Scouting Grayslake Central

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

Coach: Steve Ikenn (ninth season)

Last season: 23-8, 13-1 in NLCC, won Class 4A Zion-Benton regional, lost to Warren in Fremd sectional semifinals

Key losses: G/F Payton Gosell, F/G Jordyn Gosell, F Ania Barnes

Returning players: Sr. G Maura Fitzgerald (5-8), Sr. G Rosie Drevline (5-8), Sr. F Kristina Heerdegen (5-10), Sr. G Abby Tonkery (5-8), Jr. F/G Kate Bullman (6-2), Jr. G/F Amanda Kocialkowski (5-9), Jr. G Madeline Mussay (5-5)

Newcomers: So. G MK Drevline (5-7), So. F Katie Ryan (5-10), Jr. G Lauryn Cartee (5-6), Sr. F Claudia Kauck (5-10)

Outlook: Maybe the Rams won't have to share this season. "Our goal is just to take it one game at a time and, if it works out, we'll be happy," coach Steve Ikenn said with a laugh. In all seriousness, the Rams, who shared the NLCC championship with Antioch two years ago and Grant last season, figure to battle for first place all season long again this winter. Back are three starters, including 6-foot-1 junior forward/guard Kate Bullman, who emerged as a Division I prospect over the summer. She picked up nearly a dozen scholarship offers, including those from Davidson, George Washington, Northern Illinois, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, Bradley, Eastern Illinois and Sait Louis. Bullman led the Rams in scoring (11 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg) in her second varsity campaign last season. "She had a really good summer for us and a really good summer in AAU," Ikenn said. "She's 6-1 or 6-2, she can run the floor, she can play inside, and she can shoot from the outside. That's a tough combination." Both Bullman and Rosie Drevline were all-area selections last season. Drevline, who's playing her fourth season on varsity, scored a career-high 20 points against Highland Park at Warren's Christmas tournament, and that sparked her offensive game. She had 10 more double-digit scoring efforts, including a 21-point game against Carmel at Warren, and finished the season averaging 9.3 ppg. "I think Rosie has always been one of those underrated players around the area," Ikenn said. "She does so many little things on the floor. But last year she started scoring more, so all of a sudden it jumped out at people. She's one of those kids who makes the right pass, she's in the right place, she knows the game, she's a good shooter, and she can score off the dribble." Point guard Maura Fitzgerald hasn't been asked to score a lot the last two varsity seasons, but her coach has always valued her contributions. "She's the coach on the floor," Ikenn said. "She's a great point guard, and she's probably one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the county. She's fast, she handles the ball, and she scores. She could score more, but she's an unselfish player." The Rams will miss the graduated trio of post Ania Barnes and twins Jordyn (29 charges) and Payton Gosell, especially at the defensive end. But Amanda Kocialkowski, Madeline Mussay and Kristina Heerdegen all played a lot coming off the bench. Ikenn's newcomers include sophomore guard MK Drevline (Rosie's sister), junior guard Lauryn Cartee, who got some varsity time last winter, and sophomore post Katie Ryan. Whether the Rams can "three-peat" in the NLCC is something Ikenn doesn't concern himself with at this point. "Everything's always at the mercy of injuries," he said. "Other teams are getting better too. We've got to fill some spots from last year. We have the potential to be a really solid team, but we're going to have to work hard every day to do it."