Scouting Grant

GRANT

Coach: Kathie Swanson (second season)

Last season: 13-15, 7-5 in North Suburban Prairie, lost to Dundee-Crown in Class 4A Streamwood regional semifinals

Key losses: G Jasmine Sangster (Illinois Springfield), C Taylor Drake (IUPUI), G McKaylie Krey, G/F Jasmine Glover, G/F Jordynn Hundley, F Brett Aichholzer, G Kaleigh Zielinski

Returning players: Sr. G Ameerah Muhammad (5-2), Sr. G/F Keyana Linbo (5-10), Jr. F Mallory Harrity (6-0), So. G Ally Mahinay (5-8), Jr. G Roxanne Temple (5-6)

Newcomers: Jr. G Karleigh Bolton (5-4), Jr. G Kennedy Kiesgen (5-7), Jr. G Makiah Linbo (5-6), Sr. G Charneice Burns (5-6)

Outlook: The coach was new a year ago. This year, several players are new and most of the holdovers have new roles. "It's a lot different," coach Kathie Swanson said. "Now we're asking kids who are not as experienced to step into new roles. Right now, it's a challenge for them." The Bulldogs, who graduated seven players, including three-time all-conference guard Jasmine Sangster, opened this season with back-to-back losses at Mundelein's Thanksgiving tournament. There is talent. Mallory Harrity, a 6-foot junior who played a lot for Swanson last winter and for the varsity as a freshman too, scored 16 and 18 points in those first two games. "She's a very talented player," Swanson said. "In the two games we've seen her play, she makes a difference. She runs the court really well, she's tough on defense, and she rebounds really well. She has the potential to be a very, very good player this year." Senior guard/forward Keyana Linbo is also a three-year varsity player. Sophomore guard Ally Mahinay had 17- and 15-point efforts late last season for the varsity and will have the ball in her hands a lot this season. "She's got a lot of potential," Swanson said. "We need to get her teammates working with her, so we can make the best out of everybody's potential." Swanson likes her team's upside, too. There are only three seniors on her nine-player roster. "We are young and inexperienced, so right now we're making growing-pain type of mistakes," Swanson said after Tuesday's loss to Highland Park, which rallied from a seven-point deficit at halftime. "As we go along, hopefully we learn from (the mistakes) and we eliminate those."