Waubonsie-Neuqua game fits with strong rivalry
Waubonsie Valley coach Kim Connell knows she's still a novice to the Neuqua Valley rivalry.
"It hasn't been ingrained in me yet," said the second-year Warriors coach. "To me it's just a conference game and they're a good team."
Still, she knows better.
Connell's No. 4 Warriors pay a visit tonight to one of the area's most pleasant early surprises in No. 5 Neuqua.
Waubonsie (8-1), with Neuqua transfers Becky Williford, Rachael Ross and Erica Jordan aboard, hammered Neuqua 56-34 in last year's only meeting. This year's Neuqua team comes in 6-0. Junior guard Megan Doody is averaging over 18 points per game, and starting guard Malia Smith leads a talented group of six Neuqua freshmen. Connell was in attendance for Neuqua's eye-opening overtime win over Wheaton North to start the season.
"We know we're in for a ballgame," Connell said. "Up and down, the amount they sub, they're much better than last year."
Neuqua will be playing its first home game. Coach Mike Williams' biggest concern is how his young kids handle the crosstown rivalry atmosphere for the first time.
"We want to win, but we're also looking down the line," Williams said. "We need experiences like these to grow and mature a little bit."
Jordan cleared to return: A short Waubonsie rotation could get a big boost sooner than expected. Junior Erica Jordan, considered the Warriors' defensive "stopper," has been cleared to practice this week. Jordan tore the ACL in her left knee in July, but didn't have surgery on it until September. Connell originally hoped for a January return, but Jordan should be back to practice Wednesday.
"It's my first player to have an ACL, so in my mind it's kind of soon," Connell said. "I have no idea how she's going to look. It will probably be a slow process."
Connell would love to have Jordan back at full strength by the time the playoffs roll around in February.
"She's excited to get back at it, yet not knowing all she can do," Connell said. "Anything will be a positive, getting her back."
It's a family affair: Family bloodlines and basketball will mix tonight when No. 13 Geneva travels to No. 10 West Chicago. Geneva senior Katelyn Allen, a bit player a year ago but now a Vikings starter, is the niece of West Chicago coach Kim Wallner.
Allen is no stranger to Bishop Gym. She was the lone non-West Chicago girl to play for Wallner's Wildcat feeder team in grades 6-8.
"She's been teasing me, saying this will be like playing in her home gym," Wallner said. "I told her 'we'll see about that.' We're both pretty competitive. It's fun to go back and forth."
Funny thing is, Katelyn looks more like Wallner than Kim's sister and Katelyn's mom Kelly Allen. Katelyn also possesses Kim's competitive juices to go with a nice outside shot and good passing ability.
Wallner has already seen three Geneva games this year, at least a half-dozen last season.
"I probably scout that team more than any other," Wallner said. "With the talent on that team you don't get to see everything Katelyn is capable of doing. The best thing about her is she's a team player, a good kid to have on your team."
Learning from the best: Like many young basketball players, Wheaton North senior Fantasia Vine counts Derrick Rose as her favorite player.
Recently, though, Falcons coach Dave Eaton sat Vine down to watch Duke freshman Kyrie Irving's 31-point Picasso against Michigan State.
"I showed her how at different points and times he's reading the floor and he's not predetermining what he's going to do," Eaton said. "He's reading the defense. I've told her you just have to play your game. Don't think too much out there."
If there is any criticism of Vine's game, it's that the Falcons' Bradley-bound star is too unselfish at times.
"I've told her, even next year at Bradley, she needs to just play her game," Eaton said. "She has to impose herself on other teammates. You look at Irving. Duke's biggest games all year, he has risen to the occasion."
Eaton had his team watch the Duke-Michigan State and Duke-Butler games this week. Last year they watched a conversation Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had with Bob Knight about ex-Duke and Glenbrook North star Jon Scheyer.
"Coach K was describing Scheyer and Knight said 'the thing I love about him is he just cares about winning,'" Eaton said. "It's neat to hear those guys talk about the game of basketball. It's good for the kids to hear that from somebody other than me, to see their passion for the game."
Tough start in Hinsdale: Hard to believe, but 0-6 Hinsdale Central is the only winless team left in DuPage County.
The county's winningest program over the last decade might be looking at its first losing season since 1990.
It isn't all bad news for Red Devils fans, though. Two-time All-Area captain Toni Kokenis is getting significant minutes as one of the top subs for No. 3-ranked Stanford. The Cardinal will be in town to play DePaul Dec. 16 and host top-ranked UConn Dec. 30.