Scouting Carmel Catholic girls basketball

CARMEL CATHOLIC

COACH: Kelly Perz (first season)

LAST SEASON: 14-16, 3-7 in East Suburban Catholic

LOSSES: C Kristine Ruhl, G Juli Taylor

RETURNEES: Sr. G Erin Quinn, Jr. G Jackie Meier, Sr. C Beth Scudder, Jr. G Madeline Felipez, Jr. F Sarah McHugh, Jr. F Kaitlyn Lynch, Sr. F Jacque Hoeft, Sr. F Tylee Resetich

NEWCOMERS: Jr. G Meg Hebb, Jr. G Rachel Koesser, Jr. F Mary McGrail, So. C Kayla Quinn

OUTLOOK: The Corsairs' two starting guards can play and score. Senior Erin Quinn and junior Jackie Meier each pumped in 13 points in the Corsairs' season-opening win over Grayslake North on Monday. Quinn dropped 18 points on Rolling Meadows in a loss Tuesday. Meier's 23 points led Carmel to victory against Highland Park on Wednesday. But hold up. With all due respect to Quinn and Meier, new coach Kelly Perz the former Kelly Krombach, who graduated from Carmel in 2000 is being realistic about the offensive ability on her squad. “We don't have any superstars,” Perz said. “So we're going to have to win games as a team. That's it. We can't beat teams one on one. Usually we can't really outscore them. We just have to hold them to fewer points than we get.”

That said, Perz knows she has some talent and girls with the right attitude. A lot will be expected of point-guard Quinn, who's been on varsity since her sophomore year. “She's definitely our leader, on and off the court,” Perz said. “She really matured over the summer. She's kind of taken that (leadership) role and embraced it. I expect good things from her.” Much will be expected, too, of senior center Beth Scudder, who is playing her fourth season on varsity. Juniors Meier, Madeline Felipez, Sarah McHugh and Kaitlyn Lynch all got lots of minutes last winter. Another veteran who will help is Perz's assistant, Roger Lass. He was Grayslake Central's head coach the last three years.