Girls basketball Fox Valley area Class 1A/2A previews

Elgin Academy Hilltoppers

Coach: Diane Comer-Rabaza (6th season, 16-102)

Last season's record: 11-13, 4-6

Conference: Independent School League

Top returning players: Seniors: Allison Clark (guard) 5 ppg, Kyla Farquhar (guard) 4.9 ppg; Sophomore: Lauren Steimle (guard) 4 ppg

Top newcomers: Junior: Kristin Cella (post); sophomores: Alyssa Pena (guard/forward), Bianca Swegler (guard/forward)

Outlook: Elgin Academy anticipates that the 2007-08 season will be a successful one. Sophomore Lauren Steimle returns to the court having earned second-team all-conference honors as a freshman. Allison Clark and Kyla Farquhar enter their senior campaigns expecting to go out strong while bringing leadership to a somewhat inexperienced group. "As our young kids get varsity experience, they will only improve," said EA coach Diane Comer-Rabaza. A big challenge for Elgin Academy will be program numbers. "We won't be deep, and we won't have a lot of size," said Comer-Rabaza. However, with five athletes who can play the guard position, speed will be a catalyst. "Our strength will be our guard play," Comer-Rabaza said. "We will have a lot of speed and a lot of quickness on the court. I'm certainly excited to see the girls get out there and show what they are capable of doing. Their destiny is up to them."

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Coach: Sue Ellett (5th year, 79-38)

Last season's record: 17-11, 8-2

Conference: Big Northern East

Top returning players: Seniors Jaclyn Clai (5-9 guard), Mallory Koster (5-9 forward), juniors Christine Schumacher (5-6 guard), Giannia Estocado (5-1 guard), Kelsey Watson (5-8 forward); sophomores Cassie Dumoulin (5-6 guard/forward), Chrissy Heine (5-11 guard/forward).

Top newcomers: Juniors Kendall Kurilla (5-4 guard), Jackie Jeffries (5-8 forward/center), Kristy Pfaffinger (5-2 guard), Kelly Plichta (5-6 guard/forward), Christie Wood (5-10 center),

Outlook: It might be tough to label a team with only two seniors a state contender, but if this group of Whip-Purs plays to its potential, they certainly could make some strong waves in this, the school's first and possibly only year in Class 2A. "I think we're gonna make some noise this year," said coach Sue Ellett, who led the Whips to second place in Class A in 2004. "This is the team I was looking at two years ago that could get back to the three goals we always like to set -- 20 wins, a conference championship and a regional championship. This year it's the real deal and we hope to notch all three of those." And why not? With senior Jaclyn Clai, a two-time all-area player who averages 13.4 points last season and had 27 3-pointers coming back to provide senior leadership along with Mallory Koster (7.0 ppg), the Whips have a great nucleus. "Koster's going to be a nice player this year," said Ellett, noting that Koster played with the Illinois Magic AAU team. Junior Christine Schumacher (8.1 ppg) is recovering from an ACL injury incurred during the state soccer tournament last spring and is expected back after Christmas. Chrissy Heine (7.6 ppg) may be one of the most versatile sophomores in the state and Giannia Estocado and Cassie Dumoulin each got valuable varsity experience last year. Estocado will start at the point. "She dishes out passes you can't teach," Ellett said. Ellett expects Dumoulin and Kelly Plichta to be the defensive stoppers and, Ellett says, "Heine is a dominant post player who is going to cause people some matchup problems." All in all, Ellett expects her team to close the Purple Palace by placing another banner in the rafters. "This is a nice cohesive group," she said. "This junior group has been successful from seventh grade on up and now they're varsity players both mentally and physically."

St. Edward Green Wave

Coach: Michelle Dawson (4th year, 48-37)

Last season's record: 17-12, 7-7

Conference: Suburban Catholic

Top returning players: Seniors Kelly Knott (5-5 guard), Mackenzie Malone (5-6 guard), Amanda DeBrocke (5-7 forward), Celeste Von Ahnen (6-3 center); junior Katie Yohn (5-10 guard).

Top newcomers: Senior Megan Pozezinski (5-8 guard/forward); juniors Brittany Brozek, (5-4 guard), Angie Cortez (5-9 forward/center), Tommasina Domel (5-0 guard), Lychelle Erickson (5-7 forward), Valerie Gotheridge (5-6 forward), Taylor Hunsburger (5-4 guard), Lauren Thomas (5-3 guard); sophomore Kristi Knott (5-6 guard/forward); freshman Vincenza Ranallo (5-4 guard).

Outlook: If momentum can be carried from one season to the next, this could be another memorable season for the Green Wave. Even though the final record was 17-12 last year, the Wave got on a big-time roll at the end of the season and ended up in the Elite Eight at Redbird Arena. If that's to happen again for St. Edward, which will play in class 2A this year, it will be done without sophomore all-area guard Katlyn Payne, who transferred to Fenwick and a graduatred group of seniors that includes all-area co-captain Katie Chambers/. But the cupboard is far from bare with two starters and five players returning from the state team. The starters include senior center Celeste Von Ahnen (6.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and junior all-area guard Katie York (13.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Coach Michelle Dawson said the point guard duties will be turned over to senior Kelly Knott while junior Angie Cortez and senior Megan Pozezinski, who missed last season with an ACL injury, are the other projected starters. "We've got a lot of work to do buyt they're working hard and we're getting there," said Dawson, will be assisted again by Stacey Wahlberg and Denny Butzow. "We're not dwelling on last year. This is a new team and a new season. But the girls are using last year to push them harder this year. We've got some big spots to fill but they've come in with a better attitude and work ethic than I've seen the last couple of years."

Westminster Christian Warriors

Coach: Ken Flickinger (3rd year, 10-42)

Last season's record: 6-21, 1-7

Conference: Private School League

Top returning players: Sophomores: Rachel Doby (forward), Beth Kautz (guard)

Top newcomers: Sophomore: Sarah Rodgers (guard) transfer from Peoria Christian; freshmen: Hannah Graves (guard/forward), Julia Engen (forward)

Outlook: Westminster Christian ended last season with a 3-game win streak before losing to Hampshire in regional play and the Warriors hope to pick up where they left off. However, with the loss of two of the best players in program history to graduation, the Warriors will have their work cut out for them. "We are a very young team with no upperclassmen," said coach Ken Flickinger. "Still, we have excellent potential. We will just have to gain experience and maturity quickly in order to be competitive." Sophomore forward Rachel Doby is young, but does have varsity experience. "We have a great nucleus to build on for the future," said Flickinger. "We have excellent quickness, great work ethic and good team chemistry. We are a little undersized, but have great overall athletic ability. We should be solid defensively."