Girls basketball: Scouting Mundelein

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Brian Evans (16th season)

Last season: 20-9, 8-4 in NSC Lake, lost to Rolling Meadows in Class 4A Rolling Meadows regional final

Key players lost: G Lauren Rouse (Olivet Nazarene University), F Jamie Hemmer, F Taylor Lintner

Returning players: Sr. G Maggie Mahar (5-9), Sr. G Natalie Busscher (5-10), Sr. G Maria DeVito (5-5), Sr. G Maddie Zazas (5-5), Jr. G Amy Richards (5-9), Jr. F Madison Davis (5-10), So. G Kendall Wald (5-6)

Newcomers: Jr. G Debbie Wood (5-6), So. G Rachel Tipperreiter (5-8), So. G Ireland Hurney (5-9), Jr. G Caity Pieklo (5-7)

Outlook: The Mustangs ended a run of three losing seasons in a row last winter and, in the process, wound up hitting the 20-win mark for the first time in five years. There's reason to believe another winning campaign is likely. Senior guard Natalie Busscher returns for her fourth varsity season, while senior guard Maggie Mahar would be playing her fourth season on varsity too if not for an ankle injury that caused her to miss her freshman campaign. Both Busscher and Mahar are two-time all-conference players. Also back are junior post Madison Davis and junior guard Amy Richards, both of whom played varsity as freshmen. "We're going to be average to mediocre, but at least we'll be slow," coach Brian Evans joked after his team opened the season Monday with a win over Highland Park. Busscher and Davis are listed at 5-10, but there's no height or size after that. "We're going to be small," Evans said. "We don't have any big dominance in the post. If we hit shots and defend, we'll be all right. That's pretty much every team, right? We really rely on the jump shot." Both Mahar (9.7 ppg) and Busscher can hit the 3, though Busscher tends to score more of her points driving to the basket. What does Evans expect from his two most-experienced players? "Everything," he said. "And they know that." Softball stars Maria DeVito and Maddie Zazas provide offense and defense, respectively. Evans is carrying three sophomores in Kendall Wald, Rachel Tipperreiter and Ireland Hurney. "We got to hit jump shots and then hope we can get to the basket and get to the free-throw line,"Evans said. "Our whole thing is making more free throws than the other team shoots."