Girls basketball: Lake County all-area team
Meri Bennett-Swanson Vernon Hills
A flare-up of tendinitis caused the sophomore to wrap both wrists for the Cougars' regional final. It was minor for the major-upside player, who helped the Cougars to 16 wins. Her wrists were strong enough to flick in an average of 12.4 points per game. She poured in a career-high 23 points against Highland Park and boasted four 21-point efforts. In her second season as a varsity starter, she again featured an array of post moves. “She knew a little more what to do (offensively),” coach Paul Brettner said. “She was stronger going to her left hand and really had that left-handed kiss shot most of the year.” The 6-foot-2 pivot got better defensively, too. “She was really our anchor at the defensive end, which was more than she could do last year,” Brettner said. Bennett-Swanson figures to be even better in her third varsity season. “Her next develop,” Brettner said, “is when people do double-team her, she has to find open kids for layups and become a good passing post.”
Chanae Brown Round Lake
Chanae's play was way OK. In her third varsity season, the athletic guard emerged as one of the county's top scorers, averaging 17.1 points per game, as well as 8.3 rebounds and 6 steals. During one midseason stretch, she scored 20 or more points in five consecutive games. She dropped a career-high 30 points on Waukegan in late January. “Chanae had a great season for us,” coach Howard Conkling said. “She was our scorer, and everybody knew it, and she still led us in scoring. She was the quickest player on the court in all of our games.” Brown surpassed 1,000 career points late in the season. She was an all-area volleyball player in the fall. Chanae made her coach's day. “Chanae was great to coach,” Conkling said. “We will miss her.”
Olivia Dunigan Mundelein
Dunigan did well. Now, Dunigan is done after putting together what coach Brian Evans called an “outstanding career.” She started on varsity for four seasons, providing the Mustangs an effective rebounder, scorer and presence under the basket each season. She averaged team bests of 11.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals as a senior, in addition to 2.2 assists (second on the team). “This year Olivia led us in virtually every statistical category, while all the time being doubled- and sometimes triple-teamed,” Evans said. “She played the most minutes on our team, and on defense was forced to guard the other team's best offensive player, either on the perimeter or in the post, and do the majority of our scoring each and every night, while all the time trying to remain out of foul trouble.” Dunigan, who was named MVP of a tournament the Mustangs participated in San Diego during break, will continue her basketball career at Washington University in St. Louis. Said Evans: “She will be missed by the Lady Mustangs basketball program next year.”
Tammy Ellis Wauconda
The 5-foot-8 guard drove hard to the basket, swished shots, dished, defended, skied. Best of all for the Bulldogs, in her four seasons as a varsity starter, she won. The Bulldogs won 79 games in her four seasons. They captured back-to-back North Suburban Prairie championships her junior and senior years, and she was their best player. The repeat all-area player averaged 12.6 points (33 3-pointers), 4.1 rebounds, 3 steals and 3.1 assists. Her 20 points, 9 steals and 6 rebounds led the Bulldogs past Vernon Hills in overtime in a Class 3A regional final. She was also a part of the Bulldogs' regional-title squad in 2008. “Tammy Ellis is terrific young lady and a remarkable basketball player,” coach Jaime Dennis said. “In four years on the varsity team she has taken our team to new levels and set the bar high for all future Lady Bulldogs. She is the best all around player I have ever coached. She can dazzle you offensively with her outside shot or the drive, but more impressive is her fierce determination on defense. She reads the game so well that she can come up with the big stops when games are close.”
Skyler Jessop Grayslake Central
Rams coach Steve Ikenn compared her to Scottie Pippen. Well, not really. But what Ikenn did say was that the junior played “point forward,” much like Pippen did during his hall-of-fame career for the Bulls. Her ball-handling skills came in handy when protecting the ball up top, distributing it and escaping full-court pressure. “She has tremendous court vision,” Ikenn said. “She sees kids cutting and she hits them with that pass.” Called the Rams' “lockdown defender” by Ikenn, Jessop frustrated by many great players (another Pippen quality). “Skyler relishes that role,” Ikenn said. “She loves the fact that I put her in that position.” The guard/forward averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and nearly 2 steals per game for the Fox Valley Fox champs. She also sank 34 percent of her three-point shots, including a pair against eventual state champ Montini in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates supersectional. She's a repeat all-area selection. “She can hit the 3-pointer,” Ikenn said, “and she's great driving.”
Lexi Leneau Warren
The junior's third season as a varsity starter saw her take on a new responsibility. She played point guard for the first time and was so effective that coach John Stanczykiewicz had her play the position, by his estimation, “90 percent of the time” for his Blue Devils. The point guard made a point: She's still one of the county's bests. “She was our best perimeter defender,” said Stanczykiewicz, who also calls Leneau an emotional leader. She played well against top competition, too, scoring a career-high 23 points and collecting 7 steals against Grayslake Central in the championship game of Warren's Blue Devil Classic. For the season, the 5-foot-8 veteran averaged 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 3.7 assists. She was a Blue Devil Classic all-tournament selection and is a repeat all-area choice. “Alexis has shown great improvement over the last three years,” Stanczykiewicz said, “and with continued improvement this summer could be one of the best players in the North Suburban next year.”
Rebekah Llorens Grayslake Central
One way to lead the charge is by taking them. The 6-foot-1 senior center absorbed 12 charges. “Usually you don't see centers doing that,” coach Steve Ikenn said. “But she was just great that way.” She was great in other ways, too. Llorens led the sectional champs in scoring (14.5 points per game) and rebounding (8.9 rpg), while averaging more than 1 assist and 1 steal per game. She shot 59 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the foul line. No Rams fan will likely ever forget her performance against Johnsburg in the sectional final, when she scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. “She was Miss Consistent inside,” said Ikenn, whose team went 28-4. “She helped our on press break. She could handle the ball, and she was a nice big target in the middle.” Her athleticism was a bonus. “She was quick enough that she presented a lot of matchup problems,” Ikenn said. “If a team had a slow post, she could out-quick them. If a team had a quick post, she could out-physical them.” A two-year all-area player, who was home-schooled before last year, she is uncommitted to a college.
Anna Morrissey
Just before the start of the season, she accepted an offer to be a preferred walk-on at Michigan State. The scrappy defender then went out and ... scored. Her 20-point effort in the Patriots' season-opening win against eventual Class 4A state runner-up Zion-Benton set the tone for her senior season. “A relentless player at both ends of the court — just goes and goes,” coach Tom Dineen said. “Known primarily for her defense, but became a scorer. Outstanding ability to drive to the basket as well as pull up and shoot the 3. A very complete player.” The 5-foot-9 guard, who played four varsity seasons, averaged a career-best 10.6 points to go along with an average of 4.5 rebounds per game. She totaled 76 assists and 69 steals, and shot 71 percent from the foul line. She was named all-tournament over both Thanksgiving and Christmas. She showed off her improved offensive game at the end of the season, too, scoring a career-best 22 points against Mundelein in regional play. “One of the nicest players I have ever coached,” Dineen said. “As good a player that Anna was, she is an even nicer person.” Morrissey finished with 976 career points (eighth in program history) and 232 career assists (10th all-time).
Michelle O'Brien Stevenson
The captain of the 2010 Lake County all-area team, she put together an equally great senior campaign, averaging a double-double of 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the 21-9 Patriots. She produced nine games of 20 or more points, with a season-best 26 against Niles West. Despite having secured a scholarship with Western Michigan before the start of the season, the 5-foot-11 guard played with the same passion that she did her first three varsity seasons. Named all-tournament at Maine West's Tip-Off Classic as well as the Suburban Holiday Showcase, she also notched 93 steals, sank 53 3-pointers and shot 75 percent from the stripe. “Refreshing,” said coach Tom Dineen, who switched O'Brien from forward to guard when he took over the Patriots last year. “A throwback. A gym rat that just has a passion for the game. Just wants to play and compete. A great two-year transition from forward to guard, becoming a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor. A nose for the basketball. Just a great kid.” O'Brien, a three-time all-area choice, leaves Stevenson as one of its all-time greats. She finished with 1,471 career points (fourth in school history), 953 rebounds (second) and 265 steals (sixth).
Andi Potkonjak Antioch
Coach Tim Borries remembers when the flashy guard arrived at Antioch more than three years ago. “When I got her, she was a small, scrawny, little freshman,” Borries said with a laugh. “She's still small,” he added with another laugh. While that may be true, the 5-foot-5 Potkonjak was a big-time player for the Sequoits, finishing with 1,224 career points and 131 career 3-pointers, despite missing all but one quarter of her sophomore season with a torn ACL. She averaged 16 points per game this season, netting 20 or more points in a game seven times. She dropped 31 points on Lakes in early December. She sank 41 3s. She wasn't just a scorer, however. “She looked to be a point guard more,” Borries said. “When we won 10 games in a row (in midseason), she had way more assists than turnovers during that stretch.” She also totaled 87 steals, was named all-tournament at Geneva and was voted MVP of the Lisle tournament over Christmas break. Her ball-handling skills impressed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee enough that it offered her a chance to be a preferred walk-on, and she accepted. “She's a one-man press break,” Borries said. “I felt very confident with any press that an opposing team put out there in front of us.”
Melanie Prudhomme Wauconda
Her defense was so good that it earned her major minutes as a sophomore and junior. But with the graduation of a major player, four-year starting guard Kate Martino, the Bulldogs needed the 5-foot-6 guard to raise her offensive game. Prudhomme provided. She averaged 9.1 points and 3.4 assists, in addition to 2.2 steals per game. She picked a particularly good game to post her career-best point total, as her 24-point effort in a late-season game against Grant clinched the Bulldogs' second straight North Suburban Prairie championship. “Melanie has always been a great defender,” coach Jaime Dennis said. “Her speed and quickness have humbled even the best opponents. Night in and night out I trusted her to defend the other team's biggest threat and she never disappointed. Because of her athletic ability, defense always came easy to he. She had to really work to improve her offense. That work paid off because this year she became a legitimate scoring threat for us. It was nice to see her develop into an all around player.”
Kaca Savatic Libertyville
The Wildcats weren't sure what they were going to get from the returning all-area forward. After all, the senior underwent off-season knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. What the Wildcats got was, well, what they expected. Hard work. Shutdown defense. Exemplary leadership. Despite wearing a cumbersome brace all season, Savatic missed only 1 game, as the Wildcats put together an undefeated regular season. She averaged 5.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.5 assists. “Kaca worked extremely hard to come back from injury and it paid off dividends this year,” coach Kathie Swanson said. “Her energy and desire to succeed made her into one of the top defenders in the area and a great rebounder. We always put her on the other team's best player and she usually held them well below their scoring average. Kaca was willing to do the little things that might not show up in the box score but make all the difference in the end. Those types of players are invaluable. Her competitive nature made her a standout on the basketball court, and her presence will be greatly missed next year.”
Alex Scarbro Grayslake Central
The niece of former Round Lake star linebacker Dallas Bassett, she possessed linebacker-like qualities: Speed. Strength. Tenacity. Athleticism. She played with toughness and passion, and tackled challenges with ferocity. “She's quick, but also strong,”coach Steve Ikenn said. The senior guard played four varsity seasons, saving her best for last in helping the Rams enjoy their best campaign since they went downstate in 2004. She averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2 steals per game, while shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. She poured in season-high 22 points against Grayslake North. “Alex is a fiery player, to say the least,” Ikenn said. “She brings a ton of emotion and showed a lot of leadership. She can be a great defender, she can score inside, she can score outside, and she can handle the ball well.” She verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Savannah Trees Libertyville
The name of Libertyville's gymnasium: “The Trees House.” Well, the Wildcats could have called it that nickname the last couple of years, anyway. As her team's best player the last two seasons, the 5-foot-8 point guard directed the Wildcats to a remarkable 54 wins, including 29 this season (10-0 at home). She got better in each of her three varsity seasons, capping her career with a senior campaign that includes being named captain of the Lake County all-area team. More than averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals, she was clutch game after game. She was the biggest single reason why the Wildcats won five trophies (Buffalo Grove Thanksgiving tournament, Mundelein Christmas tournament, North Suburban Conference Lake Division, NSC, Deerfield regional). She hit a staggering 55 percent of her three-point tries, shot 49 percent from the floor overall and 78 percent from the foul line. She either led her team in scoring or tied for team scoring honors 22 times. She netted the final 10 points of the NSC title game, finishing with 18 of her team's 37. “She was clutch in many big games this year,” coach Kathie Swanson said. Among the colleges Trees is considering are DePauw and Valparaiso.
Olivia Wilcox
Someone needed to knock down those shots after Savannah Trees or Alex Haley delivered a perfect pass. Olivia provided “O.” Wilcox's will won out. In her second season as a varsity regular, the 5-foot-8 guard/forward emerged as a reliable perimeter shooter whose offensive spark helped the Wildcats net 29 wins. She averaged 7.7 points, shooting 50 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line. She scored in double digits 10 times, twice hitting for 15 points in wins. “Liv developed into a very good outside shooter over the past two years, and it helped make our team a major threat from the perimeter,” coach Kathie Swanson said. “She stepped up in a number of big games this season by hitting key shots at critical moments. We would not have achieved the level of success that we did this year had she not done this. Along with her offensive abilities, we will miss the genuine enthusiasm and love for the game that she brought to the court on a regular basis.”
All-Area roster
Player School Yr. Pos.
Meri Bennett-Swanson Vernon Hills So. C
Chanae Brown Round Lake Sr. G
Olivia Dunigan Mundelein Sr. F
Tammy Ellis Wauconda Sr. G
Skyler Jessop Grayslake Central Jr. G/F
Lexi Leneau Warren Jr. G
Rebekah Llorens Grayslake Central Sr. C
Anna Morrissey Stevenson Sr. G
Michelle O'Brien Stevenson Sr. G
Andi Potkonjak Antioch Sr. G
Melanie Prudhomme Wauconda Sr. G
Kaca Savatic Libertyville Sr. F
Alex Scarbro Grayslake Central Sr. G
*Savannah Trees Libertyville Sr. G
Olivia Wilcox Libertyville Sr. G/F
*all-area captain
Honorable mention
Katherine Anderson (Lake Zurich, Jr., G), Amanda Barger (Warren, Jr., G/F), Ashlee Cunningham (Lakes, Jr., G), Dori Darras (Lake Zurich, Jr., F), Amanda Davis (Mundelein, Jr., G), Kat Dickson (Grayslake Central, Sr., F), Lindsey Gofron (Antioch, Jr., G), Nicole Kruckman (Libertyville, Jr., C), Brianna Leon (Grayslake North, Sr., F), Katie McGrath (Grayslake North, Jr., G), Sarah McHugh (Carmel, Jr., F), Terese McMahon (Lakes, So., F), Jackie Meier (Carmel, Jr., G), Kari Moffat (Stevenson, So., G), Krystal Pitts (Round Lake, Sr., G), Jessica Prince (Warren, Jr., C), Erin Quinn (Carmel, Sr., G), Karlissa Skarb (Lake Zurich, Sr., G), Sydney Smith (Vernon Hills, Fr., G), Roslyn Summerville (Wauconda, Sr., C), Donnie Taggart (Grant, Sr., F), Lauren Tiffany (Antioch, Sr., F), Valerie Van Roeyen (Libertyville, Sr., G), Lauren Webb (Vernon Hills, Fr., F)
Captains honor roll
2001 — Jenni Dant (Stevenson)
2002 — Johanna Solverson (Lake Zurich)
2003 — Amy Peters (Warren)
2004 — Kayla Ming (Grayslake)
2005 — Jenny Eckhart (Carmel)
2006 — Sarah Boothe (Warren)
2007 — Sarah Boothe (Warren)
2008 — Sarah Boothe (Warren)
2009 — Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich)
2010 — Michelle O'Brien (Stevenson)
2011 — Savannah Trees (Libertyville)
All-area selections and profiles by Joe Aguilar