Scouting Wauconda Bulldogs

Wauconda Bulldogs

Head coach Jaime Dennis (second season)

2008-09 season 21-6, 10-2 NSC Prairie

They're gone Forward Lauren Mead (Lewis University) was a four-year varsity starter and graduated as one of the Bulldogs' most prolific scorers (1,487 career points) and rebounders. She averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds per game as a senior. Forward Aimee Prudhomme also graduated.

Starting five Spunky point guard Kate Martino, an all-area player last season, operates the point for the fourth straight year and scored 18 points in Monday's season opener against Crystal Lake Central. Though only 5 feet 4, she isn't afraid to post up or drive hard to the basket. Martino and junior guard Tammy Ellis are especially active defensively on the perimeter. But Ellis, a starter since her freshman year, missed the entire preseason with a back injury and didn't play Monday. Dennis said the team is being "very conservative" with Ellis. Junior guard Melanie Prudhomme started last season and was a dependable defender. She'll be asked to contribute more offensively. "We can put her on anybody, anytime, and she can shut them down," Dennis said. "Melanie is like the Energizer Bunny. She just goes and goes and goes. She can play the entire game." Junior post Rosyln Summerville played a lot coming off the bench last season and can play physical. In Monday's season opener, Dennis - the former Jaime Weber - started Martino, Prudhomme, Summerville, senior Kelsey Mills and junior Maggie Sarich. Mills played limited minutes last season, while Sarich is in her first season on varsity. "I think we have a nice, balanced attack," Dennis said. "There's really nobody on the floor that we have to hide."

Off the bench Sophomore newcomer Diana Enriquez was Dennis' first player off the bench Monday and scored the team's first basket of the season. Enriquez finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Volleyball player Erinn Hellweg, a 6-1 sophomore, was a midseason call-up last season and some good games. New on varsity are softball star Cara Nance, Janelle DaCosta and Zoe Cooper.

Dennis says "We're going to be just as competitive as we were last year. Yes, we lost Lauren (Mead) and Aimee (Prudhomme) as far as starters, and those are big shoes to fill, but we're pretty fast. We didn't lose any speed. We've only gained some speed."