Scouting Lake Zurich girls basketball

COACH: Chris Bennett (sixth season)

LAST SEASON: 11-20, 3-9 in NSC Lake

LOSSES: F Audrey Bauer (Naval Academy), G Gabby Chapa, F Amanda Orchard (volleyball), G Sarah Stauner

RETURNEES: Sr. G Liz Manella, Sr. G Kelley Hirt, Sr. F Kelsey Dreiling, Sr. G Tabbetha Bohac, Sr. G Karlissa Skarb, Jr. G Dori Darras, Jr. G Katherine Anderson, Jr. G Cathryne Spear, Jr. G Maisie Cox

NEWCOMERS: Jr. F Renee Wojcik, Jr. F Christina Sandstedt, Jr. G Gina Barbaglia, Jr. G Stephanie Schmid

OUTLOOK: The Bears slumped from 28 wins in 2008-09 to 11 last season, despite having one of the county's best players in Navy-recruit and four-year varsity post Audrey Bauer (16.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 spg). The Bears also graduated veteran guard Gabby Chapa and lost athletic 6-footer Amanda Orchard, who is focusing on club volleyball.

She's being recruited by several major universities. The Bears are known for scheduling tough and playing tough on the defensive end. They'll need breakout seasons from at least a couple of players if they're going to battle defending champ Libertyville and Stevenson in the NSC Lake. The returnees include juniors Dori Darras and Maisie Cox, who along with Orchard, made the varsity roster as freshmen. "We return a fair amount of experience and hope to blend in the new players," coach Chris Bennett said.

"The NSC Lake will be very tough with Stevenson and Libertyville the favorites returning very good players from last year, and Warren and Zion-Benton not too far behind. We hope to climb into that mix with the other teams and fight for the title." Senior guard Karlissa Skarb is also playing her third varsity season. Junior guards Katherine Anderson and Cathryne Spear were up on varsity last season. Guard play figures to be the Bears' strength. "Our guard-oriented attack is going to put lots of pressure on our opponents," Bennett said, "on both ends of the floor."