Wildcats take big strides

Before 2004, it's a pretty safe bet Buffalo Grove- Wheeling girls basketball games were never played in front of standing-room only crowds.

But four years ago, when freshman center Lana Rukavina and rookie coach Shelly Wiegel entered the Wildcats' program, the rivalry started drawing more and more fans.

Thursday night in Mundelein, the two state-ranked powers played in front of nearly 2,400 as the Bison won a 45-43 thriller over the Wildcats.

"'Ruke' (Rukavina) made a difference since she's been here," Wiegel said. "We've been 104-21 since she got here. Lana and all our seniors (Cheryl Bauer, Jessie Smith, Janelle Schroeder, Natasha Robinson, Lindsey Mills, and Nicole Schroeder) have been incredibly focused on team goals. This was the most talented group overall we've had in four years."

After serving as an assistant, Wiegel told her first players in 2004 they could double their wins and cut their losses in half from an 11-15 season.

"And the kids bought into it and did it," said Wiegel, whose teams have won at least 20 games each season, including 28-4 records in 2006 and this campaign. "Players like Jessica Graham, Lindsey Lewis, Laura Joya and Nikki Preston may not all be playing college basketball now, but they helped turn the program around, too, the past four years."

Rukavina's turn-around jumpers will not soon be forgotten, as the 6-foot-3 Illinois-bound center helped the Wildcats advance to two sectional finals the past three years. The Wildcats also lost to BG in the 2006 sectional final 49-41 in overtime.

"It's been an amazing rivalry with Buffalo Grove," Wiegel said. "Not only are our schools a couple of miles apart, but we both have great fans bases.

"Tonight (Thursday), it was hard to get a seat in the gym. When Lana was a freshman, this wasn't even a rivalry."

Thursday's rivalry was missing all-conference sophomore guard Janelle Cannon. Bone chips in her wrist will sideline the sophomore for five weeks.

"Stephanie (Kuzmanic) did a great job but we didn't have our starting five," Wiegel said. "Who knows how interesting it could have been with Janelle, too?"

Cannon returns next year with players such Purdue-bound Ashley Wilson, all-conference selection Bianca Szafarowicz, Bridgette Gray and Kuzmanic.

"We're going to be tough," Wiegel said. "I think we'll still have three future D-I players with Ashley, Janelle and Bianca. So we'll still be a force to be reckoned with."