Scouting: Harvest Christian

Harvest Christian Lions

Coach: Rich DeTamble (2nd season, 25-7)

Conference: Northeastern Athletic

2014-2015 record: 25-7, 8-0

Top returning players: Paulina Castro (Sr., 5-8, G), Rachel Oostdyk (Sr., 6-2, C), Isamar Garcia (So., 5-6, G), Nygia Pollard (So., 5-7, G-F), Emma Stotz (So., 5-7, F), Alyssa Iverson (So., 5-8, G), Taylor Keeran (So., 5-5, G)

Top newcomers: Katie Kaldenberger (Jr., 6-2, C), Jenn Kasper (Fr., 5-9, G-F), Grace Callahan (Fr., 6-0, F)

Season outlook: Harvest is set up to continue its run of success, which included conference, regional and sectional titles, plus a trip to a Class 1A supersectional. All-Area guard Castro has committed to Northern Illinois. She averaged 20.7 points a contest and drained 122 of 276 three-point attempts. DeTamble noted the team played a challenging schedule last year and will do so once again this season with preparedness for the postseason in mind. "Our goals and aspirations are to get further than we did last year," he said. "Even though we played a beefed up schedule last season we still were not prepared properly for the postseason. That is on me. Yes, we had a stellar won-loss record, but in the end that might have hurt us. This season we looked at our entire schedule. Our staff discussed how we can get the most out of our team before regionals. We decided to add nonconference opponents that would best help us without looking at wins and losses. Our season ended in the supersectionals not because we didn't have the skills, but rather our girls were not comfortable playing in that situation. We need them to be comfortable being uncomfortable." Harvest again is playing in the Chitown Showdown at Whitney Young and at the Chicagoland Classic at Fremd. DeTamble noted Aurora Christian has joined the conference and will present a tough challenge. "They are well-coached and a tough team. I look for them to be the team to beat," he said. "Other teams coming back stronger will be Luther North and Christian Life. Other teams could be sleepers as our conference is getting stronger." DeTamble is stressing a team-first philosophy. "Bond as a group so all we do comes back to the team," he said. "Never is one player responsible for a team win or a team loss. Our motto of 'One team, one goal, one another' is not just a phrase, it is what we strive for."