Scouting Lake Zurich
LAKE ZURICH
Coach: Chris Bennett (12th season)
Last season: 18-11, 7-5 in North Suburban Lake, lost to Buffalo Grove in Class 4A Lake Zurich regional final
Key losses: G Abby Pirron (Swarthmore College), G Rachel Kuehr, G Vanessa DiVincenzo
Returning players: Jr. F McKenna Zobel (6-0), Jr. G Grace Kinsey (5-10), Jr. F Claire Jones (6-0), So. G Anna Biergans (5-5), Sr. G Sarah Blase (5-7), Sr. F Lauryn Johnson (5-11)
Newcomers: Sr. G Madison Hart (5-5), Jr. G Jacklyn Schlender (5-6), Jr. G Eleni Papastratakos (5-2), Fr. G Ella Gilbertson (5-11), So. G Brigid Ferguson (5-8), So. G Morgan Long (5-9), So. F Maddie Piggott (5-9)
Outlook: If the recent trend of increased win totals continues, count on the Bears posting a 20-win campaign. "We should. That's what we're hoping for," coach Chris Bennett said. The Bears have improved from 5 wins to 7 to 13 to 18 in the last four seasons. They boast a pair of returning starters in 6-0 junior McKenna Zobel (honorable mention all-North Suburban Conference last season) and 5-10 junior Grace Kinsey. Kinsey will play point guard after occupying the "4" spot last season. Zobel had about a dozen double-digit-scoring efforts last season. "Both of them are doing really well," Bennett said. "They got better over the summer. McKenna's got some go-to post moves now, and Grace has extended her range." Bennett also likes the players he can put around his two veterans. Each class is represented on the roster, which includes four sophomores. Anna Biergans played on varsity as a freshman last winter. Bennett says 5-11 freshman Ella Gilbertson has point-guard skills. She's the sister of former LZ center Andrew Gilbertson. "She's definitely going to play minutes," Bennett said. "She's going to be a good player." The Bears boast another strong schedule, which includes Rock Island, Cary-Grove, Rolling Meadows and Fremd in their Turkey Thriller tournament. "We got some really good young athletes," Bennett said. "I think we're going to take our lumps early in the year because we graduated our three guards. Last year was a weird year because no one pressed us the entire year. Ever. We basically had four point guards out there at times. I have a feeling that won't happen this year because we got some inexperienced kids - other than Grace - that are going to be handling the ball. Once we figure that out, then we can improve in a hurry."