Lake Zurich Bears

Head coach Chris Bennett (fifth season)

2008-09 season 28-6, 10-2 NSC Lake

They're gone Guard/forward Lydia Bauer (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) was a four-year varsity starter, the captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area team last season and an honorable mention all-state selection. Guard Olivia Allen (Bradley University, 13.5 ppg) played three varsity seasons. Forward Coryn Schmit (University of Illinois-Chicago, softball) contributed valuable minutes and experience.

Starting five Navy-bound senior forward Audrey Bauer (12.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg), senior shooting guard Gabby Chapa and senior forward Sarah Stauner all started last season. Bauer is a great rebounder and passer, and could be in line for an even bigger season. Chapa, who can shoot and handle the ball, has started games since her freshman year. Sophomore Amanda Orchard, a three-sport varsity athlete, steps in after coming off the bench as a freshman. The candidates for the remaining starting spot include junior Karlissa Skarb, senior Jenna Froehlich and sophomores Maisie Cox and Dori Darras.

Off the bench Bennett carried three freshmen last season, but partly because the starting five were so effective, Orchard, Cox and Darras didn't log a lot of minutes. They should this winter. "All three had a very good summer," Bennett said. "I think Amanda is going to have a big year, and I think Maisie and Dori are ready to step right in and play." Skarb, a scrappy guard, was the team's seventh girl last season. Four juniors who are new are 5-11 post Kelsey Dreiling, 5-7 forward Kelley Hirt, 5-8 guard Liz Manella and 5-8 guard Tabbetha Bohac. Sophomores Katherine Anderson and Cathryne Spear are 5-8 guards who made the team.

Bennett says "Obviously replacing two Division-I players is going to be tough, but we have a lot of talent in the gym. The question is how fast we mature into a team full of basketball players. There's a whole lot of, quite frankly, unbelievable athletic ability in the gym."