Kuzmanics impress with sister act at Wheeling

As a junior, Kellie Kuzmanic was a Daily Herald All-Area point guard for Wheeling's girls basketball team.

One year later, the 5-foot-10 senior is moving back inside to a forward spot.

A girls basketball fan might ask why, knowing the importance of having a talented player like Kuzmanic at the point.

Well, Wheeling coach Julissa Hernandez has extreme confidence in another player to handle the point this season.

And the coach didn't have to look past the Kuzmanic family.

Freshman Deanna Kuzmanic will run the show for the Wildcats' varsity.

"We are really excited to see Kellie back at her original position and not have her worry about bringing up the ball," Hernandez said. "Deanna does have some big shoes to fill."

Deanna made quite a debut Tuesday night when she scored 21 points with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist in a 60-38 loss to state-ranked Maine South in Park Ridge.

Last season, Kellie led the Wildcats with 9.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She scored a season-high 19 points late in the season against Elk Grove.

If anyone can replace Kellie to direct the Wildcats' offense, it's the 5-8 Deanna.

How good is Kellie's 15-year-old sister?

"Sometimes I forget (she is a freshman) because we are putting a lot of pressure on her for being a freshman," Hernandez said.

Kellie Kuzmanic knows all about pressure.

She's played in the Class 4A state finals in Normal and has been a part of two Mid-Suburban League championship teams as a freshman and sophomore.

Kellie has anxiously been waiting to join her sister on the floor. However, she has already played with a sister.

When Kellie came into the program as a freshman, her older sister Stephanie was on the squad.

Kellie and Stephanie helped lead their respective Holmes Junior High teams to undefeated seasons in seventh and eighth grades while Deanna's teams only lost twice in junior high.

Now a sophomore playing for Carthage, Stephanie started on the Wildcats' team that took fourth place in the 2009 state tourney.

"It was definitely awesome playing with Stephanie that season," said Kellie, who was an all-area volleyball player this fall. "She really helped me my freshman year. If I did something wrong, she'd let me know and help me correct it."

Now Kellie gets to play that role with Deanna.

"In practice, we run a lot," Deanna said. "When I get real tired, Stephanie is there to pick me up and get me through it."

The two sisters have similar styles.

"Deanna and I both like to pass and look for the open person," Kelli said. "Deanna is doing great so far. She is a great player and sees the whole court, especially on the fastbreak."

Kellie's favorite part of the game is the fastbreak.

"I definitely love the fastbreak," she said. "Especially when you get a steal and then push the ball up the floor. It just picks up the whole team and gives you big momentum."

Moving back inside, Kellie wants to be a big rebounder this winter.

Hernandez was an assistant coach to Shelly Wiegel when Stephanie Kuzmanic played for the Wildcats.

"All three sisters have the same determination, a great work ethic and that fire to win in them," Henandez said.

Sports is in the blood in the Kuzmanic household.

The girls' father, Bob, played basketball and football at Amundsen High School. His wife Theresa also played basketball and volleyball and was a cheerleader at the school on Chicago's North Side.

Theresa is now a physical education teacher, which Kellie would also like to become.

"Like Stephanie was, Kellie is also a leader but she had to wait for Stephanie to graduate (two years ago) to take that role," Henandez said. "Kellie is a well-rounded athlete. She has good size and great speed. She does not like to lose because she is all about her team having success. And that is rubbing off on Deanna."

Before she could play organized basketball, Deanna was always a regular watching her sister's teams coached by Bob.

"I was always dragged along and I sat on the bench. I'd do some drills with the team and handed out the water bottle," said Deanna. "When I was watching Kellie play downstate (three years ago), I wondered if we'd be playing together in high school. I was hoping this would happen."

And it happens to be the only freshman-senior starting duo in the Mid-Suburban League.