Girls basketball: Scouting St. Viator

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLICSt. ViatorCoach: Paul Missavage (first season)

Last year's record: 15-16, 1-8

Graduated players: Erin Fabbri MVP, Kelsey Trimble, Sam Hogan

Returning players: Maddie McAteer (5-10 Sr. F/G), Jess Hohlweg (5-11 Sr. F), Kayne Stanley (5-6 Sr. G), Eilis Finnegan (5-8 Sr. G), Maggie Leazer (5-8 Jr. G)

Newcomers: Julia Bergström (5-8 Jr. G) Gianna Parise (5-5 Jr. G) Brighdin Finnegan 5-9 Jr. F), Catherine Hafner (5-7 Jr. G), Maya Clark (5-7 Fr. G), Olivia Solimene (5-4 Fr. G) Grace McNamara (6-0 Fr. F), Mary Grace Kelleher (5-7 Jr. G).

Outlook: Paul Missavage, who was the athletic director and co-head varsity boys basketball coach last year at the American Creativity Academy in Hawally, Kuwait, will take over the Lions girls program this season. He coached underlevel sports at Viator in the early 1980s. "I came back to St. Viator because I absolutely love it here," said Missavage, who has been out of the country for more than 20 years. "I am 'a Lion for life' and am in this for the long haul." In the short term, Missavage will start out with a team that returns its leading scorer and captain McAteer (15 points, 8 rebounds), Stanley (11 points, 4 assists) and Hohlweg (8 points, 7 rebounds). "We will not waiver from our principles," Missavage said. "We're hoping to be as competitive as possible. Our girls must be able to make quick progress and then we can make the incremental progress to help us reach our goals." Missavage will work with his entire staff. "I am feeling very good about our staff." he said. "We are taking a methodical approach. Coaches and players alike will get on board and buy into what we are doing and where we are going 120 percent or they will not be involved with the program." Missavage says the Lions are in the process of changing the culture. "We have a solid plan in place," he said. "It will take time and effort. We must keep our noses to the grindstone and make things happen one drill at a time, one practice at a time, one week at a time. Our girls' work ethic and attitude will continue to improve." Missavage believes the program is destined to flourish. "The future for us is very bright," he said. "I am excited to work with this program. Good things are going to happen in the future." Missavage said the Lions need to improve their basketball skills, especially defensively and rebounding. "We have a nice mix of veterans and some talented youth," he added. "If things go well, big goals are not as far away as one would think. We will demand selflessness and an unwavering commitment to team defense. Ultimately and eventually as we turn things around, it will be hard to argue with the results leaving players fans wanting more." Missavage says the bar is being raised at St. Viator. "We will continue to work daily to establish a firm identity which the St. Viator community can be proud of and support," he said. "Tenacious and Deliberate is our motto."