Watching Lindfors energizes Elk Grove
Not too many girls get to be stars at two different high schools during their prep careers.
But that’s what happened to former Driscoll standout Courtney Lindfors, who led the Highlanders to Class 2A state title as a junior. When the school closed she transferred to Elk Grove for her senior year.
Even though she was a Grenadier for only one season, the girls basketball program hasn’t forgotten their former all-area center.
Grenadiers coach Ryan Kirkorsky took the entire program to Milwaukee in January to watch Lindfors play for the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers.
Lindfors hardly disappointed as she scored 15 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a loss.
“It was a great experience for the girls,” Kirkorsky said. “It was nice to be able to bring our entire program to support Courtney.
“Our younger kids were able to see basketball played at a high level, and Courtney’s returning teammates were very excited to see her compete at the collegiate level.”
The Grens have picked up their own game since that Jan. 2 visit to the Klotsche Center in Milwaukee.
“The experience energized our kids,” Kirkorsky said. “After the trip we noticed an improved competitiveness and attention to detail.
Lindfors, who played her first three years at Driscoll before the Catholic school shut it doors, has played in 17 of the Milwaukee’s 18 games and has started 11.
The Elk Grove Village native is averaging 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.
Earlier this year, she broke the Milwaukee freshman scoring record with 35 points against Chicago State.
Women’s basketball
Brittany Hogen (Hersey) became the 14th player in school history at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside to join the 1,000 point club on Jan. 22 in a 70-60 win over Maryville University.
Hogen grabbed her 600th career rebound in a win over Indianapolis University (66-47) on Jan. 27.
Parkside is ranked fifth in the NCAA Midwest region with a record of 16-4 overall and 10-2 in conference.
Ÿ Kelly Rogowski (Hersey) made multiple 3-pointers for the third straight game and scored 13 points as Loras cruised to an 81-60 win over the Dubuque in the Iowa Conference game.
Loras upped their record to 8-8 and 4-3, good for fourth place in the standings.
Men’s basketball
Loyola received a game-high 27 points from Geoff McCammon (Conant) in an 84-71 win over Youngstown State, giving the Ramblers their first three-game winning streak in the Horizon League for the first time since 2008.
McCammon’s 27 points also rank as the second-highest total of his career, behind only a 31-point performance at DePaul earlier this season.
After the game, McCammon told the media he isn’t feeling any pressure.
“When you’re working in the summer, you just want results,” he said. “You want to look back and say you did something worthwhile. We want to be the best team by March so we can make a run. It’s all about competing.”
McCammon (Conant) produced a team-high 19 points when the Ramblers topped Illinois-Chicago 68-59.
The senior sharpshooter has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games, averaging 15 points in that span.
With more than 115 career 3-point field goals, McCammon ranks in the top six on Loyola’s all-time list.
For the season, he is averaging a team-best 14.0 points, along with 3.0 rebounds.
Ÿ All season long, Lewis coach Scott Trost has been waiting for his team to finish a game, as his squad has played in nine contests this season that have been decided by 5 points or less with the Flyers coming on the short end seven times.
Trost found what he was looking for in an 86-81 upset victory over No. 24 Kentucky Wesleyan.
Lewis junior point guard Chris McClellan (Wheeling) pitched in 19 points, including three 3-pointers.
Men’s track and field
North Central won its second straight meet in as many weeks after finishing first in the seven-team meet held at Al B. Carius Track.
Michael Spain (Schaumburg) set a North Central College facility record after running a 14:30.53 in the 5,000 meters.
That time was good enough to win the meet, but also provisionally qualified him for the national championships.
John Wood (Fremd) was among four Cardinals to provisionally qualify for a spot in the Division III National Championships in the pole vault alone.
Wood’s mark of 16 feet, 4¾ inches was good enough for second place.
50th IHSBCA clinic
The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association will conduct the state baseball coach’s clinic Feb. 4 and 5 in Glen Ellyn at the “The Main Arena” of the College of DuPage (425 Fawell Boulevard).
The clinic will provide a wide variety of team and individual skills and practical-based material from the top collegiate and professional baseball coaches in the country.
Featured speakers will be Steve Sax, USOC and Maryland coach Bernie Walters, Iowa coach Jack Dahm, coaching legend Gordie Gillespie and Nick Mingione of Mississippi State.
To view the complete line up of 18 speakers and clinic agenda or to pre register; log on to the website at illinoishighschoolbaseball.org or simply walk up to register on the day of the clinic.
To pre register; go to MEMBERSHIP link on Illinoishighschoolbaseball.org and print it, and send the page with payment to Dave Kalal at York High School. His contact information is at the bottom of that page.
Kessel Heat
The spring AAU tryouts begin Sunday, Feb. 20 and 27 at the Libertyville Sports Complex and Wednesday, March 2, and Friday, March 4 at the Barrington Fieldhouse. See www.kesselstraining.com for exact times.
Presidents Day Camp
The Kessel Heat will hold a Presidents Day camp at the Libertyville Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Cost is $20 and there will be games, drills and contests.
Ÿ Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.