Scouting Mundelein
MUNDELEIN
Coach: Greg Dorgan (second season)
Last season: 11-20, 4-10 in NSC, lost to Warren in Class 4A Buffalo Grove regional semifinals
Key losses: G Hannah Buscher, F Ellie Maldonado
Returning players: Jr. G Morgan Frank (6-0), Jr. F Kendall Klatt (5-7), Jr. G Damia Ali (5-3), Jr. F Courtney Brunkow (5-10), So. F Gerda Boreika (5-10)
Newcomers: So. F Kadra Balla (5-8), So. G Emma Umbdenstock (5-6), So. G Eva Thier (5-7), Sr. F Danielle Lambert (5-10), Sr. G Maddy Neuwald (5-3), Sr. G Cayla Manaligod (5-3), Jr. G Iviiy Salazar (5-7)
Outlook: Even the seniors are young - in terms of varsity basketball experience, anyway. Fortunately for the Mustangs, they have a returning all-area player in 6-foot junior Morgan Frank, who's a combo guard starting on varsity for the third year. "We're so young," coach Greg Dorgan said. "We have great numbers. We have over 55 girls in the program, but over 30 of them are freshmen. So they're spread out over three levels." None of the freshmen is on varsity, however. Among the returning players, returning junior forward Courtney Brunkow, who played coming off the bench last season, is out with an ACL injury suffered in May. "We don't have a timeline (for her return)," Dorgan said. "We're leaving that up to her, her family and her doctors. Hopefully we see her at some point this season." Senior point guard Cayla Manaligod missed last season with an ACL injury but is battling a sprained ankle. The Mustangs' only other seniors, forward Danielle Lambert and guard Maddy Neuwald, are new. "So not only are we young, but even our seniors don't have any varsity experience," said Dorgan, whose season-opening starting lineup this week included returning sophomore post Gerda Boreika and sophomore forward Kadra Balla. Frank and forward Kendall Klatt do have experience and will be counted on again this season. Frank averaged 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 2.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game as a sophomore. Klatt is tenacious on the boards and can chip in some offense. "We know what they bring to the table," Dorgan said. "It's a matter of how can we support around them as (the rest of the team) improves this year and next year."