Lake girls basketball notes: Stevenson’s Klatt nears more records
While the Stevenson girls basketball team has lost three games, coach Regan Carmichael noted those setbacks to Maine South (twice) and Loyola were against the state’s top three teams in Class 4A.
Loyola was ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in the most recent Associated Press state poll, while Maine South was No. 3.
Taking that a step further, in the two Maine South games, Stevenson was outscored in only two of the eight quarters, “and not by much,” she added. “To me, this proves we can hang with the best of them. I am so proud of how fearless our team is.”
Stevenson started the week 15-3 overall and was in first place in the North Suburban at 4-0.
The Patriots also went 2-1 in the recent Grow the Game shootout event.
Emory Klatt leads Stevenson in scoring (16 points) and rebounding (12.5), while Nisha Musunari is at 9 points. Kendell Williams averages 4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals, while Laurel Jewell averages 4 rebounds. Klatt, Musunuri and Williams were all-tournament at Dundee-Crown, while Klatt, Sydney Rosland and Musunuri were players of the game at Grow the Game.
Klatt is 3 rebounds away from setting the school record for career rebounds with 1,185, breaking the record held by Patriot great Tauja Catchings (1992-1996). Musunuri averaged 12 points during a recent 5-game stretch. “Nisha has had some big games offensively and defensively,” Carmichael said. “She has been guarding the other teams’ best players.”
Carmichael also loved how Williams played in the most recent Maine South game on Jan. 6. “Kendell had the most competitive game I have seen in our loss to Maine South,” she said. “She was relentless on both ends of the court.”
Antioch update: Antioch (11-6 overall, 4-1 Northern Lake County) went 2-2 at Lisle over the holidays and took seventh out of 16 teams.
Heidi Rathmann was named to the Lisle all-tournament team for the second year in a row. She is averaging 16.5 points per game, while Addie Webb is at 6.8 rebounds a contest.
Coach Jamie D’Andrea said senior Hailey Caya is stepping up in a leadership role. “Her stat eline does not truly reflect her efforts, but she is always looking to spark the offense with strong moves to the basket,” she said.
D'Andrea calls senior Nicole Kutcher a “student of the game,” she said. “She has learned to position herself offensively so she either gets a good look at the basket or helps her teammates get a good look.”
Carmel update: The Corsairs went 3-1 at the Loyola tournament and took third place (wins over Simeon, Joliet West and Rolling Meadows). Carmel was 11-7 overall to start the week.
Senior Ashley Schlabowske (16.4 points, 2.1 assists, 2.5 steals, 3.8 deflections) and Josie Hartman (8.2 points) were named all-tournament at Loyola. Hartman, a sophomore, scored a career-high 24 points in the third-place game against Meadows. Keira Ackerson averages 9 points and 3.2 rebounds. Hartman averaged 10.3 points during a recent four-game run.
“Josie and Keira are playing at a high level,” Carmel coach Ben Berg said.
Junior Maia Cordova also helps, averaging 2 steals and 2 deflections. “Ashley Schlabowske and Maia have disrupted our opponents’ offenses most of the season,” Berg said.
Grant update: Grant started the week 7-10 overall and 3-3 in NLCC action. The Bulldogs downed Round Lake 29-23 in recent conference play.
Alyssa Sandquist is averaging 11 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals, while Nevada Holm averages 8 points, 8 rebounds and a block. Sandquist and Abigail Hobbs were all-tournament at Grant’s own holiday event. “Abigail is a great player who is incredibly consistent and leads,” Grant coach Andrea Weaver said.
Weaver added Lily Capulong and Ryan Kadlec, a sophomore, also have been strong presences. “Lily is a great point guard who has a good read on the floor,” she said. “Ryan is coming out of her shell and is a strong defender for us.”
Grayslake Central update: The Rams started the week tied for first in NLCC play at 4-0 (12-6 overall). Central went 3-1 and finished second at the St. Viator Blenner Classic.
Madison Hoffmann averaged 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.3 steals at St. Viator. In a Dec. 26 game against Mundelein, Hoffmann scored the 1,000 th point of her career (24 in the game). Annie Wolff averaged 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds at St. Viator. On the season, Hoffmann is at 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals, while Mosey Drevline averages 3.0 assists. Wolff is at 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.
“Madison and Annie are our captains and have been great leaders both on and off the floor all season,” Rams coach Steve Ikenn said.
Freshman Peyton Hoffmann averages 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds. “Peyton has stopped up her game by becoming a lockdown defender,” Ikenn said.
Central gave up an average of only 34 points during a recent 7-game stretch. “We have been playing better team defense lately,” Ikenn said.
Grayslake North update: The Knights (3-16 overall, 0-6 NLCC) went 2-1 during a recent three-game stretch with wins against Richmond-Burton (47-26) and McHenry (38-37).
Sophomore Lucy Roscoe (8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals) and freshman Ashlyn Stoneham (6.5 points, 2.5 steals) are the team’s leading scorers. Junior Mikayla Gumapas averages 4.7 rebounds and sophomore Jane Pritchard averages 4.2 rebounds.
“Lucy continues to be our rock offensively and defensively,” North coach Brian Frericks said. “She does a little bit of everything for us and continues to get better every game.”
Gumapas turned in her best game of the season against McHenry with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
North also received positive news when returning all-conference player Makayla Campbell, who had been sidelined with a knee injury suffered in soccer last year, played her first game of the year Jan. 5 against Lakes. The Lake Forest College commit had 9 points and 7 rebounds in limited minutes. “She’s the leader of the team and we’re very excited to have her back,” Frericks said.
Lakes update: The Eagles moved to 7-10 overall and 3-3 in Northern Lake County play with a recent 50-28 win over Grayslake North.
Janae Pullen leads Lakes in scoring at 7.2 points, while Kaylee Anderson averages 7.8 rebounds. Inclarity Turney averages 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals.
“Inclarity continues to lead the team on the defensive end and has improved her distribution of late,” Eagles coach Grant Murray said.
Murray also lauded the recent improvements of Madison Twarling and Anderson. “Madison has emerged as a scoring threat along with her on-ball defense,” he said. “Kaylee continues to lead the team in rebounding and plays with great energy.”
Kaylie Schneider made her varsity debut at the start of the year and scored a team-leading 10 points.
Libertyville update: The Wildcats started the week riding a 10-game winning streak thanks in part to winning their own Rustoleum Winter Classic (3-0 with points-allowed games of 36, 24 and 43) and going 2-0 in the Grow the Game Illinois event with wins over Chicago Marist (62-33) and Downers Grove South (50-35). Libertyville was 15-3 overall and tied for second in the North Suburban at 4-1.
Kate Rule is averaging 12.7 points per game, while sister, Rachel, averages 10.9 points. Madison Sears averages 10.1 points and 6 rebounds, while Lily Fisher is at 4 assists. Kate Rule and Maddy Kopala were game MVPs at Grow the Game.
Rachel Rule had 22 points in 12 minutes on 13 shots against Marist, while Sophia Cesnovar hit a pair of key 3s against Downers South.
“Both Rachel and Sophia are playing excellent defense,” Cats coach Greg Pedersen said. “They held Downers Grove’s top shooting guard to 2 points.”
In addition to Cesnovar, a junior, Pedersen also lauded the contributions of sophomores Avery Maddux and Sophia Swanson. “We’re getting key minutes from Sophia, Avery and Sophia because a few of our key players have missed some time for injuries,” he said. “We like the way our younger players have responded. They have stepped up when given their chance and they are helping us win. It bodes well for now and for the future.”
Mundelein update: It was a double dose of great news for Rylan Foster, who earned player of the game honors in a 50-31 Grow the Game win over Buffalo Grove after a 25-point, 10-rebound performance. She also scored her 1,000th career point in the game.
Casey Vyverman also earned Grow the Game player of the game honors in a 70-54 loss to Trinity after scoring 24 points to go with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
Foster leads Mundelein (12-8 overall, 3-3 NSC) at 17 points per game and averages 7 rebounds, while Vyverman is at 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game.
“Rylan and Casey have been tearing it up,” Mundelein coach Sarah Teipel said. “Rylan has been a positive leader who has been strong defensively and aggressive to the rim. Casey has been stepping up as point guard, handling constant pressure and showing confidence with her dribble-drive moves.”
The Mustangs went 2-2 at St. Viator, beating the hosts 55-44 and Vernon Hills 44-41, and losing to Glenbard West 45-31 and Grayslake Central 47-32.
Vernon Hills update: The Cougars played a pair of games in the Grow the Game showcase. Stevenson, Glenbard East, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove South hosted games, while out-of-state/-town teams Fishers (Indiana), Notre Dame (Wisconsin) Dowling Catholic (Iowa), Alton (Illinois) and Normal (Illinois) University played in the 43-team event that celebrates and honors the work women and girls are doing in basketball. Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner had assistant coach Addie Quiles serve as head coach at Grow the Game.
Emma Jocson and Maliyah Mays were Vernon Hills’ leading scorers at the Grow the Game event — both are freshmen. “They both handle the ball a lot and do a lot for us,” Brettner said. “They are making great strides.”
Keira Thomas leads the Cougars in scoring at 10.2 points to go with 5.5 rebounds per game. “We are looking to use the last several games to propel us to a great January,” Brettner added.
Round Lake update: The Panthers recorded recent wins against Richmond-Burton (37-32) and Elmwood Park (30-21) and stood at 6-9 overall and 2-3 in NLCC play.
Tia Barnes averages 9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks, while Lisette Herrera averages 5.9 points and 2 steals. Judy Cerroblanco is at 5.2 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
“Tia Barnes has found ways to score for us and has been a defensive force in the paint with rebounds and blocks,” Round Lake coach Molly Hennig said.
Juniors Heydee Saucedo and Evelyn Vazquez, Hennig added, have been finding ways to contribute to each game. “Their hustle and leadership have been huge for us,” she said. “Evelyn has been on varsity for three years and has been instrumental on defense. Heydee has been one of our best rebounders of late.”
Wauconda update: In the Bulldogs' recent 51-44 NLCC loss to Grayslake Central, Emma Wisniewski led the way with 12 points and 4 rebounds. Grace Parker, Ella Franck and Sarah Palmer (3 steals) each had 6 points, while Alexia Manalo had 4 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds and Helen Macey had 7 rebounds. Wauconda dropped to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in Northern Lake County action.