Harper tips off against Judson
The Harper College women's basketball season tips off tonight as the Hawks travel to Elgin to take on the Judson College junior varsity team.
Look for the 2010-2011 Hawks to be more balanced this season.
Harper lost four sophomores from last year's squad, including All-American honorable mention Peggy Parhas (Lake Zurich).
“With Peggy gone, we are a little anxious to see how the point guard position will play out,” said Harper coach Mark Smith.
Two other sophomores departed after last year, Noreen Davis (Conant) and forward Nina Montero.
Parhas led the Hawks in scoring the two seasons surpassing 1,000 points.
“You can't replace somebody like Peggy,” Smith said.
The Hawks return a talented trio of sophomores, including Anna Kirchoff (Barrington), Siobhan Cerney (Schaumburg) and Betsy Bailey (Palatine).
“Those three should give us a good presence,” Smith said of his veterans.
Bailey missed the end of the regular season and postseason due to surgery to repair ligament damage in her knee.
Smith expects the sophomore forward to be at full speed by the end of December.
“She gives us a great presence inside,” he said. “She is very creative offensively.”
Look for Kirchoff to have the biggest impact on the Hawks this season because of a position change.
“We played her a little out of position last year,” Smith said. “She should be at a more natural position (this year) for her.”
Cerney should provide leadership in the backcourt.
“She's kind of a ‘do-everything kind of kid,' ” Smith said.
The Hawks welcome a talented group of freshmen and transfers, including Schaumburg graduate and Loras transfer Sarah Kellermeyer, Lizzy Dyrek (Cary-Grove), Larissa Aguero (Wheeling) and Sara Eschenbaum (Lake Zurich).
Two talented players from out of state join the Hawks, too.
Wisconsin native Carly Fisher and Californian Mitshi Ishioka make up the final two pieces of the puzzle. Smith said they are battling it out for the starting point guard duties.
“We're really excited with the freshmen we have,” Smith said.
Dyrek, who was not getting much playing time with Loras, was part of a numbers crunch there.
“Lizzy Dyrek has a lot of basketball sense,” Smith said. “She played on a good Cary-Grove team.”
With Bailey not at full strength right away, look for Aguero to be in the rotation.
“She can run the floor well,” Smith said. “She is very good for our level.”
One of the conveniences this team will have that last year's edition did not is depth. Smith says he's got eight players that are ready to compete at a high level.
The Hawks will play in the North Central Community College Conference, and the schedule features two games against last season's NJCAA Division III National champion, Madison. The first meeting between the two schools is Jan. 18, when the Hawks host the Wolfpack. The Hawks travel to Madison Feb. 12 for a 7 p.m tipoff.
“Madison is obviously going to be the favorite (in the conference), they're the national champion,” Smith said. “I don't feel like were that far behind (Madison). The girls feel like they can play with anybody in the conference.”