Scouting Elgin Academy Hilltoppers

Elgin Academy Hilltoppers

Coach Vicente Pena (2nd year, 12-13)

Conference Independent School League

Last year 12-13 (5th place Independent School League)

Top returners Seniors Lauren Steimle (5-4, G), Alyssa Pena (5-5, F); junior Caitlin Ward (5-6, F); sophomores Ashley Barnes (5-2, G), Angie Martinez (5-4, G)

Top newcomers Freshmen Brigitte Keslinke (5-6, C-F), Elle Johnson (5-7, C)

Outlook The Hilltoppers return four starters from last year's team in Steinle, Pena, Ward and Barnes. "Our strengths will be our speed and the leadership from our two seniors (Steinle and Pena-a second-team all-ISL pick last year) who have both been four-year varsity players. They will help us." Pena has high hopes for his team on the defensive side of the ball. "Our defense will do really well," said Pena. "We're small, so we have to use our speed." The transition game is something Pena points to as paramount to the team's improvement. "It will be a really big key for us if we can transition well from offense to defense," said Pena. "We definitely have the potential to do better than last year. We have to keep working on our help-side defense and our positioning on defense." Keslinke and Johnson will be counted on to contribute as ninth-graders. "They can help us out a lot, but they have to step in and grow real quick as a player and as a teammate on a team where they have been playing together for the last couple of years," said Pena. In terms of the ISL, Pena said teams like Latin School, University High and Morgan Park Academy will be teams to keep an eye on. The Hilltoppers open play in their own Thanksgiving tournament next Friday.