Many reasons coaches appreciate these players

Ask 10 coaches the same question and you'll get 10 different answers.

What makes one of your players an unsung hero?

Accepting their role, not complaining about playing time.

The 10th man on our team who always asks what he can do to improve.

Our small forward who is playing out of position to cover for three injuries.

Our post player who has sacrificed her scoring to focus on boxing out, setting screens and doing the "dirty work."

None of these players average 20 points a game, none of them see their names in headlines - or even game stories - much of the season, but all of them mean the world to their coaches, teammates and programs.

Greg Askwith, Marmion

Most teams settle into a pretty regular rotation, which means there are players on every team that spend a lot of time sitting behind a starter who isn't going anywhere.

For Askwith, a junior at Marmion, that means playing behind hot shooting guard Dave Brouch.

And Askwith has done everything coach Rashon Burno could ask for in that role, averaging 1.6 points while playing in about two-thirds of the team's games.

"He does everything," Burno said. "He brings the energy six days a week. His chances are limited but he's always ready to play. I don't have to coach him, every day he is ready at 5:30 a.m. That's the type of kid I like to be around. We've got a couple of those kids who get the A team ready."

Michelle DeSimone, Aurora Central

Who needs size to make a difference? This 4-foot-10 guard has a nickname from Aurora Central coach Mark Fitzgerald.

"Michelle is our 'Little engine that could,'" Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said DeSimone doesn't let her height keep her from making an impact. A senior, DeSimone decided to come out for the team this year and has made Fitzgerald's first season a success - and not only because the Chargers already have four more wins than a year ago.

"Her size does nothing to describe her desire to succeed," Fitzgerald said. "Michelle has a wonderful attitude and she is a terrific asset to our team."

Fitzgerald sure is glad DeSimone, an occasional spot starter averaging 2.8 points and 1.1 steals a game, decided to come out.

"She is one of the reasons I love being at ACC," Fitzgerald said.

Becca Heimsath, Batavia

Every coach needs players who accept their roles, who aren't going to cause them problems when they aren't getting enough attention.

When you have starters like Natalie Tarter and Kara Lydon, Melissa Norville and Sara Fruendt, Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said it can be easy for his center Becca Heimsath to be overshadowed.

"With the other four, her name just doesn't pop up enough," DeBruycker said. "As many minutes as she logs, she has to guard some pretty good centers in our conference, she is our main rebounder, she does all that dirty work and sometimes that doesn't get in the paper."

Heimsath said she enjoys her job.

"Coach always tell me to put a body on someone, find a person and turn around and get a rebound," Heimsath said. "It's a team sport, so it's OK."

Not only does Heimsath help the Bulldogs with rebounding, she sets screens, like the one on Geneva star Taylor Whitley in December that people in Batavia were still talking about a month later.

"That was pretty good," DeBruycker said. "That was a testament to her not quitting. We were down 20 at the time and we ran a play and she set a pick on Whitley and just to send a message we're not done yet."

Mallory Huml, Kaneland

It's easy to see why Kaneland girls coach Ernie Colombe can't stop talking about Mallory Huml.

It isn't her size - she stands 5-foot-9. It isn't her scoring ability - she averages 1.9 points a game.

It's what Huml is doing for the future of his program, the legacy the senior guard is leaving with the underclassmen.

"Hopefully our younger kids can learn from watching Mallory play," Colombe said. "Even though we are down by 20, Mallory Huml is out there busting her butt all over the court. I think that's what we expect and hopefully the younger kids in our whole program see that and feed off that."

Colombe certainly isn't surprised when he sees Huml giving that kind of effort in a game. He sees it every day in practice.

"Mallory has always been an active player," Colombe said. "She'll give you everything she's got. She does that in practice. That's what we have to build on. She's an aggressive player and that's her game. She's not going to leave anything out there. She's a pleasure to coach."

Jake Juriga, St. Charles North

Juriga is a great example of putting the team good ahead of your own.

The senior forward began the year in the starting lineup. When sophomore Josh Mikes started to show his immense ability was ready to take center stage at the varsity level, Juriga shifted to a bench role and Mikes became a starter.

The move certainly has worked. Mikes already is averaging 11 points a game, just two off the team lead. Most importantly, the North Stars have caught fire with 12 wins in their last 13 games.

And Juriga didn't let the move change his demeanor.

"He is the consummate team player, a leader, whether he is on the floor or not and every day in practice," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "He is a leader. He epitomizes that."

No wonder Juriga has such a bright future, headed to Navy next year on a football scholarship with an eye toward a career in engineering.

Tyler Scofield, Geneva

Phil Ralston's Vikings teams demand doing the little things to be successful. You better be good at the fundaments if you want to play.

While several of Ralston's players fit this role, Tyler Scofield is certainly one of the best. Boxing out. Setting screens. Playing solid defense. That's Scofield's game.

"He, in particular, does all the little things beyond scoring," Ralston said. "He is our second-leading rebounder (5.5 rebounds a game) and is our best post defender. He is usually matched up against our opponent's best offensive post player."

Kaitlyn Takach, St. Charles East

What is one sure way to know who has the type of attitude a coach loves? When that player is the last to leave the gym.

That's Takach, a senior at St. Charles East, who has modest averages of 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds a game.

"I have to kick her out of the gym after practice," St. Charles East coach Lori Drumtra said. "She's constantly working, working, working."

While that work might not be paying off directly for Takach, it certainly makes her teammates better.

"Very few people work harder than her in practice," Drumtra said. "She understands her role. She is always asking what she can do to be better and I'll tell her and she'll work on it. She is very coachable. She is strong, we find spots for her on the floor."

And during the games, while Takach isn't getting the minutes on the floor? She's still making an impact.

"She's the loudest kid on the bench," Drumtra said. "You can always hear her. Very good team player. She does what I ask her to do and keeps working hard."

Audrey VanAcker, Rosary

You can tell VanAcker possesses unsung hero quality, the senior is one of Rosary's captains.

That gives her certain duties, like meeting with officials before the game and keeping her teammates going in practice. At a Catholic school, It also means VanAcker is the one leading the team in prayer before and after the games.

She doesn't start every game, she has been in and out of the lineup, but that hasn't changed her attitude.

"She is a great team leader," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said. "She is always picking the team up when it's down in games and practice."

Beebe said VanAcker's attitude has rubbed off on the team, including seniors Sydney Miller and Nicole Ristick.

Those two share VanAcker's work ethic.

"They always work hard daily in practice, but don't usually reap the rewards in the games," Beebe said. "Whenever the coaches need something done on the court these two are always go-getters. They never complain about not getting the playing time they think they deserve."

Myra Yelle, Geneva

When you play for an undefeated team, one that is 24-0 and dominating pretty much every team it has played this season, it is all fun and games, right?

Well, pretty much. But being on such a good team can also keep some talented players on the bench who would be starting (and staring) for almost any other team.

Myra Yelle could be one of those kids, someone who goes up against those Geneva starters every day in practice and holds her own - all while making the starters better by providing someone so difficult to guard.

"If we are doing drills or scrimmaging, she plays hard all the time," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "Our starters are the White team in practice and when she is on the Blue team, she constantly challenges our White team."

Just a junior, don't be surprised to see Yelle playing a bigger role next year.

"I'm sure she would like to play more," Nolan said. "But given that, she always gives 110 percent at practice and has a positive attitude. She helps run the offense of the opposing team when we go over scouting reports."