The end of another season also fuels hope for the next one
Yes, time flies.
It sounds cliché but it really does seem like just yesterday that we were previewing the upcoming girls basketball season and now it's over.
What started with great expectations in every high school gym didn't come to fruition for some, while others will look back and realize what a special season it was.
What each athlete who competed this winter should always remember is that they got the opportunity. Win or lose, having the ability and the opportunity to compete will be reward enough when you think back about your high school years 5, 10, 15, and even 35 years from now. Some of the most special times in my life were and still are because of high school basketball.
To close out the season today, we'll take a brief look at each of our area teams, how they fared, and what they have to look forward to next season. This is done in no particular order.
Elgin: The Maroons turned things around somewhat this season, going from 1 win in 2007-08 to 7 wins this season. With seniors Ellen Holton, Caris Alan and Kayla Jackson leading the way, Elgin was much more competitive this season and if coach Angie Hudson can keep a good number of girls in the program they should be again.
Larkin: It was a tough season for the Royals, who will need to find some scoring help to be successful in the future.
South Elgin: The Storm really turned the corner this year, finishing 17-10 and fashioning a seven-game winning streak late in the season. With juniors Dijon Smith and Alyssa Krause returning, along with all-area freshman guard Becca Smith, look for South Elgin to be very competitive again next season.
Bartlett: The Hawks went 17-11 with the youngest roster in the area. Sophomore Jacki Gulczynski is a force on the court and the freshman trio of Ashley Santos, Kristin Conniff and Haley Videckis returning along with several other capable sophomores and juniors, coach Denise Sarna's bunch has to be thinking they can contend for the Upstate Eight championship next year. Speaking of Sarna, she'll be doing commentary today on the IHSA's telecast of the Class 3A state semifinals from Redbird Arena in Normal.
Streamwood: An improved season with a host of returning players has Sabres coach George Rosner looking for even better things next year. Juniors Melissa Oehlerking and Cait Marchant, and sophomore Emma Schmidt all had productive enough seasons to give the Sabres cause for hope next year. And, freshman Amanda Patterson is a diamond in the rough. As Rosner closes in on retirement, it would be nice to see the IBCA Hall of Fame inductee go out with a couple of winning seasons.
Dundee-Crown: Michelle Russell knew when she took the D-C job that it would be a rebuilding year for the Chargers and it was. But even though they won only 2 games, the Chargers did become more competitive as the season went on. Juniors Megan Fasanella and Lindsey Mosher return next year to lead the way.
Jacobs: Another 20-win season for coach Ed Haugens and the Golden Eagles didn't result in any championships, but Jacobs was in the mix all the way. And there's a fine group returning that includes juniors Hailey Cnota, Maria Tamburrino, Katy Cook and Sierra Dunner as well as freshman Cassidy Sherman, who had her season cut short early on due to an injury. Look for the Golden Eagles to be right in the thick of the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division race again next year.
Cary-Grove: The Trojans went 22-7 and finished second in the FVC Valley and while they lose a fine talent in senior Tori Sandstrom, coach Rod Saffert's returning group is exceptionally talented. A lot of coaches would die to have talent like Claire Jakubicek, Liz Bart and Meg Straumann, among others, returning. Look for the Trojans to be knocking on the conference title door again next year. Will it open?
Crystal Lake South: A banner season for the Gators and no reason to think they can't have another one next year. South finished a school record 26-5, won the FVC Valley title, and made it to the sectional championship game for the first time since 1984. While players like Carly Juliano, Caitlin Mize and Jessica Taldone will be tough to replace, coach Kyle McCaughn does smile a little when he realizes he's got kids like Katie Burton, Michelle Gaede, Jenny Hanrahan and Molly Benoit coming back.
Huntley: The Red Raiders jumped up to Class 4A this year and had another strong season, winning their third straight regional championship and finishing 18-12 overall. With junior Hillary Johnson and sophomores Kadie Lowery and Carly Goede returning, coach Steve Raethz's club will certainly look to challenge for the FVC Fox title next season.
Burlington Central: The Rockets will have a new coach next season but he or she won't find the cupboard bare. Juniors Jordan Maisto and Taylor Colby, the team's leading scorers, both return and Maisto was the area's leading 3-point shooter this season. Six-foot sophomore Alli Settanni has also showed promise this season as coach Wade Maisto's team went 16-13.
Hampshire: While coach Sue Ellett will have a lot to replace in senior point guards Kelly Plichta and Gia Estocado and senior sharpshooter Christine Schuamcher, no coach could be unhappy about having Christina Heine, Cassie Dumoulin and Alex Dumoulin to start a team with. After a 24-5 season that included the Big Northern East title and a regional championship, the Whip-Purs will be looking to take the next step next year.
St. Edward: Only one completely out of touch with reality would think coach Michelle Dawson and the Green Wave will be able to replace Katie Yohn. Can't be done. But Yohn's influence and tutelage of players like junior Kristi Knott and freshmen Maddie Kerr and Callie Johnson, as well as sophomore point guard Enza Ranallo, will surely live on. Don't count this group out of anything next year.
Westminster Christian: With juniors Rachel Doby and Sarah Rodgers returning to lead the way the Warriors should be improved again next year.
Elgin Academy: The Hilltoppers showed some promise this season and with players like junior Alssya Pena and freshman Alexandria Lee returning, they should be competitive in the Independent School League again.
Final rant: Before we officially wrap up the season I have to go on a little rant. Last year at this time I wrote the jury was out on the IHSA's new four-class system.
The finding here is guilty. Guilty of watering down the state tournament, guilty of creating havoc with schedules and guilty of costing schools too much travel money in these trying economic times.
Sorry, but as much as I am for kids experiencing the state tournament and winning championships and all that, I do not like four classes. I thought all along expanding to three classes would have been enough but now I even wonder about that.
More than anything I hate the state tournament format and that's one of a variety of reasons I'll be content to watch on TV this weekend instead of being courtside. After 13 straight girls state tournaments, I just feel like the luster is gone.
Gone is walking onto the Redbird court on Friday for the biggest game of your life, because if you lost you'd have to sit in the stands all day Saturday and watch the other teams play. Now if you lose on Friday you still get a chance to redeem yourself on Saturday, and that's just not the state tournament as it should be.
And what about those teams that go 0-2 at Redbird. "Oh yeah, we took fourth in the state but we were 0-2 at the state finals."
Big deal.
It's time for the basketball advisory committee and the IHSA to take a serious look at the economic impact of four classes more than anything, and I'll bet you a Florida suntan that it's more negative than positive.
Sorry, rant's over now. I think it's time to watch Hoosiers and see if Chitwood's shot goes in again.
jradtke@dailyherald.com