Scouting Vernon Hills girls basketball

COACH: Paul Brettner

LAST SEASON: 17-12, 10-2 in NSC Prairie

KEY LOSSES: G Alana Coy, G Jessica Feece

RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. G Danielle Binder, Sr. G Amber Bolke, Sr. G Kelly Firnbach, Sr. G Becca Feld, Jr. G Julie Pecht, Jr. G Abby Springer, Jr. G Ikie Ostrovsky, So. C Meri Bennett-Swanson

NEWCOMERS: Jr. G Alex Goldstein, Jr. G Erin Keller, So. G Brie Bahlmann, Fr. F Lauren Webb, Fr. F Sydney Smith

OUTLOOK: The program is growing. Well, the girls are getting taller, anyway. A year after welcoming 6-foot-2 Meri Bennett-Swanson, the Cougars have added freshman Lauren Webb, who's listed at 6-foot on the roster. In the Cougars' season-opening win over Lake Forest Academy on Monday, Webb nearly missed a double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Bennett-Swanson got her sophomore season off to a good start by totaling 10 points and 7 boards. Another freshman, 5-9 Sydney Smith, contributed 8 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

What the Cougars lack in veteran experience, as far as the collective varsity starts of their four seniors, they hope to make up with their newfound size upfront as well as several guards who saw playing-time last winter. Those guards include Julie Pecht, Ikie Ostrovsky, Danielle Binder and Abby Springer. Bennett-Swanson showed great potential as a low-post scorer last season, averaging nearly 11 points and playing in all 29 of the Cougars' games. "(We're) looking to win the division and advance to the sectionals," said coach Paul Brettner, whose 2009-10 Cougars finished one game back of NSC Prairie champ Wauconda. "We are a young team that has the potential to improve as the year goes on."