Scouting St. Viator

St. ViatorCoach: Jason Raymond (4th season)

Last year's record: 21-10

Graduated Players: Myia Clark (playing at St. Louis), Olivia Solimene (playing at DePauw), Michaela Mueller, Haley Robinson, Maddie Fitzpatrick, Grace Sexton, Olivia Isufi, Katie Kroszka

Returning Players: Bridget DeZellar (5-9 Sr. F), Sam DeJulio (5-7, Sr. G), Elise Horbach (5-5 Sr. G), Natalie Krause (5-6 Sr. G), Payton McDonnell (5-6 Sr G), Cara Denton (5-6 Sr. G)

Newcomers: Joy Bergstrom (Fr. G), Nora Ahram (-4 Fr. G), Emma Morrissey (5-3 So. G), Aubrey Horbach (5-9 So. F), Keely McLellan (5-5 So. G), Ava McLellan (So G., out with ACL), Abby Longstreet (5-7 So. G), Michele Maslowski (5-4 Jr. G), Elise Bollard (5-5 Jr. G)

Outlook: With the graduation of all five starters, the Lions are looking to reload this winter. "We had a really good summer of implementing some things that we want to do for this year," said coach Jason Raymond. "So as far as summer basketball goes I am encouraged. From an offensive standpoint we had our best summer since I have been at Viator." A good number of players can put the ball in the basket, including DeZellar and DeJulio. "Bridget has a whole year under her belt recovering from an ACL tear," Raymond said. "She looks to have her athleticism back and brings a tough defensive mentality to our team. Sam is one of our three captains and an extension of our coaching staff when she is on the floor. She will be moved to the two-guard position to better use her ability to get to the basket and free throw line." Horbach is another captain and four-year varsity player. "She's is also a tough defender, in addition to being a very streaky shooter and explosive offensive player," Raymond said. "When she gets going, points come in bunches." Krause was the Lions' third-leading 3-point shooter last year. McDonnell (three-sport athlete) is the third captain and is a very versatile defender and rebounder from the guard position. "She is a really nice player in the open court and does a great job of generating steals," Raymond said. Denton is a two-year varsity player is leader by example who was on the freshman B team. Coming off a 21-4 sophomore season as freshman, Morrissey, Aubrey Horbach, McLellan and Longstreet look to contribute right away. Morrissey is a tough two-way player who is a combination guard who can run the point or slide to a shooting guard spot. Aubrey Horbach is a smooth versatile player and nice scorer around the basket. McLellan and Abby Longstreet provide solid depth. Freshmen Bergstrom and Ahram are guards who could make immediate impacts. "We would like to win our regular-season tournaments, challenge for the upper half of the conference, fight for a top-four seed in our 3A sectional," Raymond added. "We want to improve our team and individual basketball skills every day, and be playing our best basketball in February."