Scouting Hampshire Whip-Purs

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Coach: Ed Haugens (2nd year at Hampshire, 177-68 career record)

Conference: Fox Valley (Fox Division)

2010-11 record: 27-3 (10-0 in final year in Big Northern East)

Top returning players: Grace Jakubowski (5-5 G), Michelle Dumoulin (5-8 G/F), Jenny Dumoulin (5-9 G/F), Tiffany Bentley (5-8 G/F).

Top newcomers: Elisa Wood (5-11 F/C), Lizzy Panzica (5-10 F/C), Sara Finn (5-5 G), Abby Burke (5-8 G/F), Sam Okubo (5-5 G).

Outlook: It's not often that Hampshire girls basketball goes through a rebuilding season but this could be one of those, as the Whip-Purs go into the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division for the first time and leave behind a 29-game winning streak in the Big Northern East. "We're playing schools the same size as us," said Haugens, "all it is is the bus going in a different direction." Regardless of conference, Hampshire will have to replace the likes of graduated all-area standouts Alex Dumoulin, Karla Vietinghoff and Jessie Van Dorin, who averaged a combined 37 points and 17 rebounds per game last season as the Whip-Purs won a regional title on top of another conference crown. "We're a little shorter than last year so we're working hard and placing the focus on fundamentals and rebounding," Haugens said. "Taking care of the basketball and shot selection will be a key for us, and we'll have to rebound the heck out of the basketball." Jakubowski, Michelle Dumoulin, Jenny Dumoulin and Bentley all logged significant varsity experience last year so Haugens is confident those four will be the leaders this season. "And," he said, "we're just getting the newcomers to learn where they're supposed to go."