Scouting Vernon Hills

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Paul Brettner (19th season)

Last season: 18-11, 8-2 in CSL North, lost to Lakes in Class 3A Antioch regional final

Key losses: G Nicole Pieper, F Tatiana Guletsky

Returning players: Sr. F Kayla Caudle (6-0), Sr. G Piper Bedell (5-7), Sr. F Mackenzie Mahler (5-8), Jr. G Abby Brown, Jr. G Emily Singer (5-5), Jr. G Kylie Bunning (5-10), So. G Daniella Jarrell (5-10)

Newcomers: Sr. G Cassie Pappano (5-5), Sr. F Maddie Riehm (5-9), Jr. G Brynn Ziemke (5-3), Jr. G Becky Kieft (5-4), Jr. F Laine Lutgens (5-7), Jr. G Olivia Sweeney (5-4), Jr. G Lily Blase (5-5), Jr. F Lauren Shores (5-8), Jr. C Riley King (6-0)

Outlook: The Cougars' 18 wins last season were their most since the 2014-15 campaign, when they went 22-8 and won their own Class 3A regional championship. They were optimistic they could win a regional title last season, but they got outplayed by Lakes and fell one win shy of that goal. "The way I look at is, we had a good (regular season) and then we just didn't have a great postseason," coach Paul Brettner said. "We didn't play real well (against Lakes), and they were real hot. It just fizzled for us." The Cougars could flirt with 20 wins again this season, as they return three starters, including 6-foot post Kayla Caudle, who committed to DePaul University last spring. Caudle has been the Cougars' best player since her freshman year The three-time all-area selection enters her senior campaign with 885 points and is already the school's all-time leading rebounder. She averaged 15.3 points and 14.4 rebounds per game last season. "We expect her to get a lot of attention, and hopefully we can deal with that real well," Brettner said. "We're trying to put ourselves in positions where, even if teams do that, there's still plenty of good offense to go around." Daniella Jarrell had a promising season on varsity as a freshman last winter, showing she can get to the basket, shoot and score. Senior guard Piper Bedell is starting on varsity for the third year in a row. Kyle Bunning, Emily Singer and Mackenzie Mahler all played a lot coming off the bench last season. Abby Brown is back after tearing her ACL early last season, ending her sophomore campaign. Lauren Shores showed she could contribute after receiving a late-season call-up. Riley King, a 6-foot junior, is a transfer from Lake Forest, where she sat out last season with a thyroid issue, Brettner said. Brettner, the only coach in Cougars history, is carrying 16 players on his roster. "I think we'll end up being pretty deep," Brettner said. "Abby (Brown) is coming back from that ACL, and it's going to take a while for her to get back where she left off. (Junior guard) Lily Blase should be in the mix for earning some time, but she hurt her hip in cross country season, and she's really going about only every other day. I think we have a fair amount of kids that can contribute. It's just going to take awhile for the first-year varsity kids to catch up to the speed of the game."