Scouting Vernon Hills Cougars

Vernon Hills Cougars

Head coach Paul Brettner (10th season)

2008-09 season 14-15, 6-6 NSC Prairie

They're gone Louisiana Tech soccer signee Mallory Feece was everything for the Cougars, earning all-conference and all-area honors after averaging nearly 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Rock-solid Jamie Rucks started every game, Sarah Krippinger hit big shots, and tiny-but-tough Kirsten Groody was the team's heart and soul.

Starting five Senior point guard Jessica Feece (Mallory's kid sister) is playing her third season on varsity, while senior shooting guard Alana Coy has been on varsity since midway through her freshman year. She dropped in 18 points in the Cougars' season-opening win over Lake Forest Academy on Monday, as she shot 4 of 10 from three-point range. Feece and Coy make for a good backcourt, and both are captains. "It's really nice to have that combo of guard play," Brettner said. Junior post Jessica Schwartz also played varsity as a freshman. A newcomer to watch is 6-2 freshman Meri Bennett-Swanson, who earned an Opening Night start and had an impressive varsity debut with 11 points and 5 rebounds. "She's skilled around the post, for sure," Brettner said. Julie Pecht played valuable minutes as a freshman last winter.

Off the bench Brettner is carrying 14 girls but probably will go 8-10 deep. Among those expected to log decent minutes are senior guard Chloe Hough, who started the opener, senior forward Alli David and sophomore guard Abby Springer.

Brettner says "I think we should be able to compete for the Prairie Division championship. I think Antioch's the team to beat and Wauconda's got the two good guards."