Online seeding gets mixed reviews from coaches

By most accounts the IHSA's new online seeding system for basketball went off without a hitch the last two weeks.

But not without some fishy goings-on locally.

In online voting for the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley sectional, one coach ranked Bolingbrook seventh. Another had Plainfield North seeded ahead of the nationally ranked Raiders, who did wind up with the No. 1 seed.

Seems like some schools were playing online musical chairs to avoid being Bolingbrook's regional dance partner.

"It's still not a perfect system," said Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum. "There's no rebuttal."

Of course Nussbaum is none too pleased at his team's placement in Bolingbrook's regional. But his thoughts go beyond his own team. He didn't like the online way of doing things beforehand.

Still, he has two suggestions to improve the new system, one borrowed from a fellow Redhawks coach. One is to take the top two and bottom two votes for each team out. There goes No. 7 Bolingbrook. Another idea is to vote for the top four seeds online Tuesday, the next four on Wednesday and the rest on Thursday.

Naperville Central isn't the only DuPage Valley Conference school with a tough draw. Who would have pegged 15-8 Glenbard East as a No. 11 seed, matched up in the first round with District 87 rival Glenbard West? Ouch.

Warriors just want a win: When Waubonsie Valley saw a trip to St. Charles North on the calendar for Feb. 6, it probably envisioned playing for an Upstate Eight Conference championship. Right now the Warriors just want a win.

The Warriors (15-7) have lost three straight games, their last two on the road at Glenbard East and Joliet. In both games Waubonsie Valley let big leads slip away.

"Turnovers are hurting us," Warriors coach Kris Kalivas said. "We've been in a position in those last two games where we got a lead, started relaxing and didn't take care of the ball. And we're not doing the little things on defense."

The continued absence of senior guard Jessica Morice, out since just before Christmas with a stress fracture above her ankle, hasn't helped. Waubonsie Valley was undefeated with Morice. Morice works with a doctor and physical therapist three times a week, putting her through balance, strength and conditioning exercises. Kalivas said she expects Morice to try to play a little on senior night Tuesday against St. Charles East and take it from there.

"Definitely her being out has made a huge difference," Kalivas said. "Handling the ball, her intensity, her ability to box out, her size and length.

"The kids are disappointed. They're not content nor happy with what's going on. But you have to give them credit for still coming to practice and working hard."

Redwings on a roll: If you want to handicap the upcoming girls state basketball tournament, maybe ask Peter Paul for his opinion. If a team's good, Benet's played or will play them. Whitney Young, Bolingbrook, Hinsdale Central, Fenwick, Marian Catholic, Trinity, Geneva - that's a slate that would have any coach breaking into a cold sweat.

The Redwings have persevered and are riding a five-game winning streak that has them 14-9 on the year.

"The question you ask is," Paul said, "is the schedule good for us. We hope that it's worthwhile and at the end it pays off. We hope we're not peaking too early, but there is a sense that some of the things we're working on have come together."

Benet has overcome the recent loss of Colleen O'Shea to a broken hand. Brianne Riley, a defensive stopper and one of Benet's faster kids, has come on in O'Shea's absence, but she could miss Friday's game at Downers Grove South. That would slide in Annie Gallagher.

A constant in it all is junior Nikki Bell, who hit the game-winner in a 32-30 win at Carmel two weeks ago, scored 13 points in a win over Marist and 18 at Bartlett two nights later.

"She's just been very consistent for us," Paul said. "Offensively and defensively, she does the kinds of things that you need to do to win."

A nice foundation: As challenging a first season as it's been for Hinsdale South coach Steve Cochran, he remains an eternal optimist. You don't hear many negative words coming from him.

Maybe it's because of Uzo Okoro.

The Hornets' 6-foot freshman center is averaging nearly 12 rebounds per game this year and is often an automatic double-double in the paint despite close scrutiny by opponents.

"She's a great centerpiece," Cochran said. "She can truly be the real deal."

Although older sister Chika would argue, Uzo is very reserved but, Cochran said, very coachable.

"You tell her to do something and she will work hard at it," he said. "I can walk out of the gym for five minutes, come back and she's doing something at the same speed as when I left."

Key to Okoro's development is getting more physical. She's been ferocious of late, with 17 points and 21 rebounds in a win over Leyden and 17 points and 13 rebounds in beating Addison Trail on Monday.

"She has the gift - she seeks the rebound," Cochran said. "A lot of people stand around, watching the ball. She goes after it."