Scouting Lake Zurich

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Chris Bennett (14th season)

Last season: 20-11, 11-3 in NSC, won Class 4A Grayslake North regional, won Fremd sectional, lost to Maine West in Hersey supersectional

Key losses: F McKenna Zobel (St. Xavier University), G Grace Kinsey (DePauw University)

Returning players: Jr. G Ella Gilbertson (6-0), Sr. F Maddy Piggott (5-9), Sr. G Anna Biergans (5-8), Sr. G Brigid Ferguson (5-8), Jr. G Margueret Spear (5-7), Sr. F Haley Gajewski (5-7)

Newcomers: Fr. F Amelia Young (5-5), Fr. F Elyssa Adams (5-7), Fr. G Erin Stewart (5-5), Fr. G Alayna Soukup (5-9), Fr. F Kaylie Piggott (5-11), Jr. G Kyleen Marquardt (5-8), Jr. F Taylor Alvarez (5-9)

Outlook: Why do the Bears play a rugged schedule every year? Last season helps explain it. LZ entered the state tournament with a 16-10 record, then reeled off four wins and played competitively in a supersectional loss to a one-loss Maine West squad, which finished third in the state. The Bears graduated four-year varsity players McKenna Zobel and Grace Kinsey, but they return a strong group led by 6-foot junior guard Ella Gilbertson, who's been on varsity since she was a freshman. College coaches have visited open gyms to get a closer look at Gilbertson. "She's starting to climb the ladder," coach Chris Bennett said. "The big question (college coaches) have is, 'Now that it's her team, is she going to be that go-to player?' I think she's ready to step into that role." Guard Anna Biergans and forward Maddy Piggott also return to the starting lineup, and while they were role players last season, Bennett doesn't underestimate what the pair meant to the Bears. "Both of them had a great second half last year," Bennett said. "I think that's why we went on the run that we did. I would probably credit those two as much as anybody - just what they did defensively and giving us an extra couple of buckets here and there. Both of them had a great summer. Anna is becoming an offensive player, and Maddie is becoming more consistent." Guards Brigid Ferguson and Margueret Spear were Bennett's first players off the bench last season. Throw in 5-9 freshman point guard Alayna Soukup - who has played about as much basketball as any freshman Bennett says he has had - and the Bears look "veteran-like" again. "I feel like we got six very experienced players coming back," Bennett said. Soukup will be worth watching. "She's an excellent ballhandler, and she plays very fast," Bennett said. "That's the kicker with her. She plays with a speed that is already at varsity level, if not above. She's a good shooter. We're still working on extending her range." The roster features four other freshmen in Amelia Young, Elyssa Adams, Erin Stewart and Kaylie Piggott (Maddy's sister). "They are all up because they are fundamentally sound, and they're all really competitive kids," Bennett said. "I don't really think we have a whole lot of holes in our lineup for them to earn playing-time, but the reason why we brought them up is to push the other kids." The Bears' schedule once again includes Fremd, Rolling Meadows, Cary-Grove, Maine West and Grayslake Central. They've also added Loyola, Wheaton North and Naperville Central. "I always tell people we're going to be the same team we always are," Bennett said. "You're never going to see us ranked because of the schedule that we play - we're always going to be like 9-7 - but no one is going to want to play us."