York, Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove North lead the way
Addison Trail
Coach: Rob Schader.
Last year: 4-24, 1-11 in West Suburban Conference Gold Division. Lost to Elk Grove 49-28 in the first round of the Class 4A regionals.
Top players: Maria Koulogeorgas, sr., G; Nicole Pudlo, sr., G; Tegan Graff, sr., Post; Marina Stokes, sr., G; Ksymena Kwasnik, sr., G.
Scouting report: “We will have a good mix of girls this year with the ability to be successful if they can stay healthy and rebound the basketball,” said Schader, who opens his 10th season as the Blazers' coach. “We should be much improved and we are excited to get the season under way. Leadership will be key with this team along with sharing the basketball and playing solid team defense.” Look for junior guards Alyssa Pham and Marie Baumgartner and sophomore guard Nicci Scorza to provide backcourt depth, while post players Diamond Pikulyk, Jasmin Mehmeti, Diana Graciano and Symone Jones-Tate will provide a boost down low.
Downers Grove North
Coach: Stephan Bolt
Last year: 14-14, 4-8 West Suburban Conference Silver Division, lost to Bolingbrook in the regional semifinal.
Top players: Jaida Green, sr. G; Lauren Porcelli, sr. G; Madison Farnsworth, sr. F/C; Brigit Miller, jr. G; Colleen Miller, jr. G; Nicole Salerno, sr. F.
Scouting report: Any talk about the Trojans must begin with Green, the Penn State recruit who averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game a year ago. But Downers Grove North is far from a one player show; Porcelli averaged 8.6 points a contest as a junior, while Farnsworth, both Millers and Salerno also return with experience. “I believe we will be deeper than we have been in the past,” Bolt said. “Defensively, we expect to be a lot better than last year, and on the offensive end, I think we should have different people step up in different games.” A challenging schedule will once again test the Trojans, who were hit with the injury bug in 2014-15. “They work hard, have a great attitude and are willing to learn and be coached,” Bolt said.
Downers Grove South
Coach: Lyndsie Long
Last year: 10-2 second in West Suburban Conference Gold Division, lost to Romeoville in the regional semifinals.
Top players: Addyson Wesolowski, jr. G; Kasandra Rugienius, jr. F; Marissa Metz, so. F; Jen Masello, so. F
Scouting report: The Mustangs took a nice step forward in the win column a year ago and will look to carry that momentum into this winter behind a young roster that includes only three seniors. Wesolowski and Rugienius lead the way after contributing as sophomores. “What stands out the most with this group is their willingness to work hard and give 100 percent effort,” Long said. “They compete very hard in practice and it's going to be fun watching them compete just the same in games.” Downers Grove South has more height than in recent seasons with newcomers Metz and Masello both over 6-feet tall. “Offensively, we should be able to score more in the paint,” Long said. “We have some great shooters as well so the inside/outside presence will be nice.” Rebounding will be a key for the Mustangs, who hope to again be among the top teams in the West Suburban Gold.
Glenbard West
Coach: Karen Persinger.
Last year: 3-24, 0-12, West Suburban Conference Silver Division; lost in first round of regional.
Top players: Lauren Daggett, sr., G; Ellen Daniels, sr., F; Grey Hayes, sr., G; Catherine Reedy, jr., G; Zoe O'Day, jr., G; Samantha Skirvin, jr., G; Sammy Harris, so., G.
Scouting report: Last season was rough, but Persinger sees a better season ahead. “Offensively, I believe with the experience we return and with the additions we have made to the varsity we will have increased scoring opportunities. We have multiple girls who can provide offense out of our sets or create on their own,” Persinger said. The Hilltoppers have starters back in Daggett, Daniels and Hayes, and a year experience in Persinger's system can only help. Said the coach: “Last year we laid a solid defensive foundation and philosophy to build off of. We will continue to focus on and look to improve on playing pressure defense for four quarters and establishing the tempo we wish to play at.” Skirvin and the scrappy Harris provide help off the bench. “Depth coming off the bench should allow us to continue to improve on our pressure defense,” she said.
Hinsdale Central
Coach: Tom McKenna.
Last year: 21-10, 9-3 second in West Suburban Conference Silver Division, lost to Trinity in sectional semifinal.
Top players: Gilley Martinelli, sr. F; Paige Bareck, jr. G; Riley Burr, jr. F; Grace Hartzman, jr. G; Hannah Smiles, sr. G.
Scouting report: The Red Devils bring back a strong nucleus, though that group took a blow with the torn-ACL of Martinelli in May, leaving the senior and returning all-conference performer out until around Christmas. Bareck averaged about nine points a game in 2014-15 and Burr was at 8 points and 7 rebounds. Hartzman goes from the first person off the bench to the starting point guard. The bench is talented but is inexperienced and untested. “We are very athletic,” McKenna said. “We have good shooters and we get up and down the floor very well. We can do basketball things; we can handle the ball, we can shoot, we can pass.” Expect the scoring to be balanced after the graduation of all-time leading scorer Gabrielle Rush, while on the other end, Hinsdale Central will look to pressure the ball to make up for its lack of height. “It might be kind of a roller-coaster ride at first until we settle in, but I think eventually, we will be very, very good.”
Hinsdale South
Coach: Brett Love
Last year: 15-15, 5-7 fifth in West Suburban Conference Gold Division, lost to Proviso East in regional semifinal.
Top players: Sydney Kopp, sr. G; Cheyanne Stage, sr. C; Tatyana Presley, sr. G; Terri Jackson, sr. G; Joanna Bassig, sr. G.
Scouting report: The Hornets should start five seniors, one of whom Kopp, who enters her fourth varsity campaign after averaging 16.5 points a game last year. Stage was the leading rebounder in 2014-15 with 5.8 per contest. Presley, Jackson and Bassig round out the four guard lineup. “With those five seniors, we have amazing chemistry,” Love said, “and I think that will make a huge difference with our defense and getting things done.” Three freshmen — Emily Koziol, Andrea Nkansah and Jamilah Cooper — could also pay instant dividends for Hinsdale South, which will look to push the ball on offense while holding the opposition down via its man-to-man defense. The Hornets expect to pose a challenge in the West Suburban Gold. “We are looking to compete with anybody and everybody,” Love said. “We want to outwork and outsmart everybody and make sure we are doing all the basketball IQ things.”
LeydenCoach: Stephanie Kuzmanic (second season)
Last year's record: 8-19, 1-13
Graduated players: Alondra Chavarria, Catherine Elliott, Sofia Murillo, Amanda Rodriguez, Christina Leon
Returning players: Rebecca Miranda (5-9 Sr. F), Rebecca Johnson (5-2 Sr. G), Gianna Grande (5-7 Sr. G), Yaneli Dorado (5-6 Sr. G), Artasia Gusman (5-2 Jr. G), Cherish Sepulveda (5-10 Jr. F)
Newcomers: Jenny Ortiz (5-9 Jr. F), Ginani Badillo (5-9 Jr. F), Elvia Herrera (5-7 Jr. F), Kelly Alvarez (5-8 Jr. F), Lucero Chavez (5-4 Jr. G), Annissa Lemon (5-5 So. G), Amalia Figueroa (5-3 So. G), Pamela Colmenares (5-3 So. G)
Outlook: The Eagles are looking to build off the progress they made last season in coach Stephanie Kuzmanic's first season. One key loss is all-area guard Chavarria, a four-year starter who averaged 15.8 points and 3 steals last winter. Gusman returns for her third year on the varsity. The junior guard is capable of scoring in double digits and handing out assists. “Artasia is an excellent leader on and off the court, and will effectively run the floor for us,” said Kuzmanic, a former standout guard for Wheeling High School and Carthage College. Returning starters Sepulveda and Gianna Grande will add valuable contributions as they step into bigger roles. “We have a dedicated group of girls who put a lot of time into their game during the off-season,” Kuzmanic added.
Willowbrook
Coach: Terry Harrell.
Last year: 13-16, 7-5 in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division, third place. Lost 51-35 to Hoffman Estates in the Class 4A regional semifinals.
Top players: Josie Zabran, sr., F; Dani Velazquez, sr., G; Kalyn Konrath, sr., F; Alyssa Spada, sr., G.
Scouting report: The 5-foot-10 Zabran is a force inside, averaging 18 points a game last year before an injury cut her season short. She picked right up with 23 points in Tuesday's season opener. Also back from injury is point guard Velazquez, who played varsity as a sophomore before a torn ACL cost her her junior year for the Warriors. Kalyn Konrath, Spada and junior guard Grace Chantos will round out the starting lineup, with 6-1 Milena Sogura and freshman guard Hannah Konrath the top reserves. “We feel pretty good with what we have returning. We have our top two players back in our point guard and our top post and we expect them to lead the way,” Harrell said.
York
Coach: John Constable.
Last year: 21-8, 9-3 second in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, lost to Bartlett in the regional final.
Top players: Kelly Polte, sr. C; Megan Backman, sr. G; Ellen Foley, sr. G; Jaclyn Saco, jr. G; Kaylin Rufus, so. G; Danielle Dennis, so. F; Hailey Walker, so. G; Kathleen Levins, fr. F/C.
Scouting report: Constable believes this might be the most skilled team he has had in his four years at York. The biggest concern right now is health because the Dukes are already dealing with several injuries. “Early on we could have some struggles,” Constable said. “This group doesn't have a whole lot of continuity together. But by the end, I think we could be a really good team.” Polte is the only returning starter from a year ago, though Backman was the team's leading scorer despite coming off the bench last winter. Foley, Viola and Saco will be counted on, as will the young quartet of Rufus, Dennis, Walker and Levins. “We have so many new faces and a lot don't have varsity experience,” Constable said. “But if we can get them to jell, it could be a good group this year and moving forward.”