A look back and ahead at Fox Valley girls basketball
The end of another girls basketball season is upon us and it's time to take a look back, and a look forward at the state of the game in the Fox Valley area.
But before we do we can't help but offer two thoughts about area boys basketball before taking a team-by-team look at the girls' season.
Back in the day, an Elgin-Larkin boys regional championship game would draw the publicity and the crowd. Now it's Bartlett-South Elgin. If that isn't an indicator that times change, there isn't one.
Secondly, kudos to coach Tim Jones and Streamwood for righting the ship in the postseason and reaching a regional final. Better things are clearly ahead for the Sabres.
But now it's on to a look at the 2009-10 girls season, and a glimpse to the 2010-11 campaign.
Elgin: It was a tough year for the 2-25 Maroons, whose only victories came over winless Larkin. But with 6-foot-1 junior Danielle Lawry and 6-1 sophomore Brianna Hamilton back, Elgin has some experience returning. We only hope that regardless of what happens with the layoff situation in District U-46 that Dr. Nick Bumbales is back as Elgin's coach. He deserves more than one year to get things turned around on Maroon Drive.
Larkin: As tough as it was on the east side of Elgin, it was tougher on the west side. A young team struggled through a winless season and lost their coach to an administrative boondoggle. It's not known who will coach Larkin's girls next year but there are some decent young players, such as sophomores Abigail Alvarez and Maggie Hoffman, and freshman Alison Smith to work with.
Bartlett: Look out for the Hawks next year. A team that loses only one senior non-starter is loaded for bear for 2010-11. With all-area co-captain Jacki Gulczynski leading the way, this team could go places next year. Kristin Conniff and Janessa Baker were two of the most improved players in the area this season and look for big senior years from Christina Carlson and Nicole Beck. The Hawks went 21-10 this year and made a run to the sectional finals. They finished second in the Upstate Eight Conference and figure to be in the thick of things with Waubonsie Valley, which also returns its starting five, next season. There's plenty of reason for Bartlett to have its sights set high next year.
Streamwood: Ditto for the Sabres. A young team came on strong at the end of the season and took 26-4 Cary-Grove to overtime on C-G's court in the regional final. With junior Emma Schmidt, sophomores Michelle Tomczak and Amanda Patterson and promising freshman Jessica Cerda all back, a 14-win team this season could threaten the 20 mark next year. It would be nice to see Sabres' coach George Rosner have another winner before he heads into retirement. Rosner, by the way, sounded pretty darn good as a TV analyst this weekend for the Class 3A state finals. Could that be his retirement gig in a couple of years?
South Elgin: Storm coach Tim Prendergast would be the first to tell you that South Elgin's 11-17 record this season was disappointing. The Storm had the area's leading scorer in sophomore Becca Smith but didn't play consistent basketball all season. There is some talent returning beside Smith next year and her talents are unquestionably as good as any in the area. As Smith continues to refine her game, she'll need strong support from her teammates for South Elgin to get back on the winning track.
Cary-Grove: Another stellar season for the Trojans, who went 26-4, shared the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title and won a regional before threatening to hand Geneva its first loss in the sectional semifinals. With point guard Meg Straumann expected back from her ACL injury, and the sister tandem of Claire and Olivia Jakubicek back, pencil in the Trojans as the FVC Valley favorites again next season.
Crystal Lake South: After reaching a sectional final last season and with a strong core of players back, the Gators expected more this season. They fought through early-season injuries, though, and came on strong to finish 17-11 but bowed out in the opening game of the postseason. Coach Kyle McCaughn will be in rebuilding mode next season with 11 seniors graduating this spring.
Dundee-Crown: The Chargers struggled to a 2-25 season but proved to be one of the hardest working teams around. Sophomore Ali Sanders showed some promise for the future.
Jacobs: Coach Ed Haugens' swan song was a good one, although the double-overtime loss to Hononegah in the regional final left a final sting. The Golden Eagles went 24-7 and won the program's first conference championship but with six seniors graduating, Haugens' successor will be faced with a rebuilding project. Junior Melanie Schwerdtmann and sophomore Cassidy Sherman each got valuable experience this season.
Huntley: The Red Raiders battled every night and finished 15-14 against a touch schedule. With Kadie Lowery, Cece Tsevas and Carly Goede back to lead the way, coach Steve Raethz has to believe his team can contend in the FVC Valley next year. Lowery and Goede give Huntley one of the best shooting tandems in the area.
Burlington Central: Stephanie Smith's first season can be considered a success. The Rockets went 17-11 and gave Hampshire heck twice. Replacing Jordan Maisto, Taylor Colby and Katie McNutt won't be easy but the Rockets do have some size with Alli Settanni and Brenda Thasavong back.
Hampshire: What a way for seniors Chrissy Heine, Cassie Dumoulin and Bridget Dumoulin to go out. The Whip-Purs will be hard-pressed to repeat their 29-2 season that ended in the sectional finals, but Alex Dumoulin is one of the best returning players in the area, Karla Vietinghoff got better and better this year, Kelsey Anderson is solid and Jessie Van Dorin can shoot the lights out. You can bet Hampshire will want to make its final season in the Big Northern another championship one and the Whips have the horses to do it.
St. Edward: On its level, St. Edward is another Bartlett. Maddie Kerr, Callie Johnson, Paige Gannon, Enza Ranallo, Rena Ranallo, Alex Lee, Catherine Von Ahnen ... the list goes on and they're all back. The Green Wave, 11-15 this season, should surely get back to their winning ways next year.
Westminster Christian: The Warriors say goodbye to standout seniors Sarah Rodgers and Rachel Doby from this year's 11-15 team. Six-one junior Emily Bickford showed a lot of promise this season.
Elgin Academy: It'll be tough for the Hilltoppers to duplicate this year's run to the Class 1A sectional finals. They'll miss the senior leadership of all-area players Alyssa Pena and Lauren Steimle.
So that's your season. The only thing left so say is that it's college softball season in Florida and it's time to catch some warm weather in the Sunshine State.
jradtke@dailyherald.com