Transfers revitalizing Immaculate Conception
As girls basketball coaches go, few come across as even-keeled as Immaculate Conception's Dan Murray.
But who can't be fired up over Murray's Knights?
Immaculate Conception is 9-0 after rolling through the Somonauk Tournament and Knights Invite the last two weeks. With a win Saturday over Chicago Christian in their conference opener, the Knights will already match last year's win total.
"You can never expect to go 9-0," Murray said, "but we anticipated that we would be pretty good in the preseason. The kids have really bought in."
That cause for optimism came from the transfers of Kasey Reaber, Taylor Reaber and Allie DiVito - all starters on Driscoll's state championship team last year.
They have not disappointed. Taylor Reaber is team leader in points at 12.6 per game and rebounds at 6.7, point guard Kasey Reaber is averaging 12.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.7 steals per game and DiVito 11.2 points per game. Returning Knights starter Erin Dunne is checking in at 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. More than anything, the Knights are deep and experienced up and down the roster.
"We've kind of worn teams down as games have gone on," Murray said. "This team reminds me of the group I had a few years ago, with post players that can step out and shoot the ball and guards that can post up. We can create some mismatches."
The winning ways are just desserts for Murray's returning varsity players. After going 24-6 in the 2006-07 season, Immaculate Conception combined to win just 21 games over the next two seasons.
"That group has really worked hard and persevered," Murray said. "They knew the tradition behind this program. No one was more disappointed or frustrated than those kids. I really feel for them."
Seven of the Knights' wins have come by 22 points or more. But the most significant was probably a 46-45 nail-biter over defending Class 1A champion Hinckley-Big Rock in the season's second game. The Knights will get their biggest challenge of the season on Monday, when they travel to No. 1 Montini.
"That Hinckley win was a huge confidence-booster," Murray said, "to prove to ourselves that we can play at that level and beat teams of that caliber."
Feeling right at home: Immaculate Conception isn't the only school where famiiar faces are off to fast starts in new places.
Neuqua Valley transfers Becky Williford, Erica Jordan and Rachael Ross have played huge roles in Waubonsie Valley's 6-0 start. Point guard Williford scored 16 points in perhaps Waubonsie's two best wins, over St. Joseph and Huntley.
And at Downers Grove North, ex-St. Francis coach Leslie Dehn has the Trojans 5-1. Downers Grove North took second to Glenbard West at the Rachel Bach Memorial Tournament, then opened conference play by winning at No. 18 York 54-47.
Hold that Tiger: Easy to overlook with the fanfair of Wheaton Warrenville South's championship football team - the girls basketball team is fast out of the gate.
Winners of just six games last year, WW South went 4-1 at the Schaumburg Tournament. No win was bigger than a 32-28 overtime victory over then-No. 13 St. Charles East.
"One of those games that we probably would have lost last year," WW South coach Rob Kroehnke said. "As soon as you get that first win you get confidence and it carries over."
WW South's stingy defense has surrendered just 31 points per game in its four wins. A balanced offense is led by Annie Shain at 7.8 points per game, followed by Destiny Neal at 7.6 and Caitlin Schwark 7.4, with Katie Ottolin and Kasey Gassersmith at just more than 5 points per game.
"Everybody did all the little things," Kroehnke said. "We took care of the ball and we rebounded well in the tournament. They feel better about themselves and the team."
It's a long season, though - and the schedule gets tougher next week with games against No. 5 Naperville Central on Thursday and Wheaton Academy on Saturday at the Wheaton Shootout.
"I told them at practice on Monday, 'You're 4-1," Kroehnke said, "and that's done with now.' It's time to move on. We've played well, but we can't be satisfied."
Big game in Naperville: Saturday's matchup between unbeatens No. 6 Waubonsie Valley and No. 5 Naperville Central could mean more than bragging rights between Districts 203 and 204.
As crazy as it sounds given it's Dec. 4, the teams could be playing for a No. 2 sectional seed behind Bolingbrook. Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum, for one, is glad to see his team avoid the slow start of a year ago.
"Last year we started 8-9," Nussbaum said, "and created a tough situation for ourselves getting a No. 6 seed and Bolingbrook in regionals. Every game you play against a sectional opponent has postseason implications."
Nussbaum is glad to have this one in Naperville. His biggest concern with Waubonsie is its quickness up and down the lineup, starting with guards Williford and Keiera Ray.
"They are super, super quick," Nussbaum said. "We're going to have our work cut out for us."
National recognition: DuPage County's top two basketball players both were recognized in the Sporting News college basketball preview. Montini senior Michala Johnson, committed to No. 1 Connecticut, was named as a fourth team preseason All-American. Hinsdale Central senior Toni Kokenis, a recruit of No. 2 Stanford, was named sixth team All-America. Earning honorable mention were Montini junior Whitney Holloway (Notre Dame), Montini senior Alison Seberger (Illinois State), Montini senior Courtney Thomas (Marquette) and Elk Grove senior and former Driscoll standout Courtney Lindfors (Wisconsin-Milwaukee).