Doyle, Benet reload

Benet

Coach: Joe Kilbride.

Last year: 34-3, 12-2, third in East Suburban Catholic Conference; Class 4A champion.

Top players: Kathleen Doyle, sr. PG.; Katie Jaseckas, jr., C; Elise Stout, sr., G; Kendal Schramek, jr., F; Sami Valentine, sr., G; Megan Will, sr., F; Emma Lyne, jr., G.

Scouting report: The Redwings' fortunes will ride primarily on Doyle. The do-it-all guard was All-Area captain and an all-stater last year will play at Nebraska next year. She will again lead the Redwings' stifling press and very fast fastbreak. Doyle might need to score more with Emily Eshoo now at Bradley and Emily Schramek at Northern Michigan, and if she does she should be a leading candidate for Ms. Basketball. Stout also is a returning starter and showed last year she can hold her own, as did Jaseckas in the post. The Redwings should again have plenty of depth, with junior transfer Ali Kramer finding time, along with 6-foot-1 freshman Lauren Stack. They will again be tested by a tough schedule, both in the ESCC and the nonconference slate. If the newcomers fit in well, it could be another long, fun season for Benet.

Carmel

Coach: Kelly Perz (sixth season)

Last season: 8-21, 2-8 in ESCC, lost to Mundelein in Class 4A regional play-in

Key losses: F Emma Rappe (Bemidji State)

Returning players: Sr. G Alexa Amato (5-6), Sr. G Dani DeLozier (5-7), Jr. F Daija Pruitt (5-9), Jr. G Jillian Johnson (5-4)

Newcomers: So. G Ava Speer (5-5), Jr. G Jennifer Giesey (5-6), Jr. F Mary Kate Mooney (5-10), Jr. G Danielle Amato (5-4), Jr. G Jaclyn Psenka (5-8), Jr. F Grace Phillips (5-11), Jr. F Maeve O'Malley (5-9), Jr. F Anna Hoffman (5-8), So. F Maddie Motzel (5-10)

Outlook: Hit hard by graduation after winning a Class 3A sectional championship in 2014, the Corsairs, as expected, struggled last season. They return only two starters in junior forward Daija Pruitt and senior guard Alexa Amato, whose shot-making of another kind earned her a berth in the state golf tournament this fall. “Daija is really good in the low post, and Alexa is really offensively skilled,” coach Kelly Perz said. “We just got to work on getting them the ball in spots where they can do something with it.” Senior guard Dani DeLozier played a little last season and led the Corsairs with 15 points in their season-opening loss to Glenbrook South at Mundelein on Monday. Guard Jillian Johnson, who played a lot as a sophomore on varsity last season, tore her ACL playing lacrosse last spring and figures to miss the first half of the season. The only seniors are Amato and DeLozier. There are nine juniors plus sophomores Ava Speer and Maddie Motzel. Junior forwards Mary Kate Mooney and Anna Hoffman joined Pruitt, Amato and DeLozier in the Opening Night starting lineup. “We're young,” Perz said. “(Monday) was the first varsity game for a lot of them, and it showed.” Perz is carrying 12 players —not counting Johnson —which is higher than in past years. “The attitudes on this team are so good,” Perz said. “Everyone is really willing to work hard and listen. I think (the season) is going to be a lot of fun.”

St. ViatorCoach: Jason Raymond (first season)

Last year's record: 11-16, 3-7

Graduated payers: Bridget Finnegan, Madison McAteer, Jessica Hohlweg, Kayne Stanley

Returning Players: Olivia Solimene (So. G), Grace McNamara (So. G), Julia Bergstrom (Sr. G), Myia Clark (So. G)

Newcomers: Elise Horbach (FR. G), Carrie Leazer (Fr. F), Haley Robinson (So. F), Michaela Mueller (So. G), Maeve Schumacher (So. G), Jenna Breslin (Jr. C), Betsy Pineda (Jr G), Melissa Cortese (Jr. G), Sara Malas Jr G), Sarah Schade (Jr G), Maggie Leazer (Sr. G)

Outlook: First year Lions coach Jason Raymond, who has been a head softball coach at Carmel and underlevel basketball coach for the Corsairs, expects Bergstrom and Maggie Leazer to help lead a young squad. Bergstrom is beginning her fourth year in the program while Leazer, a soccer standout, returns to basketball after a year away. “They will lead a young, athletic and inexperienced team,” Raymond said. “Both have been excellent leaders for our young squad in our early season practices” Raymond anticipates some growing pains at times but he said the Lions expect to play a tough brand of basketball. “With all of the young talent on the roster, we anticipate great growth as the year progresses,” he said. In addition to the seniors, sophomores Olivia Solimene, Grace McNamara and all-area guard Clark return after earning valuable varsity experience last year. The Lions feature 13 underclassmen and will rely heavily on defense in order to compete against a strong schedule this season. “Defense along with an up-tempo attack will be the trademarks of the program,” Raymond added. “We have significantly upgraded our athleticism this year and that will be important because we do not possess a lot of height.” The Lions' goals are to win more than 15 games, finish in the top half of the ESCC and win a regional.