1. Fenwick: Coach Dave Power recalls that not long ago Fenwick’s boys team had a player fans might remember–Corey Maggette–but failed to win a state title. And while much of the focus this season is on 6-4 transfer Sarah Kwasinski and 6-2 freshman Erin Lawless, he knows the building blocks already were in place. “Katie O’Grady and Claudette Towers would care less about individual awards,” said Power, referring to his outstanding backcourt. “They’d sacrifice all of that to do something special.” That would be getting to the Elite Eight.
2. Marshall: The defending Class AA champions–for coach Dorothy Gaters, it was a state-record seventh title–have the best player in the state in nationally acclaimed junior Cappie Pondexter. She averaged 17.9 points a game for the 31-1 Commandos and, Gaters said, “knows that she has to show up.” But with Kourtney Walton and Kimya Murray gone, Marshall will be challenged in the Public League by Washington and Morgan Park. Shikhia Sims “is capable of giving us big numbers,” said Gaters, who also expects scoring from 5-11 sophomore transfer Tiffany Sardin.
3. Washington: Coach Willie Byrd on Angelina Williams: “She’s a good rebounder and she can take the ball the length of the floor much quicker than anybody. I’ve never had a player who can do this.” Not only does he have the 6-foot junior, but two Division I signees: 5-11 Leslie Hill (Minnesota) and 6-1 Dejeanette Flournoy (Illinois State). Byrd says this is the best team he’s had in 12 years, better than the one that beat Marshall for the city title in 1991. His best shooter might be sophomore Ashley Austin.
4. Buffalo Grove: Piper Mead is 5-6 and her statistics aren’t exactly eye-popping: nine points, three assists per game. But she’s one of the key reasons coach Tom Dineen’s team is not only favored in the Mid-Suburban East but gets this lofty ranking. “She’s a winner, a competitor and very intense,” said Dineen, who is in his 21st season and has 436 career victories. Illinois-bound softball standout Lindsey Hamma is an outstanding defender at 5-7, and 6-1 Kendra Ryl (5.5 blocks) patrols the post.
5. Stevenson: Here’s what coach Frank Mattucci has to say about Jenni Dant: “I’ve heard a lot of colleges say she’s right behind Cappie (Pondexter) as one of the top juniors in the state.” If she is, that would help the Patriots get Downstate for the first time since 1996, when Tauja Catchings played. Defensive specialist Tiffany DeClark returns, and Kristen Gulinski is back from ACL surgery.
6. Andrew: Sophomore Dawn VanderMeer is like a lot of 15-year-olds, coach Doug Erickson said: wacky, giddy, goofy. “But when she gets on the court, she’s all business,” said Erickson, whose Thunderbolts were 25-5 and won their first regional and sectional titles last season. They might have gone Downstate, too, were it not for torn ankle ligaments suffered by 5-7 point guard Tiffany Rudak (Eastern Illinois). Seniors Melissa Malinowski, Maureen Nelson and Kim Nowak round out the starting lineup.
7. Maine West: It just seems like Julie Just has been around forever. She’s finally a senior, headed for Ball State and expected to help coach Derril Kipp get victory No. 500 this season. Just “has improved her ability to take over a game,” said Kipp, whose magic number is 21. Linnea O’Neill and Katie Panagasser return, as does Tami Huggins–from knee surgery. Jasmy Methipara is ranked No. 1 in the senior class and Kipp hopes her smarts will help her replace point guard Amy Stoltz.
8. Hinsdale Central: “My attitude with this team is that we’ve done nothing,” said coach Steve Gross. But the Red Devils should do something this season with all starters back from a 20-10 season, including sophs Maggie Acuna and 6-1 Morgan Kasperek. A lot of the attention went to those freshmen last season, but Gross heavily depends on seniors like Kate Meyer, Devynn Vostal, Lindsey Pietrzak and Yale-bound Julie Cohen, who is 5-9 with these impressive stats: 14 points a game, 32 ACT.
9. West Aurora: With two of the best frontcourt players in the area, the Blackhawks are hard to overlook. One is 6-5 Jackie Shook (headed for Penn State), the other 6-1 Jordan Garrison (Kansas). “Jackie needs to play up to her capabilities,” said coach Mark Proctor, whose team was 23-7 last season and is two-time DuPage Valley champ. Shook averaged 18.3 points, 12 rebounds and 5.9 blocks last season.
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10. Barrington: The Fillies’ performance in a loss to Galesburg, the Class AA runner-up, late last season was an indication of things to come. Guard Lindsay Richards is now a sophomore and “a better leader and more confidant on the floor,” coach Babbi Barreiro said. Also returning is 5-10 junior Nicky Eason, who led the team in scoring (14-point average) and rebounding. State tennis doubles champions Ashley and Karlyn Martin, Shannon Lovett, Lindsey Krolak and 6-foot center Laura DeGelleke will try to get Barrington its first Elite Eight trip.
11. Evanston: The Wildkits may be running at three speeds this season: fast, faster and fastest. That appears to be coach Bill Albrecht’s philosophy. It worked last season in a tight game with Marshall and victories over Fenwick, Loyola and New Trier. Guards Angel Mason (13 points) and Tanara Golston (10.2) are back along with 5-8 leaper Danielle McKinley (9.8 rebounds). “Speed is one thing coaches can’t practice against,” said Albrecht, whose team was 21-8.
12. Maine South: “I like to say we have 3 1/2 starters back,” said coach Mike Deines, who is in his 22nd season, has 365 victories but never has reached the Elite Eight. Seniors Colleen Van Hoesen (scoring, rebounding and steals leader) and Lauren Colletti return. The other “1 1/2” are juniors Krissy Vonesh and Katie Risteau. Joining them are golfer Meg Nakamura (12th in the state) and sophomore tennis standout Liz Bondi.
13. Hinsdale South: Let’s get the bad news out of the way: Starter Becky Kostal decided not to play. The rest is great news for coach Brenda Whitesell. Center Megan Nelson (6-2) returns from ACL surgery to strengthen an already strong frontcourt with Nicole Brandon and Kamila Whitman. All are seniors, as are Jen Kick and 5-11 forward Mindy Hogle.
14. Maria: How vertically challenged are the Mystics? Coach Rick Federici said 5-7 Margoth Rodriguez might be the smallest post player in the GCAC. Heck, she might be the smallest in the 312 and 773 area codes. But that doesn’t seem to matter to the Mystics, who were 22-12 and return Mary Cain, Laniece Thomas and Lori Carillo. The 5-8 Cain, the area’s most fearless driver, averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists. Freshman Lydia Rowan may make an impact too.
15. Loyola: “I’m happy to report Nell Murphy has grown half an inch,” coach Tanya Johnson said. With all the dour predictions of the two-time (1997 and 1998) Class AA champs’ demise, the Ramblers need some good news. Sophomore Kari Embree, at 6-3, should provide some, along with 5-10 junior Debbie Schick. The lone returning starter (and lone senior) is Shannon Slawson. Murphy and Lisa Bruno will be in the backcourt for this Olga Gvozdenovic-less edition.
16. Libertyville: There are all kinds of changes at Libertyville. Tom Murphy (452 victories) left the coaching reins to 39-year-old rookie Bill Mix. And sophomore Diana Steplyk was 5-9. Now she’s 5-11. Otherwise, things remain much the same for this North Suburban team. In other words, expect tense battles with Stevenson. Returning for the 22-8 Wildcats are 6-2 Aubrey Smith, 5-11 Lizzie Aldridge, 5-9 Molly Meredith and point guard Arin Yarc.
17. Hersey: Here is Mary Fendley’s problem: She has four starters back, but three (Kara Baysinger, Carol Wager and Brianne Block) are involved with the state volleyball finals. Then there’s 5-4 sophomore Hilary Johnson, the nationally recognized girls hockey player who last season had the nerve to break her wrist playing–basketball? Nicolette McCartny, a 6-1 senior, averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots last season. She may get some relief from 6-3 freshman Julie Mantilla.
18. Morgan Park: Coach Zeleda Walker is recovering from triple-bypass surgery, so assistant Kevin Burt will take over until her return. But it’s not like she’ll be out of touch. “She’s my next-door neighbor,” said Burt, who guided the Mustang sophomores to four consecutive Public League titles. Morgan Park is well positioned to battle Marshall and Washington with the return of Northern Illinois-bound Tenesha McDaniel, 5-11 junior Tiffany Scott and 4-9 senior Keneitha Shoulder. New is 5-9 freshman guard Jennifer Leaks.
19. Stagg: Emily Heikes came off the bench last season. Now the 6-foot junior “runs the floor real well, can post up, shoot the three. She’s just real smooth,” said Stagg coach Missy Mason. That’s one reason the team from Palos Hills is so highly regarded. Guards Anna Patejdi and Jessica Joyce return along with 6-foot Jayme Brown from a 21-6 team.
20. Wheaton Warrenville South: Indiana-bound Charliss Ridley, a 5-11 forward, averaged 21.3 points and 8.4 rebounds for coach Jim Allured’s 18-12 team, which again will try to overcome West Aurora’s big front line in the DuPage Valley. “She’s allowed us to continue to be one of the highly competitive teams in the area,” Allured said of Ridley, the Indiana signee who stood out as a freshman at Indianapolis Perry Meridian. At 6-1, Joanna Dietz should help up front along with 5-10 Sarah Baumgartner. Guard Beth Dalby is still recovering from ACL surgery and may be back after Christmas.