The DuPage County All-Area Girls Basketball Team
Maggie Bair, Glenbard South
A Drake University recruit, Bair has led the Raiders to the Class 3A semifinals for a second consecutive season. The 6-foot-3 senior center averaged a double-double again, with 16.7 points and 13.8 rebounds a game against mostly Class 4A competition. She is an AP first-team Class 3A all-stater. "I can't say enough about her. Offensively, defensively, I think she's a dominant player on both ends of the floor," coach Morgan Kasperek said. "... She pretty much carried us."
Nikki Baird, Wheaton North
An AP honorable mention all-stater, the 6-foot-2 senior guard will play at Belmont University. She was all-DuKane Conference. Baird averaged 17.2 points a game. "It has been amazing to watch Nikki grow as a player and a leader for our team. She is truly one of the best shooters I've ever seen and has turned into one of the best players in our state. As good of a player she is, fails to compare to the leader she is in our school and our basketball program. Nikki is one of the best to ever walk the halls of Wheaton North," coach Dave Eaton said.
Mira Emma, WW South
The senior was the perfect point guard for the Tigers' system. Emma earned co-player of the year honors in the DuKane Conference. A strong ballhandler who knows how to use her body to shield the ball from defenders, Emma was a big reason the Tigers reached the Class 4A supersectional. She will play soccer at Iowa State. "She is without a doubt the toughest kid I've ever coached. You take somebody who's 5-foot-2, maybe, and she was not only our leading scorer but our leading rebounder - by a lot," coach Rob Kroehnke said.
Ellie Gross, Downers Grove North
The junior point guard led one of the stingiest defenses around while guiding a very efficient offense. She averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game for a team that won 22 games. Gross was all-West Suburban Silver and all-tournament at Schaumburg and Wheaton North. "Ellie is one of the greatest competitors I've ever had the opportunity to coach, but this season Ellie also became a scorer. We knew she was capable all along, but she finally trusted herself and her ability to score," coach Stephan Bolt said.
Jalyn Harris, Downers Grove North
The 6-foot-3 senior will play at Emporia State. She earned all-West Suburban Silver honors while averaging 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks a game for a team that won 22 games. "We are very proud of Jalyn's commitment to her teammates, our program and to the process of getting better this season. She has improved a great deal over the last two years and was a huge contributor to our success this year," coach Stephan Bolt said.
Katelyn Heller, Glenbard West
The senior took over at point guard this season and led the Hilltoppers to a 22-win season and West Suburban Silver title. Heller averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game. "Katelyn is an exceptional floor general who is athletic, fast and has a tremendous work ethic," coach Kristi Faulkner said. "She was one of our captains this year and is an outstanding competitor who greatly impacted our program the last two years." Heller will play at Illinois Wesleyan.
Kendall Holmes, Benet
The 5-foot-11 junior forward got better as the season went along. She was all-East Suburban Catholic Conference, AP second-team all-state, all-tournament at Montini and MVP at the Benet/Naperville North tourney. She averaged 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals a game and made 81 percent of her free throws. "Kendall became one of our most reliable scorers this year," coach Joe Kilbride said. "... I think Kendall will be very good at the next level because she is a true three-level scorer who can shoot the 3, pull up, or get to the rim and finish with either hand."
Taylor Huff, Glenbard West
The 6-foot-2 junior center helped the Hilltoppers to another 20-win season and a second straight West Suburban Silver title. She averaged 11.9 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. Huff made 81 percent of her free throws and was MVP of the District 87 tournament. "Taylor is a tough matchup who is strong and crafty around the rim but can also step out and hit the 3. She led us in offensive efficiency," coach Kristi Faulkner said.
Greta Kampschroeder, Naperville North
The DuPage Valley Conference Player of the Year and an AP second-team all-stater, the 6-foot sophomore led the Huskies to the DVC championship. All-tournament at the WarHawk, Benet/Naperville North and Oswego East, she averaged 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.9 assists a game. "Greta meant so much to our team this year as she is an all-everything type of player who defends, rebounds, passes extremely well and is a multifaceted scorer inside and out. There's nothing she can't do and we use her talents in various ways," coach Jason Dycus said.
Sara Krissinger, York
The junior guard led the Dukes to another strong season with 10.5 points a game. She also averaged 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals. "Sara has stepped up this season and done an incredible job leading her team in both scoring and rebounding," coach Brandon Collings said. "I am excited to see, with continued improvement, just how good she can be next season in her senior year." Krissinger was all-West Suburban Silver and all-tournament at the Dukes' Thanksgiving tourney.
Holly Lueken, Downers Grove South
The only thing that could stop the senior forward was a severe ankle injury that forced Lueken to miss the final couple of weeks of the season. She will play at Colgate. She was all-West Suburban Gold, and all-tournament at both York and Oswego East. "Holly is a 6-foot-1 athlete that can bring it on both sides of the court. She averaged 3 blocks a game on the defensive end and scored 21 points a game for us offensively. She is a great leader as well," coach Lyndsie Long said.
Zoe MacKay Zacker, Montini
The senior guard rebounded from three ACL injuries that cost her most of her first three seasons. "I was very, very pleased that she got to fulfill playing a full high school season," coach Jason Nichols said. She was all-GCAC Red and all-tournament at Harvest Christian, Marian Catholic and Montini's Christmas tournament. She led the Broncos to 30 wins and a sectional final appearance. She had 81 assists and 91 steals while averaging 8.4 points a game. She also made 38 percent of her 3-point shots.
Katelyn McCann, Willowbrook
Lost for the season to a knee injury Jan. 10, the senior guard nevertheless was a key reason the Warriors won 20 games after winning just 4 last year. An all-West Suburban Conference and all-Academic WSC player, McCann is a two-time team MVP and team captain. "Katelyn was not only the leading scorer but she was our emotional leader on and off the court," coach Terry Harrell said. "She had the ability and willingness to make the big play at the big time."
Gabi Melby, Naperville Central
Despite missing the first eight games of the season due to a wrist injury, the sophomore point guard had an instant impact. She was all-DuPage Valley Conference. Melby averaged 16.2 points, 5.0 assists and 2.2 steals a game "Gabi is our leader," coach Andy Nussbaum said, "and you could see that coming last year. And she is a competitor. She wants to win. She is a hard-worker. She's talented."
Kennedi Perkins, Hinsdale South
The 5-foot-5 freshman quickly announced herself as one of the best players in DuPage County. A quick and determined athlete, she led the Hornets by averaging 18.7 points a game, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals. Perkins scored 21 points against Benet in a regional semifinal. She was all-West Suburban Gold. "In my opinion, and I'm obviously biased, but she has to be the best freshman in the state, if not the best point guard in the state, period," coach Scott Tanaka said.
Clara Prasse, Benet
The senior point guard led the Redwings to this weekend's Class 4A semifinals. Prasse made 42 percent of 3-pointers, averaging 6.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game. She is nearing Kathleen Doyle's school all-time assist record. "Clara is our coach on the floor," coach Joe Kilbride said. "She does a great job of finding her teammates in scoring positions and is unselfish to a fault, but her most important attributes are her attitude and intelligence."
Darrione Rogers, Lake Park
The All-Area team captain, Rogers scored 40 points or more four times, leading DuPage County in scoring by 7.5 points a game with a 26.7 average despite often seeing double- and triple-teams when she got the basketball. Rogers also added 10.0 rebounds a game. The 5-foot-11 junior guard/forward is committed to play at DePaul. Rogers was the DuKane Conference co-player of the year and AP first-team all-state.
Brooke Schramek, Benet
A 6-foot-1 junior forward committed to Wisconsin, Schramek was all-East Suburban Catholic Conference and an AP honorable mention all-stater. She is averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks a game entering the Class 4A semifinals. "Brooke is a mismatch for everyone we play," coach Joe Kilbride said. "She can post up or make 3s, she attacks the offensive glass and is one of our best full-court defenders. When driving downhill she is almost unstoppable and gets to the free-throw line nearly twice as much as everyone else on our team."
Sophie Sullivan, Montini
The freshman guard took over at the point when senior Sam Mitchell was injured in November and impressed from the start. She made 35 percent of her 3-pointers, 85 total, far surpassing expectations. "I thought she could hit between 50 and 60 3s," coach Jason Nichols said. She also had just 48 turnovers on the season against 121 assists. Sullivan scored 10.4 points a game and had 81 steals. She was all-GCAC Red and led the Broncos to 30 wins and a sectional final appearance.
Tatiana Thomas, Montini
The 5-foot-11 freshman forward was a rebounding machine, grabbing 398 on the season to make an immediate impact. Thomas also had 89 assists and 103 steals while averaging 9.7 points a game. She helped the Broncos to 30 wins and a sectional final appearance. "The incredible power and strength that this freshman had was just amazing, and if her skill sets improve, watch the heck out for her," coach Jason Nichols said.
Honorable mention
Alexus Arzola, Fenton, Sr., F; Kate Chaparro, St. Francis, So, G; Lauren Cohen, Glenbard South, So., G; Casey Darre, Lake Park, Sr., G; Claudia Gallegos, Neuqua Valley, So., F; Serena Gilliam, Addison Trail, Sr., F; Maggie Greco, Downers Grove South, Sr., G; Lauren Huber, Glenbard East, So., G; Claire Hyde, Wheaton North, Fr., G; Frankie Kokkines, Montini, Sr., G; Ashley Konkle, Benet, Sr., F; Lauren McKnight, Waubonsie Valley, So., G; Kara Rivard, Naperville North, Jr., G; Kylie Ruggles, WW South, Sr., G; Hannah Schuringa, Timothy Christian, So., F; MacKenzie Stebbins, WW South, Sr., G; Maggie Stutelberg, Glenbard West, So., G; Megan Thompson, Westmont, So., G; Tess Thompson, Metea Valley, Sr., F; McKenzie Weaver, Lisle, Sr., G.