Girls basketball: Scouting Grayslake North
GRAYSLAKE NORTH
Coach: Nate Flannery (second season)
Last season: 26-4, 12-0 in FVC Fox, lost to Zion-Benton in Class 4A Grayslake North regional final
Key losses: C Joanna Guhl, G Jordyn Bowen, F Shyanne Ludwick, F Emily Stinner
Returning players: Sr. F Brittney Thibeaux, Sr. G Kendall Detweiler, Jr. G Maggie Fish, Sr. G Shannon Myers, Sr. F Ashley Martineau, Sr. G Sam Karnuth
Newcomers: Fr. G Sidney Lovitsch, So. G Alyssa Gunn, Jr. G Cassidy Friedman, Jr. F Ella Swanson, Jr. G Rebecca Kahn, Jr. G Samantha Villwock, Jr. G Kayla Hartigan
Outlook: The Knights are coming off their best season in school history, and with the return of all-area players Brittney Thibeaux and Kendall Detweiler, this should be another productive season. The 6-foot-1 Thibeaux averaged a team-best 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in leading the Knights to a school-record 26 wins and their first FVC Fox championship. The 5-5 Detweiler sank 46 3-pointers, while averaging 10.7 points and 2 steals in her third varsity season. The Knights did graduate three starters in 6-foot Joanna Guhl, defensive-stopper Jordyn Bown and steady forward Shyanne Ludwick, while 3-point threat Emily Dugan did not come out for her junior season. Coach Nate Flannery, who last year inherited a team that won 21 games the previous season, started freshman Sidney Lovitsch in the Knights’ season-opening 42-40 loss to Mundelein on Monday night, and the 5-9 guard scored 7 points while hustling for 8 rebounds. Thibeaux, Detweiler, senior Ashley Martineau and junior Maggie Fish also started. With IHSA officials instructed to call games tighter this season, the Knights saw Thibeaux and Fish foul out, while Lovitsch was also in foul trouble. “The game was called close and we were told that’s how it’s going to be this year,” Flannery said. “We have a lot of aggressive kids, so (not fouling) is something we have to work on. Lovitsch, Fish, Kendall, Brittney — they come up and play you. That’s how they’ve grown up playing. So it’s an adjustment for them now to keep their hands up.” Another newcomer, Samantha Villwock, had 7 steals in the season opener. She’s a talented soccer player. “You can see those instincts on the basketball court,” Flannery said. Junior newcomer Ella Swanson (5-11) gives Flannery a potential scorer and defensive presence in the low post.