Season preview: Wauconda

Wauconda

Coach: Jaime Dennis (fourth season)

Last season: 24-4, 11-1 NSC Prairie

Key losses: G Tammy Ellis (Olivet Nazarene University), G Melanie Prudhomme (University of Dubuque, soccer), F Roslyn Summerville (Lewis University, track and field), F Cara Nance, F Maggie Sarich

Returning players: Sr. G Diana Enriquez, Sr. F Chavez Coombs, Sr. G/F Melissa Latham, Sr. F Haley Kramer

Newcomers: Fr. F Jessie Wood, So. G Lauren Nee, Jr. G Maggie LePage, Jr. F Lexie Redmann, Jr. G Andrea Lichterman, Jr. F Becca Michelau, Jr. F Krystal Morris

Season opener: host Crystal Lake Central, 7 p.m. Monday

Outlook: For the first time since she was elevated from assistant coach to head coach, Jaime Dennis does not return an all-area player. Gone are all-area guards Tammy Ellis (12.6 ppg) and Melanie Prudhomme (9.1 ppg), both of whom were great defenders, as well as post Roslyn Summerville. “They were all dedicated athletes,” Dennis said of last season’s senior class. “It’s some big shoes to fill. That was part of the burden of this (season’s) team. They definitely felt it over the summer.” Senior guard Diana Enriquez is the Bulldogs’ only returning starter. She’s entering her third season on varsity. “She’s going to take a lot of the burden,” Dennis said. “I think she’s up for it. She was more of a scorer when she was a freshman on the sophomore team. She’s going to have to go back to that role a little bit more.” Forward Chavez Coombs, who played a lot last season, rebounds well and provides an inside presence. The newcomers include freshman post Jessie Wood, sophomore guard Lauren Nee and junior guard Maggie LePage, whose two older sisters played for the Bulldogs. “Our points are going to come differently,” Dennis said. “The whole look of our team is going to be completely different. We’re very young — and very short.”