Girls basketball: MSL East preview

Buffalo Grove

Coach: Pat Dudle (first year)

Last year's record: 33-4, 9-1

Graduated players: Katie Lee, Maggie Mocchi, Allison Mocchi, Allison Heissel, Ellen Ayoub, Lauren Angotti

Returning players: Kaitlin Hillner (5-7 Sr., G), Heather Nisbet (5-6 Jr., G), Stacey Lialios (5-7 Jr., F), Nell Boyd (5-7 So., G), Andrea DiPrima (5-7 So., G), KC Dunne (5-6 So., G), Kelly Mahoney (5-7 So., G)

Newcomers: Brittany Abrams (6-0 Sr., F) Dayna George (5-6 Sr., G), Michelle Jackson (6-0 Jr., F), Emily Georgoulis (5-7 So., F),

Outlook: Dudle takes over for Hall of Fame coach Tom Dineen, who retired from teaching last year after running one the state's elite girls programs the past 29 years. With the loss of three all-state players (Ayoub, Maggie Mocchi, Allison Mocchi), many of Bison must find new roles this season. "Coming back with two returning starters from last year's third-place team (Nisbet and Hillner) is a good way to start," Dudle said of his captains. "Kaitlin is our team's leader by example. She will set the tone defensively, and guard the opponent's best perimeter player. Heather is the team's vocal leader and an excellent scoring threat." Five other returning players battled every day against last year's squad. "We are an athletic team that may go 8-9 deep," Dudle added. "We hope to play an up-tempo style and I think there is not one player that the opposition can key on." Dudle expects to be balanced on offense. "With our lack of size, we must use our athleticism to defend," he said. "During the summer, I felt we took many positive strides. I found the girls extremely coachable and fun to be around. I am looking forward to working with this group to follow the Buffalo Grove girls basketball winning tradition."

Elk Grove

Coach: Ryan Kirkorsky (first year)

Last year's record: 14-14, 4-6

Graduated player: Kayla Mahoney

Returning players: Ashley Capotosto (6-0, Jr., F-C), Krystina Leazer (5-9, Sr., F), Meaghan Amann (5-9, Jr., G), Kristy Ottosen (5-8, Sr., F), Olivia Roback (5-5, Jr., G), Missy Regan (5-4, Jr., G), Maggie Fries (5-7, So., G), Leah Miller (5-10, So., F-C)

Outlook: Capotosto returns after an all-area sophomore campaign in which she averaged 20.3 points and 8.9 rebounds. "Ashley will be asked to carry much of the scoring and rebounding load but she is surrounded by a group of talented athletes," said Kirkorsky, who takes over the varsity program. "The two returning seniors (Leazer and Ottosen) provide leadership, experience and the ability to make plays on both ends of the floor." Leazer was an all-area volleyball player this fall and is also a talented softball pitcher. Kirkorsky believes Roback (five double-figure scoring games a year ago) is developing into one of the top point guards in the conference. "In addition, we have a solid core of returning varsity contributors and two freshmen who are ready to play this level," Kirkorsky said. Leazer, Fries, Miller and Ottosen also had multiple scoring games last winter. "Although the Mid-Suburban League is one of the toughest, we feel that we can compete with the top teams in it," Kirkorsy said.

Hersey

Coach: Mary Fendley (11th year)

Last year's record: 11-20, 2-8

Graduated players: Maggie Tunney, Amanda Slove, Sarah Stoltzner, Emma Kuhns, Kwin Irelan

Returning players: Julia Fredian (5-9, Jr., G), Kelly Rogowski (5-7, Sr., G), Megan Rogowski (5-9, So., G), Eileen Zydek (5-9, So., F), Maddie Swan (6-0, Jr. F)

Newcomers: Kathyrn Korff (6-0, Jr., F), Sabrina Raynor (6-0, Sr., F), Annie Perkins (5-6, Jr., G), Kari Tunney (5-7, Jr. G), Kristen Gierman (5-11 Sr. F), Maggie Hogen (5-10, Fr F), Jen Hall (5-5 Fr. G), Domenica Giancola (5-6, Jr. G), Sarah Jurczak (5-6 Jr G)

Outlook: Fendley welcomes back the Rogowski sisters as starters while Zydek started a handful of games. The Rogowskis led the Huskies in every category last year. Megan, an all-area selection, was tops in scoring, rebounding and free throw percentage while Kelly led in assists and steals. Kelly had surgery in August for an ACL and she is expected to return in December. "We were going to expect a lot from Megan anyway but maybe more so without Kelly," Fendley said. "Kelly is a four-year point guard so to lose her at the start of the season we're going to need our other ballhandlers to step up, especially Julia (Fredan) and Megan. They will be asked to do their share of ball handling." With the success of volleyball and swimming, Swan and Korff will be a little behind schedule at the start of the season. Fendley hopes they will contribute in the post. "We haven't had the pure post player since Brittany Hogen graduated (two years ago)," the coach said. "Between Maddie (Swan), Katherine (Korff), Eileen (Zydek) and Sabrina (Raynor), we should have a little more going in the post this season. And I have confidence in our returning guards."

Prospect

Coach: Martha Kelly (second year)

Last year's record: 15-13, 6-4

Graduated players: Megan Murray, Marietta Smith, Katie Dyer

Returning players: Lexi Glennon (5-10, Jr., G), Danielle Brucci (5-5, Sr., G), Alyssa Glennon (5-7, Sr., G), Sarah Winans (5-6, So., G), Megan Geraghty (5-6, Sr., G), Rachel Hunt (6-0, Jr., F), Katelyn Kozinski (6-0, Sr., F), Katy Shaffer (5-11, Sr., F), Kristina Winans (5-6, Sr., G)

Newcomers: Alyssa Baker (5-10, Jr., F), Sarah Hunt (6-1, So., F), Marissa Pettenuzzo (5-10, So., G), Colleen Josephs (5-9, Jr., G)

Outlook: Four starters return for the Knights, who got off to a 7-0 start in Kelly's first season. "These kids played well together," Kelly said. " I think we can fastbreak when we need to and set up the offense when we need to. I think we'll have a good inside and outside presence." Hunt, Brucci, Lexi Glennon and Winans all enjoyed multiple double-digit scoring games last winter. "I'm waiting to see who emerges as scorer for us this season," Kelly said. "Winans has improved quite a bit. Over the summer, everyone improved and it seemed like we really played as a team. I think we have a lot of depth. We'll just see who wants to step up."

Rolling Meadows

Coach: Todd Hatfield (first year)

Last year's record: 6-24, 0-10

Graduated players: Alexa Bennett, Shannon McGuire, Liz Aluquin, Kirsten Vliet, Jenna Milas, Emily Miller

Returning players: Maddy Urban (5-4, Sr., G), Paulina Gurbisz (5-9, Sr., F), Kelly Zahorski (5-9, Sr., F), Kelly Adair (5-9, Jr., G), Sara Shumaker (5-10, So., F), Maddy Conlin (5-5, So., G)

Newcomers: Rene Poellinitz (5-6, Jr., G) Jackie Grummell (5-11, Jr., C), Ashley Rios (5-10, So., F), Amanda Gunn (5-6, Fr., G) Ann Marie Lynch (5-8, Fr., G) Mary Clare Loughery (5-6, Jr., G)

Outlook: Urban and Shumaker are the only returning starters from a year ago for former Schaumburg player Hatfield. Urban will run the point for the rookie coach. "Maddy is really going to be an extension of myself out there on the floor," Hatfield said of the all-area softball infielder. " I really leaned on her during the offseason. She has been an absolute sponge. She has been very helpful getting the girls together and doing what I want. She's been fantastic and is going to be our main figure this season." Zahorski missed all of her junior season with an ACL injury suffered during travel soccer. "She's been on the varsity since her freshman year and she will definitely help us out," Hatfield said. "We have a lot of guards who I hope can come in and help us move Maddy over to a No. 2 position because she is our best shooter." Hatfield hopes Conlin and Loughery can come to run the point and move Urban to a wing. Schumaker and Zahorski will be among those counted on for rebounding. Rios is a transfer from Florida who can also be a big inside presence and help on the boards. "We'll be a running team," the coach added. "I'm super excited about the two freshmen. Lynch has been a point guard her whole life. We'll see how she does making the jump from junior varsity to the varsity. We'll try to wean her into things." Hatfield likes what he has seen from Gunn. "She really lives up to her last name," he said. "It's kind of a joke. If someone is called a gun, they're not bashful at shooting, and that's Amanda. Give her an inch and she won't hesitate to shoot." Hatfield will be installing a new offense and defense. "We're going through a learning process," Hatfield said. "Obviously, our seniors have been playing a certain way for three years and I've totally changed the offense and defense, so we've got to learn on the fly and learn a lot as we go along."

Wheeling

Coach: Shelly Wiegel (sixth year)

Last year's record: 28-4, 9-1

Graduated players: Cheryl Bauer, Jessie Smith, Janelle Schroeder, Natasha Robinson, Lindsey Mills, Lana Rukavina, Nicole Schroeder

Returning players: Janelle Cannon (5-9, Jr., G), Ashley Wilson (6-0, Sr., F), Bianca Szafarowicz (5-11, Jr., G), Stephanie Kuzmanic (5-8, Jr., G), Bridgette Gray (5-4, Sr., G), Tiffany Meier (5-9, Sr., F)

Newcomers: Larissa Aguero (5-8, Jr., G), Amanda Greiter (5-8, Jr., G), Selma Smajlovic (5-5, Jr., G), Kelly Kuzmanic (5-10 Fr. F)

Outlook: The Mid-Suburban League champs for the first time in school history return almost all of their big weapons from a year ago, making them the top choice again to win the division. Wiegel welcomes back starters Cannon (12.8 ppg, 4 steals, 3.3 assists), Wilson (15.1 ppg, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assist), Szafarowicz (7.3 ppg, 2.3 steals, 3 rebounds) along with spot starter Kuzmanic (2.6 pg., 2 rebounds, 1.3 assist). Gray also saw significant time and will contend for a starting spot. "This group of five has a lot of varsity experience and looks to build off the success of last year's team," Wiegel said. Wilson, who has committed to Purdue, has 1,287 career points and 882 rebounds. Cannon, who suffered a broken arm in the sectionals last winter, has caught the eye of many Division I programs. Meier will begin the season rehabbing from an ACL. Melinyshyn is a standout track member for the Wildcats. Wiegel also said Aguero, Greiter and Smajlovic performed well over the summer and could make early contributions. "We will count on the leadership and experience of Ashley, Janelle and Bianca to lead us to the next level of play," Wiegel said. "We would like to repeat our conference championship and advance further in the IHSA state playoffs."