Scouting Downers Grove South girls basketball

Downers Grove South

Coach: Ellen O’Brien.

Last year: 16-11 overall, 8-4 (third) in the West Suburban Gold; lost to Oswego East 52-48 in the Class 4A Downers Grove South regional semifinal.

Top players: Allison Dec, sr., F; Sarrah Ludwig, sr., G/F; Michelle Mitchell, sr., G/F; Erin Bommersbach, sr., G; Goda Galdikaite, sr., C; Kirsten Zemke, jr., F; Claire Hardy, so., G/F; Kaley Smith, so., F/C.

Scouting report: O’Brien won’t be sure what kind of team she has until she sees the players in an actual game. “We’re pretty rusty from the summer,” she said. “We’re lucky we don’t have to open early.” The plan is to use the versatility of Ludwig and Dec to push the tempo and play fast. Both were starters a year ago, averaged close to 16 points and 11 rebounds combined a game and need to pick up the slack left by a trio of graduated starters — including all-conference guard Carly Saraceno. If necessary, the Mustangs are also comfortable slowing the pace of games. O’Brien is hopeful her team can fall somewhere among the area’s top teams. “We’re probably somewhere in the middle,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to tell.”