With Caudle back in the fold, Vernon Hills rolls

Kayla Caudle, back playing basketball for the first time in more than three weeks, limped out of Vernon Hills' gym with a large bag of ice wrapped around her left ankle.

Cougars fans need not fret.

"Oh, no," the 6-foot junior forward said with a smile. "I'm going to ice for the rest of the season."

As long as that means she will keep playing ball with the same ability as she has the last two seasons, the Cougars will be happy. Caudle returned from a seven-game absence Thursday night and barely looked rusty, as Vernon Hills beat visiting Glenbrook North 64-30 in Central Suburban League North Division action.

Caudle finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. Her putback at the buzzer had the Cougars up 16-4 after one quarter.

"Got to get her back in shape, but she looked good," Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner said.

Caudle hadn't played since the Cougars' season-opening win over Elk Grove on Nov. 13, when she had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The next day in practice, she grabbed a rebound and landed awkwardly on her ankle.

"It's getting better," Caudle said after the Cougars improved to 6-3 and 3-0 in the CSL North. "It's a little sore, but it feels good to be back."

The three-year varsity starter said she has about a dozen scholarship offers. Loyola, DePaul, Western Michigan and Alabama-Birmingham are among the schools that have offered. Without Caudle, their only 6-footer, the Cougars went 4-3.

"It's definitely been tougher because she's our height, she's a huge scorer for us, and she helps us a lot defensively," said Nicole Pieper, whose season- and game-high 16 points against Glenbrook North included three 3-pointers. "I think (her being out) made us come together more. We needed to pick it up because we're not that tall. We had to box out more, we had to talk more, and we had to create more shots for ourselves."

Pieper, who played few meaningful minutes last season, stepped into the starting lineup when Caudle left it and has produced. The 5-6 senior guard has scored in double figures in three straight games. She also had 5 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists against Glenbrook North (5-2, 2-2).

"I've been practicing a lot harder and my team has been pushing me, as well," said Pieper, who along with Rachel D'Argo and Tatiana Guletsky are the Cougars' only seniors. "We have a lot of younger girls. As an older girl on the team, it's pushed me to stand up and lead them."

Even with Caudle back, Vernon Hills continued to get production from other players. Piper Bedell (12 points, two 3-pointers) and Kylie Bunning (11 points, 5 rebounds) also scored in double figures. Freshman Daniella Jarrell had 5 points, including a 3, and 7 rebounds.

"Other kids stepped up great (in Caudle's absence)," Brettner said. "It's been fun coaching this group of kids."

While Caudle returned to the lineup, the Cougars were still not at full strength. Brettner said sophomore guard Abby Brown suffered a torn ACL in practice on Monday. Sophomore guard Emily Singer sat out with an achy foot. Guletsky remained sidelined as she recovers from an ACL injury, and the hope is that she can make her season debut in January.

"What are you going to do?" Brettner said. "We always preach what you can control, what you can't. Just embrace what you got."

Glenbrook North was led by 6-foot senior Morgan Paull, who had 9 points and 12 rebounds.