Boys basketball: Scouting Schaumburg
Schaumburg
Coach: Matt Walsh (third year, 35-24)
Last year: 18-12, 7-3 (West tri-champs, sectional finalist)
Key losses: Javon McDonald (all-area G, 15.3 ppg, 56 3s, Washington and Lee), Kurt Kempema (F, 5.6 ppg), Roger Lane (F), Mark Bielanski (G)
Returning players: Seniors Christian Spandiary (6-3, F, 9.6 ppg), Mike Mallet (6-2, F), Joe Faleni (6-0, G), Justin Hill (5-10, G), Thomas Byrne (5-9, G); sophomores Kyle Bolger (6-1, G, 8.1 ppg, 23 3s), Jimmy Lundquist (6-5, C, 8.5 ppg, 26 3s)
Newcomers: Senior Nick Abel (5-11, F, transfer from St. Viator); juniors Cole Reyes (6-0, G), Ryan Kase (6-2, F), Kevin Curnow (6-3, F), Brad Norris (6-2, F), Bobby Greene (6-2, F), John Donovan (5-10, G), Ebisa Godona (6-0, F), Carlos Sarasti (6-0, F), Logan Craddick (6-5, C), Ryan Baumhart (5-10, G)
Outlook: The MSL's big postseason story the last two seasons with drives to sectional title games hopes to get things rolling a little earlier this time around en route to a 19th straight winning season. "We want to concentrate on continually learning how to play together," Walsh said. "We play in a great Thanksgiving tournament and play great teams during the year so we need to be ready to go right out of the gates." Having Spandiary in his third varsity season and Bolger and Lundquist in their second should help make that happen. Bolger will take over for the steady McDonald as the primary ballhandler and Lundquist has gotten stronger to provide a strong inside presence with Spandiary. "As always we want to take the most pride in being a great defensive team first," Walsh said of a team that allowed 47.5 points a game last year. "Playing great team defense is something we needed to concentrate on, and rebounding the basketball," Mallet inside and Faleni and Byrne at the guards will also be significant contributors after getting solid varsity experience last year. "These guys have done a good job of helping teach the newcomers and young guys how to play hard consistently," Walsh said, "and to pay attention to detail and how to learn how to execute." Walsh also expects Hill, Greene, Reyes, Curnow and Sarasti to be big parts of the rotation and Abel could also help when he learns the system better. "I'm excited about our leadership and experience," Walsh said.