Girls basketball all-area team: DuPage County
Cassidy Block
Timothy Christian
The senior put the Trojans on her back down the stretch, carrying team to its first conference title since 2005. Block averaged 21.4 points over a seven-game run, including 30 at Elmwood Park and 27 at Glenbard South. On year she averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. “As a coach you search for kids like Cassidy that refuse to give a mediocre effort,” Trojans coach Ryan DeKoekkoek said. “She was a great leader.”
Gratia Brooks
Waubonsie Valley
The physical yet soft-spoken junior was one of the area's best offensive rebounders. Brooks had the knack and body presence to grab a board and put it back in. She averaged 9.0 points and 7.9 rebounds for 25-3 Warriors. “One of those kids that just quietly goes about her business,” Warriors coach Kim Connell said.
Tianna Brown
Montini
A powerful, efficient presence near the basket for the 3A state champs, Brown, a four-year varsity player, never missed a game. Committed to SIU-Edwardsville, Brown averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 65.5 percent from the floor. “She took ownership of her role,” Montini coach Jason Nichols said, “and was pretty good at it.”
Shannon Bushman
Naperville North
A true gamer and fierce competitor, in crunch time, Bushman pushed teammates and herself, surpassing the 1,000-point mark on the varsity. A two-time all-DVC selection, Bushman averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals in league games. Behind Bushman, the Huskies' 14 wins doubled two years ago. “She helped put Huskies basketball back on the map,” Huskies coach Jacquie Discipio said.
Emma Donahue
Naperville Central
A 6-3 center with a soft touch, Donahue's 85.3 percent free-throw shooting led the area for a second straight year. The Drake recruit, who went over 1,000 points, averaged 12.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 blocks for the DVC co-champs. She joined Erica Carter as the only Redhawks to start for four DVC champs. “The real measuring stick is she went 49-7 in the DVC in four years,” Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum said. “That's pretty good.”
Megan Doody
Neuqua Valley
Stats don't do justice to what this senior guard meant to the young Wildcats. The leader of a 23-7 team that won its first regional title since 2006, Doody averaged a team-high 9.5 points and 3.9 assists with 1.9 steals and made 42 3s. Committed to St. Norbert College, Doody's calming presence was huge. “She just gets it done,” Neuqua coach Mike Williams said.
Nikia Edom
Montini
The junior guard was a quiet leader and jack-of-all-trades for the three-time Class 3A champs. Edom, the Suburban Christian Blue Player of the Year, averaged 10 points. Edom got hot at the right time, scoring 23 points in sectional final and 14 state semifinal. “An efficient player,” Montini coach Jason Nichols said. “The bottom line, she produces.”
Kasey Gassensmith
WW South
Tigers coach Rob Kroehnke calls this four-year varsity player the most improved he's had. The Truman State commit averaged 12.8 points and 3.6 rebounds for the 28-4 DVC co-champs and sectional finalists. Long and athletic, Gassensmith keyed WW South's 1-3-1 zone from the point of attack. “She's the best leader on and off the floor I've ever had,” Kroehnke said.
Alexis Hahn
Lake Park
As indispensable to her team's success as any girl in the area, the senior brought the ball upcourt. She rebounded. And Hahn scored in a plethora of ways, averaging an area-best 17.4 points a game. . “She was everywhere we needed her to be,” Lake Park coach Andrea Miller said.
Erica Jordan
Waubonsie Valley
The tough, aggressive senior had an attitude you just can't teach, which made her one of area's elite defenders. The bonus to Waubonsie, she enhanced her scoring. With great determination Jordan averaged 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals. She scored 17 points in an upset of then-unbeaten Bartlett. “You don't want to get someone like Erica mad.” Warriors coach Kim Connell said.
Anna Bell Lansdowne
York
When the Dukes needed a basket, they were going to this junior guard. Lansdowne averaged 12.3 points for the repeat West Suburban Silver co-champs. “She loves the game,” Dukes coach Jason Reinecke said, “and she loves to have the ball in her hands, which is what you want when you need a shot.”
Claire Monroe
West Chicago
Senior guard dislocated her shoulder six weeks before the season — but you wouldn't know it watching her shoot. Wildcats' all-time leading scorer with 1,258 career points averaged 14.6 points. MVP at the Oswego East Tournament, Monroe later led West Chicago to its first regional title since 2007. “It was impressive what she was able to do, considering she had to wear that brace,” Wildcats coach Kim Wallner said.
Lori Obendorf
Metea Valley
The well-rounded junior finished better around the basket in her second season and was huge on the boards. She averaged 12.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for improved 16-13 Mustangs. “She was tough to take off the court,” Metea coach Kris Kalivas said.
Uzo Okoro
Hinsdale South
A strong 6-foot senior with wide receiver-like soft hands, Okoro was a dominant force in the paint for the 21-7 Hornets, who won their first West Suburban Gold title since 2004. Okoro averaged 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, and shot 63.8 percent from the field. “She always wanted to learn more,” Hornets coach Jen Belmonte said.
Christen Prasse
Benet
Brimming with confidence, the Benet junior came into her own as one of the area's most dynamic point guards. Sneaky quick, Prasse averaged 13.4 points and 2.3 assists and hit 45 3s. “The future is very good for her,” Benet coach Peter Paul said.
Sidney Prasse
Benet
In all Benet coach Peter Paul's years, this senior guard might have the quickest release he's seen. One of the area's most electric shooters, Prasse averaged 14.9 points and hit 82 3s. The St. Xavier recruit totaled an all-time school record 184 3s. “It seemed like the bigger the game,” Paul said, “the more she stepped forward.”
Gabrielle Rush
Hinsdale Central
The freshman guard made a memorable high school debut, scoring 29 points in upset of Naperville Central. It was a sign of things to come. Rush averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and and hit 58 3s. “Her ability to keep her poise in clutch situations was amazing for a freshman,” Hinsdale Central coach Tom McKenna said.
Kateri Stone
Montini
A pleasant surprise, said Broncos coach Jason Nichols of his sophomore. A bit player as a freshman, Stone developed into a crucial piece of three-time state champs. The sweet-shooting guard averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds and made 77 3s. She hit 2 critical 3s and 2 clinching free throws in the state semifinal. “The nice thing about her is she wants to get better,” Nichols said.
Meghan Waldron
WW South
Growing by leaps and bounds her second varsity season, this sophomore point guard is the captain of the DuPage County All-Area Team. Waldron's 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.2 steals were all among the top five in the area. Unanimous all-DVC selection led the 28-4 Tigers to their first sectional final since 2007.
Becky Williford
Waubonsie Valley
Determined senior point guard returned from ACL surgery and led the Warriors to a 25-3 record and a share of the Upstate Eight Valley title. One of area's best point guards, she made up for a lack of size with the ability to distribute and score. A quiet leader, Williford averaged 8.7 points and 3.8 assists.
With plans to be a teacher, Williford won the Golden Apple Award. “A coach's dream,” Waubonsie coach Kim Connell said.
Honorable mention
Chrissy Baird, Wheaton North, so., F; Maggie Dansdill, Wheaton Warrenville South, so., G/F; Madeline Eilers, Benet, sr., G; Jill D'Amico, Naperville Central, sr., G; Alison Dec, Downers Grove South, sr., F; Brianna Harn, Glenbard North, sr., G; Alison Hedrick, Neuqua Valley, jr., F; Jasmine Lumpkin, Montini, so., G/F; Andrea McNally, Hinsdale South, sr., G; Tami Morice, Waubonsie Valley, sr., G; Laura Panicali, West Chicago, jr., G; Marissa Pezzopane, Addison Trail, sr., F; Toni Romiti, Hinsdale South, jr., G; Rachael Ross, Waubonsie Valley, sr., F; Kayla Sharples, Naperville North, fr., F; Malia Smith, Neuqua Valley, so., G; Caitlin Soane, Glenbard West, jr., F; Allie Tapanes, West Chicago, sr., G; Victoria Trowbridge, Naperville Central, jr., F; Nicole Valentine, Benet, sr., F; Bria Walker, Metea Valley, jr., G.