Boys basketball: Scouting the Fox Valley Conference
Cary-Grove Trojans
Coach: Ralph Schuetzle (4th season, 51-38)
Last season's record: 18-11, 6-4
Top returning players: Seniors Paul Tometich (6-2, G), Mark Tometich (6-2, F), Ben Jacquier (6-4, F), Dan Fallon (6-5, C), Alex Jordon (5-10, G), Dan Bartz (6-2, F)
Top newcomers: Pete Pellizari (6-1, G), Mike Aulert (6-6, C)
Outlook: This Cary-Grove group will be able to cover plenty of real estate on the floor. "We're going to be hard to guard," said Schuetzle. "We've got some very skilled kids who can spread the floor. Everybody can basically shoot it from 17 on out. We don't have a dominating low post player, but we will get everybody into the post at some point in time." Rebounding will be a major point of emphasis for this group. "We have to keep people off the glass," said Schuetzle. The Tometich twins and Jacquier drew starting assignments at some point last year. Paul Tometich is the team's top returning scorer (8.0 ppg) and was an honorable mention all-area selection last year. His brother averaged 7.0 points. Jordon and Pellizari give the Trojans two strong options at the point, while the 6-5 Fallon, who was slowed by strep throat at the beginning of camp, figures to weigh in heavily in the team's plans as well. "We're a senior-dominated group," said Schuetzle. "They've had a lot of success as a group and they love basketball. We've got five guys on the team who all they do is basketball and they've gotten pretty good at it over the years." Schuetzle says Jacobs is the team to contend within the Valley Division. "Without a doubt," said Schuetzle. "They've got four starters back. They are the team to beat. But I will say the teams in our league are getting better. If Jacobs has an off night and somebody on our side has a good night, they could be beat." The Trojans open next week at the Belvidere-Woodstock Hoops for Healing tournament.
-- Mike Miazga
Crystal Lake South Gators
Coach: Dan DeBruycker (3rd season, 31-26)
Last year's record: 17-12, 4-6
Top returning players: Seniors Wesley Evans (6-4, F), Chris Reuter (5-10, G), Phil Puchalski (6-1, G), Zack Carpenter (6-3, C), junior Eric Wilde (6-5, G-F)
Top newcomers: Juniors Steven Rogers (6-3, F), Adam Olszewski (6-0, G), Michael McKenna (5-6, G)
Outlook: One of South's greatest strengths this season will be the number of names on the roster. "We've got good depth," said DeBruycker. "We will go close to 10 to 11 deep, which will give us the ability to able to work hard on defense for a long period of time. Right now we don't have that 1 superstar player, but there may be some people that step up, but our depth and our intensity will be big for us." Reuter returns after an injury-marred junior year (ACL). "Having him back is huge," said DeBruycker. "He's an extremely good floor leader and a true point guard." Reuter, Wilde (3.8 ppg) and Evans (3.2 ppg) are the team captains and will be joined in the starting lineup by Puchalski and either Carpenter or Rogers (leading scorer from last year's sophomore team). "We've got the potential to do better than last year because we have the depth and we have the ability to score as a group. We have 5, 6, 7 guys who could put up 15 points on any night. The potential is there." Defense will also be a big key for the Gators. "We'll give teams some different looks," said DeBruycker. "We're going to give it everything we have and create some confusion and get more possessions and take more shots than the other team." South opens the season with a NIC-9 tour at Rockford Boylan with games against Rockford schools Auburn, East, Boylan and Jefferson. "It will be a tough challenge," said DeBruycker who also has non-league games with Oswego East and Bartlett plus the Jacobs tournament at Christmas. "This is the toughest schedule we've had since I've been here."
-- Mike Miazga
Dundee-Crown Chargers
Coach: Lance Huber (5th season, 64-47)
Last season's record: 17-11
Top returning players: Senior Kyle Vickstrom (6-4 forward); junior Jeff Beck (6-0 guard)
Top newcomers: Senior David Bernard (6-2 senior); juniors Marcus Henry (6-0 guard), Mike Hughes (6-3 forward)
Outlook: Those starters who pulled the upset of the year to win a regional against once-beaten Jacobs? They all graduated. Only reserve guard Beck, a key player in the rotation last season, and Vickstrom saw much playing time in pressure situations. Vickstrom can play forward or center. Beck (4.6 ppg.) is a confident guard. Neither will be asked to shoulder the load himself. They'll get help from inexperienced starters Henry at point guard, Hughes in the post and Parsons, who saw a little bit of playing time last season. Coming off the bench to spell guards will be Justin Strzelczyk (5-10), Greg McNally (6-0) and Rob Stupar (6-3). Charles Kimbrough practiced against Kevin Jermyn last season and could be a surprise. However, he has some catching up to do after rejoining practice this week in the wake of an asthma attack. Unlike last year's team that was so well-defined, this group will have to find it's own identity as the season progresses. Coach Lance Huber says this team has some talent, but how it fits together is yet to be determined. Asked his expectations for this team, Huber said, "I'm really not sure. I really hope that we come together and have good team chemistry. I thought last year's group really came together. I just hope we continue to strive and improve and get better. I think we have some ability but, at the same time, we have to do it together. It can't be one person trying to carry the load; It's got to be collective. If we understand that I think we can be OK."
-- Jerry Fitzpatrick
Huntley Red Raiders
Coach: Marty Manning (2nd season, 23-6)
Last season's record: 23-6
Top returning players: Seniors Tommy Giordano (5-9 guard), Mike Gonzaga (6-1 forward), Diego Quintero (6-0 guard), Dan Regan (6-2 forward); Juniors Zac Boster (6-0 guard), Jordan Neukirch (6-1 guard)
Top newcomers: Juniors Brett DePorter (6-1 forward), Zac Pettit (6-0 point guard)
Outlook: Team MVP Corey Mader, forward Anthony Jaggers and guard David Worst graduated. With them went 80 percent of Huntley's offense from the 2006-07 Fox Division co-champs. But six players from last year's rotation return, including starting forward Jordan Neukirch (8.1 ppg.), a talented all-around player bound to see his scoring average rise sharply with increased touches this season. Diego Quintero started in 90 percent of Huntley's games until he fell ill toward the end of the season. An excellent ballhandler at point guard, Quintero (2.5 ppg.) worked on improving his shot this summer. He must be an authoritative floor general. Gonzaga (4.6 ppg.) was effective as a sixth man in the post last season despite being undersized. His positioning and tenacity make up for a few inches. No one hustles more. He's also dangerous from the 3-point line. Giordano will play the two-guard spot. He had a case of mono early last season and didn't become a major factor. That will change this year. Regan (2.5 ppg.) can shoot the lights out. He'll start at forward. "We're hoping he'll be our mismatch problem at the four spot," Manning said. "We'd like to see him pull big guys outside and shoot the three. Boster (6.5 ppg.), a sharpshooter, will challenge for the two-guard spot. Coach Marty Manning said Boster recently canned 40 straight shots, including several 3-pointers, in the seven-spot drill. Huntley's biggest issue is size. No Red Raider stands taller than 6-2. With a much heavier emphasis on outside shooting, look for the Red Raiders to hoist approximately 500 3-pointers. They made 86 from beyond the arc a year ago. It'll be a different formula, same goals. "Our goals are to win the conference and regional, the same goals as last year," said Manning. "If the guys play hard and work hard and keep working on the little things - screen, get after loose balls, stay intense defensively - we'll be in good shape."
-- Jerry Fitzpatrick
Jacobs Golden Eagles
Coach: Jim Hinkle (11th season at Jacobs, 173-139)
Last season's record: 26-2
Conference: Fox Valley (Valley)
Top returning players: Seniors: Darius Bowers (5-9 guard), John Moran (6-1 guard), Zack Peterson (6-4 guard), Eric Schmidt (5-9 guard); juniors Conrad Krutwig (6-5 center), Tim Moran (6-3 forward)
Top newcomers: Senior Tom Krueger (5-10 guard); sophomore Mike Barch (6-2 forward)
Outlook: Nothing short of a state berth will be acceptable by the Golden Eagles' own admission. And why not think big? Jacobs set records last season for most wins (26) and consecutive wins (21), won the Quincy Thanksgiving Tournament, won its own 16-team holiday tournament and won a title in the Fox Valley Conference for the first time in coach Jim Hinkle's 11 years at Jacobs. This team won the title at the University of Illinois team camp over the summer. John Moran (18.3 ppg.) is the area's leading returning scorer. This year he moves to point guard, the same position he played on the AAU circuit for the Illinois Wolves. Moran is committed to play at the University of Northern Iowa. He'll get to christen the school's brand-spanking new field house, which seats 2,500 people, 300 more than the Eagles' Nest. Moran can shoot or dish (3.7 assists per game). Joining him on the perimeter is senior Zack Peterson (5.5 ppg.), who Moran says is the team's most improved player from last season. Peterson moves from forward to guard and his size on the outside will cause matchup problems for opponents. Eric Schmidt (3.5 ppg.) will play the other guard. He sank 17 3-pointers last season. Darius Bowers averaged 3.6 points per game in limited minutes. Adding depth at guard will be Tom Krueger, a player Hinkle said would have seen significant playing time last year had he not torn his ACL. Krueger is said to be a lock-down defender. Conrad Krutwig (13 ppg.) and Tim Moran (8.6 ppg.) each return for their third seasons on the varsity. Krutwig is stronger than ever (6-5, 213 pounds). His coach wants that size to translate into toughness in the lane. The youngest Moran has good hands and scores off rebounds. Sophomore Mike Barch is pushing the big men for minutes and provides needed depth. Hinkle plans to use an eight-man rotation. After having such a great season in 2006-07 only to lose in a regional final left this team with unfinished business. "We did pretty good last year, but we definitely underachieved in the tournament," Zack Peterson said. "This year we definitely have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder."
-- Jerry Fitzpatrick
Prairie Ridge Wolves
Coach: Corky Card (6th season)
Last season's record: 20-11, 8-2 (conference co-champion)
Conference: Fox Valley Fox Division
Top returning players: Seniors Mike Ungari (6-1, G), Brian McGinn (6-0, G), Jeff Simak (6-1, F) Top newcomer: Senior Bryan Bradshaw (6-2, G)
Outlook: Prairie Ridge, due to the football team's advancement deep into the state playoffs, practiced for the first time 5-on-5 Monday. "We only had seven kids for awhile there with the football team still playing," said Card. With those players' return, Card likes the depth the team has. "We do have a decent amount of depth," said Card. "We can play a lot of kids. Depth-wide we'll have that conditioning that could factor in the outcome of the game." The Wolves will be proactive on offense. "We run a Princeton-type of offense with the fast break," said Card. "We'll try and play both ends of the spectrum and get down the floor quickly and take the shot we want to take as opposed to what the defense gives us." Card feels defense will be especially critical this season. "The linchpin of our success will be if we can guard people," said Card. "We're not very tall. We'll pick up teams full-court and play man all over the place." Card feels the Fox Division is starting to even out. Prairie Ridge shared the title with Huntley last year. "Us and Huntley lost the most kids, but Huntley will be fine. Both Grayslake schools have their teams back and Johnsburg has most of their team back. Crystal Lake Central probably has the strongest team back. The conference is going to be much more difficult. You can't beat the experience of varsity level play. For us, how quickly we come together and how we play as a team and how hard we play will be a big determining factor in our wins and losses." Prairie Ridge opens the season at the Mundelein tournament with games against Loyola and Mundelein out of the gates. The Wolves head to Jacobs for Christmas. Ungari, who along with McGinn and Simak are the only returning players who logged varsity time last year, is the team's top returning scorer (8.1 ppg).
-- Mike Miazga