Girls basketball: Scouting Lake Zurich
LAKE ZURICH
Coach: Chris Bennett (10th season)
Last season: 8-19, 2-10 in NSC Lake, lost to Rolling Meadows in Class 4A Rolling Meadows regional semifinals
Key players lost: none
Returning players: Sr. F Elly Daleske (5-10), Jr. G Abby Pirron (5-9), Sr. F Rachel Dawson (5-7), Sr. F Theresa Baumann (5-11), Sr. G Megan Holbrook (5-4), Sr. G Allison Trybula (5-8), Jr. G Frankie Nasca (5-3), Jr. G Vanessa DiVencenzo (5-2), Jr. G Rachel Kuehr (5-6)
Newcomers: Fr. G Grace Kinsey (5-9), Fr. F McKenna Zobel (5-11), Jr. G Marin Allgood (5-3), Jr. F Nicole Gaggiano (5-9), Jr. F Kelly Heffernan (5-9)
Outlook: After winning just 13 games the last two seasons, the Bears could do that this season alone. The return their entire starting lineup, including all-conference senior forward Elly Daleske and junior guard Abby Pirron (honorable mention all-NSC), both of whom have been on varsity the last two seasons. Senior forward Rachel Dawson, junior guard Rachel Kuehr and junior point guard Frankie Nasca also started last season. But with the return of junior Vanessa DiVencenzo, who missed last season with an ACL injury, one returning starter will have to come off the bench. Both Daleske and Pirron averaged around 10 points per game last season. Dawson and fellow seniors Theresa Baumann and Megan Holbrook bring experience too, as all three were up on varsity as sophomores. "Last year we were competitive in a lot of games for 2-3 quarters, and then we couldn't sustain that," coach Chris Bennett said. "Our theme at the beginning of practice has been, 'We got to learn how to play four quarters. Then we got to learn how to win.' " Bennett has given two freshman, guard Grace Kinsey and post McKenna Zobel, varsity roster spots. "They're both really skilled for freshmen," Bennett said. "We're hoping they're going to come in and have an impact." Bennett is carrying 14 players, including five seniors, after having none last year. The previous season, only two seniors played heavy minutes. "Our practices have been highly competitive," Bennett said. "We got a lot of kids that are fighting for playing time. It's really exciting. It's been a long haul the last two years putting things back into place after that giant senior class (eight seniors) that we had in (2011-12)."