Daily Herald Tri-Cities All-Area Girls Basketball Team
Victoria Alvarez, Rosary
One of the best all-around players in the area departs from Rosary as one of the best in school history. She finished her senior season leading the area in assists (7.7 apg; 647 total for 15th most in state history) and steals (5.4 spg; 529 total for 11th in state history) while averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. She capped her career with 934 points and 634 rebounds. Her 117 total blocks is 31st in state history as well. This is the third time she is on the All-Area team. "Another unselfish season," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said. "She had a great season."
Lexi Baltes, St. Charles East
This sophomore guard made big strides in her second year starting with the Saints, as she was second on the team in scoring at 8.3 points per game. She was also among the top 3-point shooters in the area, as she is heading downstate in the 3-point contest. She also had a team-best 3.6 assists per game (third in area) and 2.3 steals a game. "She was our leader on the floor," St. Charles East coach Lori Drumtra said. "That's a lot to ask from a sophomore. How she went was how the team went. She was a great defender."
More Coverage Links Northwest Co-captains: BG's Ellen Ayoub, Maggie Mocchi finish with flair [02/29/09] Northwest Suburban All-Area Team [02/29/08] DuPage Co. Captain: Lake Park's Arnold strong on the court, in the classroom [02/29/08] DuPage Co. All-Area Team [02/29/08] Tri-Cities Captain: SCN's Smith's stands above them all [02/29/08] Tri-Cities All-Area Team [02/29/08] Fox Valley Co-captain: C-G's Smith became the complete player [02/29/08] Fox Valley Co-captain: Wave's Yohn flourishes in leadership role [02/29/08] Fox Valley All-Area Team [02/29/08]
Anna Conrad, St. Charles North
Conrad, who is in her third year on varsity, makes her second appearance on the All-Area team after averaging 7.5 points a game, which was third-best for the North Stars. She led the team in assists and was third in the area at 3.6 per game. She finished the year with 216 points (for 550 total in 3 years). "Anna played great," St. Charles North coach Katie Sauber said of the 5-foot-6 guard. "She stepped up her defensive game and was a huge contributor to our perimeter shooting. She's just a great contributor to our team."
Kiley Hackbarth, St. Charles North
She may be small at 5-foot-3, but her impact was huge on her second year with the North Stars. The sophomore jumped from 4.7 ppg last year to a second-best 9.1 ppg this year, all while being a nuisance on defense and usually guarding the other team's best player. She is also going downstate in the 3-point contest. "Kiley's game from last year to this year really improved," St. Charles North coach Katie Sauber said. "Her offensive game really stepped up. She was the second leading scorer on our team and as a point guard, that's awesome. Along with Kelsey (Smith), that's a big threat."
Katie Hatch, Kaneland
Hatch enjoyed her third year on varsity leading the team in scoring at 9.1 ppg, rebounds (6.5 rpg), assists (2.5 apg) and was third in steals with 1.5 a game. "She stepped up this year," Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said of this all-Western Sun Conference first team selection. "She had a great season and was one of the hardest working players in the program. She's a role model. She went from being a role player to our go-to player. She's always been a solid defensive player, but her offensive game really came around this year."
Lauren Heck, Aurora Christian
Heck capped her senior year as one of the best players to come out of AC. She is second in school history in scoring with 989 career points in three years starting on varsity. (The record is 1,545 points.) The team captain also finished with 241 career steals, which is third in school history. In early December in a span of 4 days, she scored 28 points against Serena and a personal-best 35 in an overtime win over Wheaton Academy. "She did an outstanding job," AC coach Dan Stone said of the all-PSL first team selection. "She always had the ability to score and is a great shooter."
Faith Jones, Rosary
This senior guard had quite an improved season, as her scoring jumped from 7.6 points to a second-best 11.2 points a game for the Royals. Her rebounding improved as well, as she ended up with 4.9 rpg. She was second on the team and in the area in steals at 3.8 spg. This is her second time on the All-Area and all-Suburban Catholic Conference teams. "She worked very hard in the off-season," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said on the 5-foot-6 Jones. "She really stepped up for us when we needed it. She'll have a great college basketball career." Jones is undecided on her college.
Kelsey Oswald, Batavia
It is a rarity to have a bench player on the All-Area team, but that's what this junior's role was, and she did it well. She provided a spark for the Bulldogs when they needed it the most. She ended up averaging 7.5 points per game, which was third on the team in her second year on varsity. "When we needed some points, I put her in," Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said of Oswald, who was one of the top free throw shooters in the area (78.4 percent). "She was a hard-nosed player and got to the basket. She plays much taller than she is (listed at 5-foot-6) and has guts. She was a big part of the team."
Jordan Rettig, Rosary
Rettig was dominating in the post on her second year on the All-Area team, all-Suburban Catholic Conference first team and on varsity, as she averaged a team-best 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game (up from 11.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg a game from last year). She is one of the best players in the paint in the area and already has 734 points in two years on varsity (433 this season). "Wow," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said about the 6-foot sophomore center. "She had many great scoring games. She's a force inside and out. Great things are expected of Jordan for next season."
Kelsey Smith, St. Charles North
Many Division I schools (Big 10, Big 12, ACC to name a few) are after this 6-foot-4 junior, who is this year's All-Area captain after leading the North Stars with her 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds a game while guiding the team to the school's first regional and sectional titles. She was also the only player in the area to make all-state honorable mention. In her third year on varsity, the center also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season against East Aurora. Her career-best was 34 points in the sectional semifinal win against Jacobs, where she matched the Eagles in points.
Natalie Tarter, Batavia
The MVP of the Western Sun Conference is heading to Wisconsin on a track scholarship, but she's a pretty solid basketball player as well. The junior leaper led the team and was fourth in the area in scoring at 15.9 points per game. She also led the team in rebounds at 5.5 per game and steals at 2.8 per game. This is her second year on varsity and second appearance on the All-Area team. In 2 years, she has scored 793 points, including 414 this year. "She was a consistent scorer, and that's important for a team to have," Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said. "She's so athletic."
Bri Tye, West Aurora
Standing only 5-foot-3, this point guard enjoyed her third year on varsity averaging a second-best 9.5 points a game (up from 6.4 ppg last year). An excellent ball-handler, the junior was second in the area in assists at 5.3 apg and led the team in steals at 3.2 per game. "She had a really nice season," West Aurora coach Connie Siljendahl said on Tye, who was an all-DuPage Valley Conference selection. "I was very pleased with her. She really didn't try to score. She could have scored more, but she was more concerned with getting the ball to the right person. She really understood her role."
Kyra Watson, West Aurora
This two-time All-Area selection was the only player in the area to average a double-double with her area-leading 19.1 points and 13.4 rebounds a game. Her best game was 32 points, 25 rebounds and 6 steals against Naperville North. She finished her third year on varsity with 1,031 points and 736 rebounds. In her senior year alone, she tallied 538 points and 377 rebounds and also averaged 2.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game. "She grew and developed and has made a total flip-flop since her sophomore year," coach Connie Siljendahl said. "I was totally impressed. Unbelievable."
Taylor Whitley, Geneva
Last year's All-Area captain picked up right where she left off and capped her junior season as Geneva's all-time leading scorer. In three years on varsity, the junior guard and Division I prospect has 1,441 points (1,404 was the old record as she scored 504 this year) and led the Vikings in scoring at 18 points per game, which was second in the area. She also averaged 3.3 assists a game, 3.7 steals a game and 4 rebounds a game. "She's a special player," coach Gina Nolan said of this all-WSC selection. "She really showed a lot of consistency. She was really counted on as a leader."
Lauren Wicinski, Geneva
Wicinski had a nice first year on varsity, as the 5-foot-11 forward started the season on the bench but was a consistent starter by Jan. 18. She finished her sophomore year second on the team in scoring at 9.2 points per game and first in rebounding and third in the area at 8.4 boards a game. She was also a first-teamer on the All-Area volleyball team as an outside hitter. "She improved as the year went on," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "She had an amazing sophomore year. She has a great work ethic. The sky is the limit for her. We are really excited for her."
Special mention
Brittney Hankes, Kaneland, sr., F; Emily Hinchman, Geneva, jr., G; Kara Lydon, Batavia, jr., G; Jaime Rust, St. Charles East, so., G/F; Nika Sircher, St. Charles North, sr., G; Kiara Towles, West Aurora, so., F.
Honorable mention
Kelsey Augustine, Geneva, so., C; Sara Fruendt, Batavia, so., G; Tasha Lalos, St. Charles East, jr., G; Rachel Mertens, Aurora Christian, jr., G; Tyronza McGowan, West Aurora, sr., G; Katie Petrando, Rosary, so., F; Sara Rose, Kaneland, jr., G; Caitlin Winkelman, St. Charles North, sr., G.ÃÆ#146;Æ'Ãâ#128;šÃ#130;circ;macr;ÃÆ#146;Ãcent;â#130;not;Åiexcl;Ãâ#128;šÃ#130;circ;iquest;ÃÆ#146;Ãcent;â#130;not;Åiexcl;Ãâ#128;šÃ#130;circ;frac12;
The Starting Five
Top five players:
Victoria Alvarez, Rosary, sr., G; Natalie Tarter, Batavia, jr., G; Kelsey Smith, St. Charles North, jr., C; Kyra Watson, West Aurora, sr., G/F; Taylor Whitley, Geneva, jr., G.
The Bombers
Top 3-point shooters:
Lexi Baltes, St. Charles East, so., G; Kiley Hackbarth, St. Charles North, so., G; Lauren Heck, Aurora Christian, sr., G; Tasha Lalos, St. Charles East, jr., G; Bri Tye, West Aurora, jr., G.
The Crashers
Top rebounders:
Jordan Rettig, Rosary, so., C/F; Kelsey Smith, St. Charles North, jr., F/C; Kyra Watson, West Aurora, sr., G/F; Lauren Wicinski, Geneva, so., F.
The Swishers
Top free-throw shooters:
Kiley Hackbarth, St. Charles North, so., G; Kara Lydon, Batavia, jr., G; Natalie Tarter, Batavia, jr., G; Taylor Whitley, Geneva, jr., G.
The Attackers
Players who drive to the basket the most:
Victoria Alvarez, Rosary, sr., G; Lexi Baltes, St. Charles East, so., G; Kiley Hackbarth, St. Charles North, so., G; Tyronza McGowan, West Aurora, sr., G; Rachel Mertens, Aurora Christian, jr., G; Sara Rose, Kaneland, jr., G; Natalie Tarter, Batavia, jr., G; Taylor Whitley, Geneva, jr., G.
The Risers
Most improved:
Sam Alvis, West Aurora, so., G; Jeannie Cummings, Geneva, jr., F; Kiley Hackbarth, St. Charles North, so., G; Nicolle Hamm, Aurora Christian, jr., F; Faith Jones, Rosary, sr., G; Kelsey Oswald, Batavia, jr., G; Sara Rose, Kaneland, jr., G; Kara Schnier, St. Charles East, so., C.
Beware!
Players to watch out for next year:
Jenna Bell, St. Charles North, so., F; Kara Lydon, Batavia, jr., G; Rachel Mertens, Aurora Christian, jr., G; Katie Petrando, Rosary, so., C; Sara Rose, Kaneland, jr., G; Jaime Rust, St. Charles East, so., G/F; Kiara Towles, West Aurora, so., F; Kat Yelle, Geneva, fr., G.
Past captains
1998: Molly Jones, St. Charles
1999: Katy Issel, Batavia
2000: Karen Bauer, Geneva
2001: Nicole Manny, St. Charles East
2002: Lindsey Koehn, Geneva
2003: Jill Krivacek, Rosary
2004: Claire Sheehan, St. Charles East
2005: Claire Sheehan, St. Charles East
2006: Bailey Hansen, Geneva
2007: Taylor Whitley, Geneva
2008: Kelsey Smith, St. Charles North
The Winners
Conference champions:
Batavia.
Regional champions:
Rosary, St. Charles North.
Sectional champions:
St. Charles North.
Elite Eight qualifier:
St. Charles North.
The Director
Top coaching job:
Katie Sauber, St. Charles North
In just her second year as head coach, the youngest coach in the area led the North Stars to back-to-back 23 win seasons, which is the school record for wins. Also setting a school record was the team's first-ever regional and sectional title and appearance in the Elite 8.
The Future
Teams to watch in 2008-09:
Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles North.