Backcourt key for Warriors

For a preview of tonight's St. Charles North at Waubonsie Valley girls basketball showdown between the Upstate Eight Conference leaders, we check in with Lake Park coach Lisa Smith.

Smith's team faced both clubs in the past two weeks, losing 52-50 at home to Waubonsie Valley on Jan. 18 and 66-50 at St. Charles North last Saturday.

While Smith called St. Charles North 6-foot-4 junior center Kelsey Smith "a great player," she also likes Waubonsie Valley 6-1 junior center Rachel Bostick. She believes the key in the game will be the backcourt.

"It's going to come down to the guards," Smith said. "If Waubonsie can stop their shooting guards, then Waubonsie will win. If Waubonsie can't hang with their guards, St. Charles will beat 'em. I wish I could see it. Both teams are playing really well right now. It'll be interesting."

As for her Lancers, Smith said her players are still trying to get over the disappointment of falling out of contention for the UEC title. They're still trying to figure out how to adjust to the absence of junior forward Devin Johnston, out for the season with an ACL injury.

"We need somebody to come out and be an impact player besides Sam (Arnold) and we still don't have that kid stepping up yet," Smith said. "We need one or two and I don't care if it's three, we need kids to step up and make more of an impact on the court consistently."

Town meeting:ŒWheaton North held a one-game lead on rival Wheaton Warrenville South in the DuPage Valley Conference heading into Thursday night's action. (Wheaton North hosted Naperville Central and WW South hosted Naperville North.).

The Wheatons play each other Tuesday at WW South.

"I expect it to be a classic Wheaton game," WW South coach Rob Kroehnke said. "I hope a lot of fans come to watch it."

Wheaton North won the first meeting 42-34 on Jan. 9 behind junior guard Madison Goudy's career-high seven 3-pointers and 21 points.

After that game WW South bounced back to win its next five DVC games to give itself a chance to defend its conference title.

Wheaton North is attempting to capture its first DVC crown since 1991.

Tourney time:ŒThe Class 1A and 2A tournaments start Monday with regionals.

Class 2A Driscoll is the top seed in the Plano regional. If the Highlanders reach the Lisle sectional, they could face Latin in the semifinals and either Holy Trinity or Walther Lutheran in the final.

Class 1A Immaculate Conception is the top seed in the regional its hosting. However, the Knights could run into Hinckley-Big Rock, ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Class 1A poll, in the Serena sectional.

Piping in:ŒGlenbard South super sub Meghan Pipal impacts a game more than many starters. The 5-foot-7 junior guard makes things happen when she enters a game whether it's with her defense, passing or occasional scoring.

"She's like the Energizer Bunny," Raiders coach Julie Fonda said. "She just keeps going and going and going. She's just pure heart. She goes after it. She's going to get in people's way and be a nuisance. If she was guarding me, I'd probably deck her by the end of the game. She drives people nuts.

"It's nice to have that balance between the two Pipal sisters. Dani's going to look to shoot and Meghan typically is going to look to play great defense and look for the open player."

Dani is the team's leading scorer, but Meghan came up big in that department Monday, scoring her team's first 6 points in overtime to lift the Raiders over Fenton 67-61 in Bensenville.

"She's usually the one shooting," Meghan said of her senior sister. "Everyone's been yelling at me to shoot in practices. I'll shoot in practices, but then when it comes to games I never do, and I just decided to try it, I guess."

Pipal doesn't mind coming off the bench.

"I like it better that way," she said. "It kind of just gives me more intensity, like I just want to go in and make a difference in the game. Starting's not like a big deal to me. There's seniors on the team and it's their last year. I just want to play."

Rubright's all right:ŒFenton 5-10 junior forward Samantha Rubright is enjoying a fine season. The versatile scoring threat is averaging 12.8 points along with 7.8 rebounds a game.

"She's been carrying us in points and rebounds, and there were times where she was carrying us more than she probably should have had to," Bison coach Tim Anderson said.

Redhawk rookie:ŒNaperville Central freshman Emma Ondik has impressed. The 5-foot-4 guard is fourth on the Redhawks in scoring at 6.3 points a game.

"Emma's a real solid basketball player," Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. "I think she understands the game. She's pretty selfless to a point where my No. 1 criticism of her at times is, 'Will you please shoot the ball a little more?' But if that's the worst thing you can say about her, that'll tell you how pleased we are with her.

"And it's really hard to notice this, but she's a pretty good defender, too. Forget about her size. She's just a pretty good defender, period."