Scouting Libertyville Wildcats

Libertyville Wildcats

Head coach Kathie Swanson (fourth season)

2008-09 season 19-10, 8-4 NSC Lake

They're gone Guard Kristy Williams (13.8 ppg) emerged as one of the conference's best scorers last season. She and point guard Hannah Walton were all-conference performers. Tough forward Maka Stewart and post Erin Waehner also graduated.

Starting five Junior guard Savannah Trees returns to the starting lineup and slides over to the point. She was named honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore. "If she plays assertive and plays up to her ability, I think she can be one of the best point guards in our conference," Swanson said. "She has the ability to lead and score." The Wildcats' starting lineup Opening Night against Prospect on Tuesday featured Trees, shooting guard Katelynn Jennings, forwards Alex Haley and Olivia Wilcox and center Leah Kruckman. Jennings, a good shooter, and Kruckman, a low-post threat, were both starters last season. Varsity-newcomer Haley scored a team-high 15 points. "She stepped up and hit a lot of key shots for us," Swanson said. Junior Kaca Savatic, a midseason call-up last winter, did not play. She suffered a concussion playing soccer and just got medical clearance to resume practice this week. "She's a key part of our team," Swanson said.

Off the bench Sophomore Nicole Kruckman stands 6 feet, just like her sister Leah. "She has a ton of potential," Swanson said. There are 15 players on the roster, but Swanson said she'll probably go only 7-8 deep. Other players back for another varsity season are Brittany Schick, Zoe Babowice and Eileen Lee.

Swanson says "I think we have a lot of potential. It's kind of similar to last season in that there are a lot of unknowns. We have a lot of youth and inexperience, but if we play to our potential, we're going to be very competitive in our conference."