Season preview: Lakes

Lakes

Coach: Pete Schneider (third season)

Last season: 11-17, 4-8 NSC Prairie

Key losses: G Ashley Parmly, G Mary Doupis

Returning players: Sr. G Ashlee Cunningham, Jr. F Terese McMahon, Jr. G Amanda Smith. Jr. G Nicole Mogged

Newcomers: Jr. G Paige Olker, Jr. F Dana Olson, So. G Heather Hurlbut, So. G Sam Ney, Fr. F Marissa Merges, Jr. F Shelby Trkla

Season opener: Lake Zurich at Fremd, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

Outlook: The Eagles' won-lost record in coach Pete Schneider's first two years reflects their progress. So does the small gym adjacent to the main one. That's where Schneider counts 32 girls playing on the freshman and sophomore levels. "The kids have bought into it," Schneider said. "What we got now is kids that are really serious about wanting to be basketball players." The Eagles posted double-digit wins for the first in their young history last season, and Schneider expects the victories to keep comimg. He returns all-conference junior post Terese McMahon, as well as senior guard Ashlee Cunninham (honorable mention all-NSC) and junior guard Amanda Smith. Schneider is optimistic about what Smith can provide. She's been limited by a bad knee the last couple of years. "She's going to be the real deal," Schneider said. "Nobody knows who she is." The roster also includes junior guard Nicole Mogged, who got called up around Christmas time last year, sophomores Heather Hurlbit and Sam Ney, and 6-foot freshman Marissa Merges. "My core Smith, Cunningham, McMahon they're going to do good things," Schneider said. "My three-year plan, I've hit my goals and have actually exceeded them. Now this is where we're hoping to be at 15 wins and never look below 15 wins."