Scouting Warren

WARREN

Coach: John Stanczykiewicz (20th season)

Last season: 25-7, 12-2 in NSC, won Class 4A Buffalo Grove regional, lost to Lake Zurich in Fremd sectional final

Key losses: G Kaylen Dickson (Wake Forest), G Jordyn Hughes (Eastern Illinois), G Camille Cuevas

Returning players: Sr. F Dana Lundtveit (6-1), Jr. G Macy Kocen (5-10), Sr. F Breleigh Gula (5-11), Sr. G Jataia Harris (5-7), Sr. G Aniya Anderson (5-2), Sr. F Damaria Finley (5-7)

Newcomers: Jr. F Valeria Arroyo (5-10), Jr. G Jesette Ezernack (5-5), Jr. G Trenise Powe (5-6), Jr. G Julia Retter (5-6), So. F Micaila Kline (5-9), So. G/F Kelsey McGraw (5-10), So. G Caroline Sharpe (5-7), Fr. G Angela Truelsen (5-4)

Outlook: Even the veterans on this season's roster might seem new to varsity. That's because Kaylen Dickson and Jordyn Hughes were a 1-2 show for the Blue Devils last season, and the team didn't try to disguise it. The two four-year varsity guards led the Blue Devils to a No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Fremd sectional, 25 wins and conference and regional championships. Their graduation last spring left the Blue Devils with "a hole the size of the Grand Canyon," coach John Stanczykiewicz joked. Both Dickson (Wake Forest) and Hughes (Eastern Illinois) are now playing college basketball. "They were the first and second option of pretty much everything we did - for justifiable reasons," Stanczykiewicz said. "Invariably, a team that depends on just a couple of players really has to work hard the next year to try and redevelop their identity." Dickson and Hughes each averaged around 15 points and 8 rebounds per game, accounting for what Stanczykiewicz said was "easily 90 percent of our scoring and our rebounding." They both also handled the ball far more than any of their teammates and were depended on for their defense, as well. "They dominated the basketball," Stanczykiewicz said. "We're definitely a team in search of an identity. I'm waiting for the pieces to fall into place. You practice, you put kids into roles and you put them in positions. But you're always waiting for that 'Aha' moment when they all fit, when they sync, when they look good together and good things happen on the floor together, and it appears to happen naturally." The Blue Devils return a pair of starters in senior big Dana Lundtveit and sophomore guard Macy Kocen. They were both complementary players a year ago, while guard Jataia Harris and big Breleigh Gula played a lot coming off the bench. Forward Damaria Finley and guard Aniya Anderson saw limited playing-time. Stanczykiewicz pulled up three sophomores in Micaila Kline, Kelsey McGraw and Caroline Sharpe, as well as freshman Angela Truelsen, who might be the Blue Devils' point guard of the future. There are four juniors who are new to varsity as well. "We're definitely the new-look Blue Devils," Stanczykiewicz said. "We have ability. There's talent on the roster. They just need to learn how to play varsity basketball, and it's not as easy as it sounds. There's a period of adjustment."