Scouting Rolling Meadows girls basketball
Rolling Meadows
Coach: Todd Hatfield (third season)
Last year's record: 14-18, 0-10
Graduated players: Kelly Adair, Rene Poellinetz, Jacklyn Grummel, Maryclare Loughery
Returning Players: Colleen Clark (5-8 Sr. G), Madelynn Conlin (5-6 Sr. G), Amanda Gunn (5-8 Jr. G), Morgan Keller (6-0, So. C), Ann Marie Lynch (5-8 Jr. G), Sara Shumaker (5-11 Sr. F), Josie Suchecki (5-8 Jr. F)
Newcomers: Alexis Glasgow (5-9 Fr. G), Jacqueline Kemph (5-6 Fr. G), Emma Simonson (5-7 Jr. G), Julie Unti (5-7 Jr. G), Jennifer Vliet (5-11 Fr. F)
Outlook: Hatfield watched last season's team break the school's defensive record set by his first team (2007-08) by giving up 36.8 ppg. Conlin (7.2 ppg, 35 3-pointers) and Shumaker (5.3 rebounds) look to lead the Mustangs while Hatfield will also look for versatility from Lynch (132 assists, 223 rebounds in her first two seasons). "Once Conlin gets herself into basketball shape (from swimming), we know she'll pick up where she left off last year and continue to hit big shots for us," Hatfield said. "Shumaker's game has made a complete transformation and she's emerged as the leader of this group." Lynch put in a lot of summer work. "While she's played the point guard for us these past two seasons, she's going to see minutes at four different positions for us this year," Hatfield said.
"We're counting on these three (Lynch, Conlin and Shumaker) to do a lot for us this year and I know they're ready for the challenge." Gunn has two years of varsity experience while Keller, who came on strong toward the end of last year, is eager for an increased role. Freshmen newcomers Glasgow, Kemph, and Vliet have been a part of this program ever since Hatfield took over, working in the feeder program. "We have a great feeder program and they came to us already knowing both our offensive and defensive terminology and philosophies," Hatfield said. "You will not hear any excuses about this team being young, this group of freshmen is ready to contribute and if they weren't they wouldn't be up on varsity." The Mustangs have no real expectations and are just hoping to compete in yet another strong MSL East race. "If this group can just stay focused and hungry for the duration of the season, everything else will take care of itself," Hatfield added.