Scouting Lakes

LAKES

Coach: Brian Phelan (second season)

Last season: 18-14, 8-4 in North Suburban Prairie, lost to Fremd in Class 4A Warren regional final

Key losses: G Ellie Haviland

Returning players: Sr. F/C Natalie Pawlak (5-11), Sr. F Izzy Quaranta (5-10), Sr. F Savannah Sikora (5-11), Sr. F Sarah Zellmann (5-10), Sr. G Natalie Iacopetti (5-5), Sr. G Shannon Hurlbut, So. F Mia Edwards (5-10), So. F/C Paule Ceneac (6-1), Sr. G Amber Mitchell (5-1). Jr. G Madison Kilroy (5-8)

Newcomers: So. G Sara Smith (5-8), Sr. G Ellen Polelle (5-7)

Outlook: Stay ... connected. The Eagles have adopted the latter word is their motto this season. "Being connected on defense, being connected to the game plan, being connected on offense, just being connected to your role," coach Brian Phelan said. "(The players) have bought into it so far. Hopefully it translates onto the court and we're putting on a good product." The Eagles connected on a lot of passes and shots last season, while staying connected defensively, as they won a school-record 18 games. They graduated all-area point guard and leading scorer Ellie Haviland (12.1 ppg) but bring back lots of minutes. Savannah Sikora, Izzy Quaranta, Natalie Pawlak, Natalie Iacopetti, Sarah Zellmann and Mia Edwards all started at times last winter, while Shannon Hurlbut got a lot action coming off the bench. Quaranta, an all-conference selection last season, and Pawlak are both playing their fourth season on varsity. Fellow seniors Iacopetti (honorable mention all-NSC), Zellmann and Hurlbut all came up their sophomore season. The roster features eight seniors. And unlike a year ago, they know what to expect from Phelan, who was formerly Lakes' boys coach. "Day 1, they were dialed in. Which was pretty cool," Phelan said. "So we don't have to spend a lot of time with, 'What's the new guy going to run?' " Sophomores Edwards, Paule Ceneac and Sara Smith didn't start last season on varsity, but by season's end they were all up. Edwards became a starter in the second half and started to become a low-post presence. The 6-1 Ceneac got promoted late in the season, and Smith soon followed. "We've got a nice blend of experience with quality youth," Phelan said. "Which often makes for a good recipe." The Eagles will have to replace Haviland's offense, but Phelan is confident the points will come. "I think it's going to be by committee," he said. "We've been focusing on defense, so I think we're going to get transition points. The girls will share the ball and won't care about who gets the (scoring) honors. Our assist-to-made-shot ratio should be high."