith's Rockets stand at 15-2 for the season heading into their game at Rockford Christian on Friday, where Central will go for its 46th straight Big Northern East win. Genoa-Kingston comes to Rocket Hill on Saturday and BC hosts Marengo next Thursday before a date next Friday night at home against 21-0 Montini, the top-ranked Class 4A team in the state and a squad that is ranked No. 9 in the nation by USA Today. The Rockets stunned Montini in Lombard last year 51-37.

"We're on track to where we thought we'd be," said Smith, whose team suffered just its second loss last Saturday when the Rockets fell to Class 4A Hersey (17-3) at the Subway Classic 52-40.

"We were hoping to get a win against Hersey but it didn't work out. But we're getting better every day."

One concern all season has been depth, as after the starting five there's little varsity experience. But Smith has been happy with the progression of his younger players, most notably juniors Kristina Ahlers and 6-foot Madison Hodgson.

"And," Smith said, "our five starters are in such good shape they want to play all the time."

Frazier on fire: Two years ago Liza Fruendt finished her Batavia career with a new school record of 1,921 points before heading to Missouri State.

Fruendt is now a sophomore and third-leading scorer at Missouri State averaging 10.8 points a game. The Golden Bears are 11-7 after winning at Loyola 73-62 on Sunday with Fruendt contributing 7 points.

Fruendt's scoring record at Batavia doesn't look like it will last long. Hannah Frazier, who played her freshman and sophomore years with Fruendt, is on pace to catch her former teammate.

Batavia only scored 29 points in a loss to No. 2 Fremd on Monday, but the St. Louis-bound Frazier had 18 of them bringing her total to 1,831 points.

At her current average of 21.9 points a game - on 56 percent shooting from the field and 79 percent at the line - Frazier will set Batavia's record Feb. 2 against Larkin.

That's not the only milestone within reach. At this clip Frazier will clear 2,000 points in Batavia's first regional game.

She's also only 49 rebounds from 1,000 in her career. Averaging 9 a game, Frazier could become the first Batavia player to grab 1,000 rebounds in the same game she sets the school scoring record.

Frazier scored 29 points with 9 rebounds last week at St. Charles East, which has its own outstanding post player in Sara Rosenfeldt.

"That's a tough matchup," Batavia coach Kevin Jensen said. "Sara is a really good player but she's also giving up some size and athleticism in that matchup. Hannah is so strong. Her strength, her athleticism, it doesn't always look like she's the fastest and most athletic but she's close to it."

Kaneland Shootout: Kaneland is holding its second shootout on Saturday, Feb. 6, and the Knights have doubled the field this year with some of the best teams in the area joining.

Aurora Central Catholic is returning and will play Sycamore. Geneva, Burlington Central and St. Charles North - ranked No. 5, No. 11 and No. 14, respectively, in the Daily Herald Top 20 - all join the field.

"We started it last year and added some new teams this year," Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. "We hope it will grow and continue to interest great teams. Should be a great day and night of hoops."

The complete lineup is: East Aurora vs. Marian Catholic at 1:30, Downers Grove South vs. St. Charles North at 3, Sycamore vs. Aurora Central Catholic at 4:30, Burlington Central vs. Geneva at 6, and No. 20 Kaneland against West Aurora at 7:30 p.m.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: St. Charles North coach Sean Masoncup wandered into Geneva's old Mack Olson gym - which was the Vikings' gym when he was a player there - to do his postgame interviews following a 55-43 loss on Tuesday, the North Stars' second straight loss to the Vikings.

"Trying to bring back some good memories," Masoncup said.

There's no team on the schedule Masoncup would rather beat than Geneva, which has won every Upstate Eight Conference River Division championship, sharing the crown with Batavia in 2013-14.

The North Stars couldn't have come closer last year, losing both matchups by 2 points.

This year was another story. Geneva won the first meeting by 17 and was ahead by 24 in the third quarter before the North Stars cut the final margin to 12.

"They are a factory," Masoncup said. "They are an absolute factory. You have to give it to (former) Coach (Gina) Nolan and now Coach (Sarah) Meadows. They have been a factory for the last 8 years. We have to continue to strive to be what they are. That comes from putting together four quarters. We put together streaks."

Meadows knows Geneva has a target on its back, and said her girls have realized how to play with it.

"We have a ton of respect for the Tri-Cities programs," Meadows said. "Sean has come in and done a nice job with that program as has Kevin (Jensen, at Batavia). We have to prepare for them and know they want to knock us out. You have to be the stronger and tougher team. We have young kids but I think they are realizing that. Every game you have to be on and you have to take it serious and work your hardest. Batavia and North always play us tough."

Winter Warm Up: The Batavia girls basketball team in conjunction with the Batavia Interact Club is holding a coat drive before Saturday's 6 p.m. game with St. Charles North.

Anyone donating coats, hats, gloves, scarfs, etc. will be given free admission. All donations will go to the American Red Cross and local charities.