Girls basketball: Scouting Grayslake Central

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

Coach: Steve Ikenn (fourth season)

Last season: 20-11, 10-2 in FVC Fox, won Class 3A Chicago Northside regional, lost to Vernon Hills in Vernon Hills sectional semifinals

Key players lost: G Savannah Mudd, F Taylor Peterson

Returning players: Sr. C Morgan Dahlstrom, Sr. F/G Maddy Miller, Sr. G Carson Sparkman, Jr. G Lauren Spalding, Sr. G Theresa Curtis, Sr. F/C Maddy Arnold, Jr. G Rachel Effa, Jr. G Juliana Frusolone, Jr. F Connor Eschrich

Newcomers: So. G Quin Garbett, So. G Kelly Moroney, Jr. G Kayley Larson

Outlook: The Rams are beginning Year Four under coach Steve Ikenn, and like the last three seasons, they should continue winning at a high percentage. They boast four returning starters, including Southern Indiana signee Morgan Dahlstrom, point guard Carson Sparkman, guard Lauren Spalding and forward Maddy Miller. Dahlstrom, who’s has been on varsity since her freshman year, and Sparkman, who’s playing her third season on varsity, were both all-area players last season. Miller and the junior Spalding are also three-year varsity players. For the first time since he’s been at Grayslake Central, Ikenn heads into a season not having to replace four starters. “This is nice for a change,” said Ikenn, laughing. “To come into summer camp not having to start from scratch was nice.” Sophomore Quin Garbett was a January call-up when the Rams endured some injuries and sickness, but she played primarily on the sophomore level, where she was averaging about 16 points per game. Sophomore Kelly Moroney and junior Kayley Larson were postseason call-ups. One downer is that Rachel Effa, who was often the Rams’ first guard off the bench last season, will be out for awhile with a knee injury. “We want to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Ikenn, whose has 74 wins in his three seasons at Grayslake Central. “The bottom line is health. That’s a huge thing.”