Girls basketball: Scouting the MSL East

MID-SUBURBAN EAST

Buffalo Grove

Coach: Steve Kolodziej (third season)

Last year's record: 15-16, 3-7

Graduated players: Courtney Meyer, Kimberly Herzog, Angela Budimir, Stephanie Leitner

Returning players: Julie Jambrone (5-7 Sr. G), Bri Kolbus (5-7 Sr. G), Maddy Callahan (5-9 Sr. G-F), Teagan Hutchings (5-10 Sr. F), Maddie Welter (5-9 Jr. G), Sammy Stejskal (5-10 Jr. G-F), Natali Dimitrova (6-0 Jr. F), Amanda Kowalski (5-7 Jr. G)

Newcomers: Georgette Topalis (5-7 So. G), Megan Gamber (5-8 So. G), Jenna Cardaras (5-9 Jr. F), Tori Appelt (5-6 Jr. G), Sarah O'Connor (5-10 Sr. G)

Outlook: After closing with a flourish last winter and winning a regional championship with an overtime win over Prospect, the Bison hope to pick up where they left off. "It's necessary for the team to focus on the little things," said coach Steve Kolodziej, who quarterbacked Schaumburg to the Class 6A state championship football game in 1996. "We have a strong team with lots of experience and lots of depth. It will be key for us to stay healthy if we hope to build on last year's success." Back from last year's club is all-area guard Welter, who averaged 12.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.2 steals and 4.9 rebounds. She also converted 71 3-pointers and shot 86 percent from the free throw line. Jambrone, Kolbus, Callahan and Stejskal are all back after playing significant minutes last season and enjoying at least one game in double figures for scoring.

Elk Grove

Coach: Jennifer Guth (first season)

Last year's record: 9-20, 2-8

Graduated players: Melissa Solorio, Taylor Brown.

Returning players: Amber Lindfors (6-4, Sr. C), Carly Crothers (5-11 Jr), Alex Masnica (5-5, Jr.), Sarah Pauscher (5-10, Jr.), Abbey Sloan (5-8, Jr.)

Newcomers: Carly Benjamin (5-6 Sr), Alyson Czyzewski (5-6 Jr), Sara Engler (5-7 Sr), Mackenzie Flannery (5-4 Jr), O'Rayn Macavoy (6-0 Sr), Taylor Matos (5-4 Jr.), Brandy Richardson (5-5 Jr.), Marjorie Sloan (5-6, Sr.)

Outlook: First-year coach Jennifer Guth, a former standout forward for Buffalo Grove, will have one of the top players in the area with the 6-foot-4 Lindfors, a Southeast Missouri State recruit. The senior center averaged 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots as a junior. Her sister Courtney starred at Driscoll and Elk Gove and is currently playing at Loyola University. "Amber will be a key player for our team," Guth said. "With her height and experience, we will be looking to utilize her skills inside." Also back for the Grens are Crothers, Masnica, Pauscher and Sloan. "Our overall goal is to play hard and intense defense every game," said Guth, who has most recently served as an assistant coach at Barrington. "We want to be aggressive and leave it all on the floor each game." Lindfors scored a season-high 21 points in the Grens last game last season while Masnica had back-to-back 10-point scoring games early in the season. "We want to surprise some teams this year," Guth added. "We have good size inside and a lot of quick and aggressive guards. We want to put it all together."

Hersey

Coach: Mary Fendley (17th season)

Last year's record: 25-5, 6-4

Graduated: Renee Poulos, Morgan Harris, Alysia Zaucha, Sarah Thompson

Returners: Juliette Vainisi (5-8 Sr, G), Kelly Weyhrich (5-2 So. G), Claire Gritt (5-9 So. G), Kristen Jackson (5-8 Sr. G), Halle Lyon (5-10 Sr F), Emma Slosar (5-8, Sr. F), Delaney Parker (5-5 Jr. G), Annie Korff (5-10 Sr, G), Maggie Berigan (6-0 Jr. C)

Newcomers: Gina Miklasz (5-5 So. G), Carly Cooper (5-6 So. G), Erin McGrath (5-11 Fr. G), Susan Lindstrom (5-5 Jr, G), Claire Niemczyk (5-8 Jr. F)

Outlook: Veteran coach Mary Fendley says the Mid-Suburban East is stacked with talented teams and hers is certainly one of them. "I think that any team can beat anyone within our division," said Fendley, the dean of MSL East coaches who owns a career record of 329-154. "No game will be easy for anyone." Hersey's roster is lead with athleticism, as every player is a multisport athlete, and many in three sports. Returning from a year ago are a pair of all-area selections in Gritt and Korff. Gritt was a top freshman in the league, as she averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. In her first year on varsity, Korff was the Huskies' top rebounder (8.6) and led in 3-point shooting percentage (38 percent). She also averaged 11.3 points and 2 steals per game while shooting 75 percent from the free throw line. Weyhrich, Vainisi, Berigan all had double-figure scoring games last season. The Huskies lost to only two teams all season (Class 4A state runner-up Rolling Meadows and Prospect) and they won the Hoffman Estates and Wheaton North tourney titles. "We play New Trier early in the season, so that will be a great test," said Fendley, a former three-sport standout athlete at Rolling Meadows. "We switched over to Buffalo Grove's Thanksgiving tournament. We hope to be very competitive in the league and at the state level."

ProspectCoach: Ashley Graham (third season)

Last year's record: 23-6, 7-3

Graduated players: Mallory Gonzalez, Marissa Pacini

Returning players: Taylor Will (5-11 Dr. G), Catherine Sherwood (6-0, Sr, F), Katie Olson (5-5, Sr, G), Hannah Grott (5-7 Sr. G), Brenda Kendziera (5-9 Jr. G), Nikki Matters (5-7, Jr. G), Clare O'Carroll (5-10, Jr. F), Haley Will (5-10, So. G)

Newcomers: Angela Roman (5-10, Jr. F), Angelina Villasin (5-3, Jr. G), Olivia Sykes (5-8, Jr. G), Emily Frasco (5-11 Fr G).

Outlook: Coming off a 23-win season, the Knights return three starters and hope to contend for the East crown. Taylor Will, a Brown recruit, is less than 150 points from becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. She has 1,203 points and led the Knights with her 19.8 points per game as a junior. Classmate Sherwood averaged 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.85 steals while shooting 50 percent from the field. "Taylor and Catherine have been with me since I have been at Prospect," Graham said. "I am expecting even more production out of them as seniors." The Knights strengths will be the ability to get out in transition and run. "We will play good, hard-nosed, pressure defense," Graham said. "Overall, we are looking to be a high-tempo offensive and defensive team." Expectations are high. "We believe we can build off our success from last year," added Graham, a former standout guard for Buffalo Grove and Illinois State. "Practices have been intense, positive and competitive. We have very strong senior leadership." Haley Will also returns after providing solid play at the point as a freshman. "Haley is another year older as well and we are looking forward to her running the show at the point guard position." A number of players have stepped up to fill the void of Gonzalez and Pacini, who graduated. "I believe that the MSL East is one of the toughest conferences around and we are looking forward to competing night in and night out against great competition," Graham said.

Rolling MeadowsCoach: Ryan Kirkorsky (third season)

Last year's record: 30-4, 10-0

Graduated players: Alexis Glasgow, Sami Kay, Allie Kemph, Jackie Kemph, Ashley Montanez, Katie Shewmon, Elizabeth Vasilogambros, Jenny Vliet

Returning players: Jamie Berry (5-3 Sr G), Nora Rasche (5-7 Sr. F), Megan King (5-6 Jr. G), Hannah Mickey (6-0 Jr F), Katherine Nolan (6-0 So. C), Kyra Spiwak (5-9 So. G)

Newcomers: Meghan Slowik (5-7 Jr. G), Morgan Campagna (5-11 So. F), Katherine Perille (5-6 So. G), Kelsey Nallon (5-7 So. G), Clare Preissing (5-3 So. G), Hannah Ungurian (5-9 So. G)

Outlook: Four all-area players graduated as the Mustangs rebuild following its two most successful seasons in school history. Coach Ryan Kirkorsky guided the Mustangs to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Class 4A state tourney. Standouts Jackie Kemph (St. Louis), Jenny Vliet (St. Louis), Alexis Glasgow (Northwestern) and Ashley Montanez (Indianapolis) have moved on to the college ranks. "Each day I spend with this team, my expectations rise," said Kirkorsky, whose teams went 30-4 and 10-0 each of the last two years. "We have tremendous senior leadership in Jamie Berry and Nora Rasche." The Mustangs have six returning players. "They competed daily in practice against the best players in the state, so they are not intimidated by any situation," Kirkorsky said. "Hannah Mickey, Katherine Nolan and Kyra Spiwak have a chance to be really special players and are surrounded by talent up and down the roster." Kirkorsky likes the way the chemistry is forming. "This group is already shaping into a team that loves to play with each other," he said. "And I am excited to see them seize their opportunities."

Wheeling

Coach: Matt Weber (first season)

Last year's record: 16-15, 3-7

Graduated players: Elizabeth Smith, Caitlyn Slussar, Giana Calistro, Britany Roman

Returning players: Melissa Claver (5-9 So. F), Hailey Dammeier (5-8 Sr. F-G), Hannah Dobrowski (5-9 Sr. G), Lani Greenberg (6-2 Sr. C), Deanna Kuzmanic (5-9 Sr. G), Michaela Vasey (5-7 Jr. F), Nicole Zlotnikova (5-4 Sr. G)

Newcomers: Domenica Chism-Montesinos (Sr 5-10 C), Imani Evans (5-6 Sr. F-G), Daisy Guerrero (5-6 Jr. G), Shannon Kennedy (5-5 So G), Daniella Pierini (5-2 Jr. G), Gloria Wide (5-9 Jr. F-C), Kirsten Wilhelm (5-7 Jr. F), Nicole Yoshino (5-5 So. G)

Outlook: First-year coach Matt Weber welcomes back several key players from last year's club which won 16 games. Included is Division I recruit Deanna Kuzmanic, a four-year starter who has scored more than 1,000 points. The Alabama-Birmingham recruit had a career-high 39 points against Niles North. Dobrowski, Dammeier and Greenberg all produced multiple double-figure scoring games a year ago. Claver was also a key contributor as a freshman. The Wildcats have plenty of senior leadership. Weber said his team will play to its strengths and to opponents' weaknesses. "We want to outwork our opponent on and off the court," he said. "Each player understands her role and has really sold into the idea of being one team with one agenda." Weber liked what he saw this summer. "The team worked really hard at building great relationships with one another," he added. "That will only help us fight for each other on the court."