The DuPage County Girls Basketball All-Area Team
Maggie Bair, Glenbard South
There's not much the 6-foot-2 junior can't do. A first-team all-stater, Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division MVP and a Drake recruit, she has led the Raiders to a 29-3 record and a Class 3A semifinals berth. She averaged 16.5 points and 10.6 rebounds. "Maggie can take you off the dribble, she can shoot a 3, she can take you inside and she's a good defender. I think Maggie has all aspects of the game," coach Morgan Kasperek said.
Mady Carli, Glenbard South
The senior guard is a big reason the Raiders are 29-3 and heading to the Class 3A semifinals this weekend. She averaged 8.2 points, making 56 3-pointers. She also averaged 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Also a strong defender, she was named to the all-Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division team. "Mady's a great shooter, and she really opens up our game for the whole team," coach Morgan Kasperek said.
Danielle Dennis, York
The senior guard led York to a regional final and a second-place finish in the West Suburban Silver. Dennis was all-conference and all-tournament at York and Riverside-Brookfield. She passed the 1,000-point mark in the postseason after scoring 15.3 points a game this year. She also averaged 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.8 assists. Dennis made 81 percent of her free throws. She's the best all-around player I've ever coached," coach Brandon Collings said.
Mira Emma, WW South
The junior point guard was a big reason for the Tigers' 27-4 run to the sectional finals. "If you're going to be successful you need a point guard," coach Rob Kroehnke said. "I'm a true, true believer in that. And she just did a wonderful job." Emma was an all-DuPage Valley Conference player. She averaged 7.0 points a game for the low-scoring Tigers, who made defense their hallmark. Emma averaged 2.1 steals a game.
Taylor Huff, Glenbard West
The 6-foot-2 sophomore post player was the focus of opposing defenses most of the season. Despite that she averaged 11.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game. An all-West Suburban Silver player, she's starting to get some attention from Division I colleges. "She drew a lot of attention from other teams, a lot of double-teams where people had to dig in in the post," coach Kristi Faulkner said.
Lindsey Jarosinski, Montini
The 6-foot-5 senior averaged 10.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while helping the Broncos to a 33-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A semifinals this weekend. Always reliable, she was a force in the post, offensively and defensively, where she altered as many shots as she blocked. An all-Catholic League Red selection, she will play at Wake Forest next year.
Jayla Johnson, WW South
The senior post player was the Tigers' go-to player on offense during their 27-4 run to the sectional finals despite being shorter than most of her foes in the post. Deceptively strong, Johnson also could handle the ball. She averaged 13.8 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. "Just to see her grow up over the last four years and improve with her game, that's why she was something special," coach Rob Kroehnke said. She was a unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference pick.
Greta Kampschroeder, Naperville North
The freshman truly was a phenom for the Huskies, doing a little bit of everything, including leading by deed and word. She averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks a game, showing why she already has major Division I colleges asking about her. She was a unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference pick. "She improved our team in a myriad of ways," coach Jason Dycus said.
Mia Lakstigala, Naperville Central
The unanimous DuPage Valley Conference player of the year, the senior guard led the Redhawks to a 28-6 record and a sectional final appearance. She is the Redhawks' second all-time leading scorer behind Candace Parker and will play in the Ivy League at Penn next season. Lakstigala averaged 18.6 points and 6.3 rebounds and made 35 percent of her 3-pointers. "Really a once-in-a-decade kind of player," coach Andy Nussbaum said.
Jen Masello, Downers Grove South
The senior post player was a force for the Mustangs. She averaged 13.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 block a game. An all-West Suburban Gold player, she will play soccer and basketball next year at Augsburg College. "She's a 6-foot center on paper but you can put her anywhere," coach Lyndsie Long said, citing Masello's ability to defend and play a full 32 minutes.
Sam Mitchell, Montini
The junior point guard was missed when she missed a few games with a sprained ankle, but the Broncos were rejuvenated by her return. Coach Jason Nichols calls her the team leader who isn't afraid to vocally motivate her older teammates. "Sam Mitchell to me is like an extension of (the coaching staff). She's a dynamic kid with that. Her personality is awesome," Nichols said. She also averaged 10.2 points a game, hitting 54 3-pointers along the way.
Aaliyah Patty, Montini
The All-Area team captain, the senior will play at Ohio State next season. She averaged 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. "Her shot from the 3-point spot has really gotten better. It's allowed us to space the floor," coach Jason Nichols said. "Her ability off the bounce, she's a really good ballhandler from about 19 (feet) in." She is first-team all-state.
Clara Prasse, Benet
The junior point guard led DuPage County in assists, averaging 5.3 a game. Able to hit the deep 3-point shot, she averaged 7.2 points, plus 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals a game, leading the team in 3-pointers made, rebounding steals and assists. All that for a team that went 28-5 and reached the sectional finals. She was an all-East Suburban Catholic Conference pick. "Clara was our floor general and led us in offensive efficiency," coach Joe Kilbride said.
Darrione Rogers, Lake Park
After missing all but five minutes of her freshman season with a torn ACL, the sophomore averaged 19.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.7 assists while shooting 32 percent from 3-point range and 77 percent from the free-throw line. Rogers was an all-DuPage Valley Conference player. She is being courted by a slew of major Division I colleges. "There's not many floors that she stands on that she's not the best player on," coach Brian Rupp said.
Lucy Schmid, Naperville Central
A unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference pick, the 6-foot-1 junior led the team in rebounding. She averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, helping the team to a 28-6 record and a sectional final berth. "She was pretty critical to our team's success. If we see the same level of improvement out of her that we've seen the last two summers, it's going to be pretty special," coach Andy Nussbaum said.
Brooke Schramek, Benet
The sophomore forward was named East Suburban Catholic Conference MVP. She also led the Redwings in scoring with 11.8 points a game, free-throw attempts and blocks. She added 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals a game as the Redwings reached the sectional final and finished with a 28-5 record. "Brooke is only a sophomore but has already learned to play hard all the time, which is a critical skill," coach Joe Kilbride said.
Hannah Swider, Wheaton North
The senior guard became the Falcons' all-time leading scorer this season. She will play at Wheaton College next season. "The intensity and the amount of work that she puts in is just something that can even build a program two, three, four years down the road as kids see how much she works, how hard she works, even outside games and practice," coach Dave Eaton said. The unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference pick averaged 16.0 points while making 34.8 percent of her 3-point shots.
Natalie Takahashi, Lisle
The senior guard became the Lions' all-time leading scorer this season when she led the team in scoring with 14.8 points a game, assists with 2.2 a game, steals with 2.8 and was second in rebounding with 5.8 a game. The all-Interstate Eight Conference player will play at Monmouth College. A leader who always brought a positive attitude. "She doesn't take a play off. And she's out on the floor for us just about every single second of the game," coach Nick Balaban said.
Carson Vance, Lake Park
An all-DuPage Valley Conference player, the senior guard averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals a game. She will play at Division II Illinois-Springfield next year. When the Lancers needed a basket in a pressure situation, she often was the player to step up. Vance was a strong 3-point shooter and made it hard to press the Lancers with her ballhandling. "You take her off our team, we're in trouble," coach Brian Rupp said.
Antwainette Walker, St. Francis
The senior did a little of everything for the Spartans. A second-team all-stater, she averaged a DuPage County-best 20.1 points a game. She grabbed 10.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals and dished 1.4 assists a game. Walker will play at Arkansas-Little Rock next season. She was player of the year in the Catholic League White Division. "Her shooting capabilities where she can put up a lot of points is a big plus for us," coach Sandy DeCraene said.
Honorable mention
Nikki Baird (Wheaton North, jr., G); Amari Benbow (Fenton, sr., G); Sarah Cohen (Glenbard South, sr., G); Sammy Harris (Glenbard West, sr., G); Katelyn Heller (Glenbard West, jr., G); Sierra Koenig (West Chicago, sr., G); Julia Kramper (Downers Grove North, jr., G); Holly Lueken (Downers Grove South, jr., F); Tsimba Malonga (Benet, sr., G); Lauren McKnight (Waubonsie Valley, fr., G); Gabi Melby (Naperville Central, fr., G); Sydney Pardy (Westmont, sr., C/F); Ilysse Pitts (Montini, sr., G); Lauren Platou (Naperville North, sr., G); Caylin Rufus (York, sr., G); Olivia Schuringa (Timothy Christian, sr., F); Nicci Scorza (Addison Trail, sr., G); McKenzie Stebbins (WW South, jr., G); Lizzy Swoboda (Wheaton Academy, sr., F); Tess Thompson (Metea Valley, jr., F).