Scouting Dundee-Crown boys basketball
Dundee-Crown Chargers
Coach: Lance Huber (9th season, 118-103)
Last year: 13-13, 4-6, tied for third in Valley Division of Fox Valley Conference; lost 36-35 to Elgin in the Class 4A Larkin regional final.
Top players: seniors Kyle Bernhard (6-0, G), Bruce Dantzler (5-10, G), Julian Duarte (6-0, F), Brandon Gordon (6-7, C), Thomas McNally (6-0, F), Will Stupar (6-0, G); juniors Dylan Kissack (6-2, F), Brandon Rodriguez (6-0, G); sophomore Cordero Parson (6-0, G).
Scouting report: The Chargers graduated their top three scorers and top two rebounders, but many of the returning players returning gained experience as part of a rotation that lifted D-C to the .500 mark following a 5-win campaign in 2009-10. The guard-oriented Chargers possess some low-post athleticism in third-year forward Dylan Kissack and 6-6 Brandon Gordon to balance the productive guard play of Brandon Rodriguez, Kyle Bernhard, energetic Bruce Dantzler, Julian Duarte and Thomas McNally, among others. "I think we could be OK if we're willing to do the little things and not worry about who gets the credit," Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber said. "They've been working hard so far. We have some talent if we can get them in the right spots. I'm not sure what our best combination is yet, who plays well together. It's hard to piece nine guys together, at least it always has been for me. We have some things to iron out, but I'm sure everybody does at this point." Kissack started all but one game last year and Rodriguez started 18 times. Rodriguez led the Chargers with 14 points in a 1-point loss to Elgin in a regional title game defeat. Both should enjoy productive seasons. "Dylan is a little stronger, in a little better shape," Huber said. "He's grown into his big body and seems more confident. He has a grasp of what we're trying to do and he's very intelligent, so he should pick up where he left off last year when he was playing solidly. Rodriguez looks a little stronger and more confident, like he knows what to expect this year. I hope we'll see him just relax and play basketball now instead of worrying what to do. He seems more relaxed and composed." McNally, Bernhard and Stupar all played varsity minutes as sophomores. Cordero Parson has the ability to play varsity basketball as a sophomore this year, Huber said. As for the race in the FVC Valley, Huber said Huntley is the team to beat and "after that you could throw the other six teams in a hat and come out with a different second-place team every time."