Nov. 19--Girls basketball
Marian Catholic overruns Lincoln-Way East 54-26
Replacing Ashton Millender. Or at least, replacing Ashton Millender's points. That's pretty much the No. 1 challenge for Marian Catholic this season.
How to do it?
"All together. We're trying to help each other offensively since we don't have Ashton," Jerell Matthews said after the Spartans' 54-26 season-opening-victory Tuesday over Lincoln-Way East.
Call the first step a successful one.
- Tony Baranek
Marlee Kyles starts season in style, scores 30 for Larkin
Larkin sophomore guard Marlee Kyles prides herself on her hard work.
In Tuesday's season opener against Marengo at the Burlington Central Tournament, she put her hard work on display for all to see.
Kyles poured in a career-high 30 points to help lead the Royals to a 71-54 win. She added nine rebounds and four steals to her impressive stat line.
"I work hard all the time," Kyles said. "I'm in the gym. You could say I'm a gym rat. I'm in the gym right after school. It really shows when you work that hard. And then when you have your teammates cheering you on, it was good."
The Royals hopped out to a 13-2 lead behind Kyles and senior Quixmia Washington. That would be a recurring theme all night. Washington scored 25 points, giving the duo 65 of the team's 71 points.
"Marlee was just fantastic," Larkin coach Ruben Flores said. "Q came on strong. Those ladies helped us out a lot.
"It's a double-edged sword. I'm excited to have a performance like that from the girls. But, 30 points from her, that's almost half of our scoring. That could be a blessing and that could be a curse. We've got to work some other girls into it."
- Paul Johnson
Sam Carani can carry the load for Westminster Christian
With three potent scorers returning, Westminster Christian hopes to quickly re-establish the momentum it owned in making the sectional last season.
"We lost two good perimeter defenders in Paul Ellerbush and Conner Rejman, but if we can maintain our health and accept a team concept, we have a lot of promise," coach Bruce Firchau said. "Every coach hopes for improvement and it's possible with this group, but so much depends on our execution."
Leading scorer Sam Carani, a dangerous three-point threat who averaged 17.1 points, returns as a senior. The 6-4 Carani is one of the players Firchau is watching closely in terms of health. He battled through illness and injuries last year, and a chronic back issue is plaguing him so far in preseason.
Junior guard Dillon Rejman has grown three inches to 6-1 after averaging 8.5 points last year. Senior forward/center Robert Kleczynski is 6-2 and plays like he's taller. He averaged 13.4 points last year.
"It's nice to have a point guard who is still growing and is 6-1," Firchau said. "And with Robert, I don't know of many players in [Class] 1A or 2A who works as hard to accomplish what he does inside. He has worked very hard at his game and plays basketball year-round. I think we'll see him as a more polished shooter this year, too."
- Gene Chamberlain
Cece Rapp, Maddie Spagnola give St. Edward returning boost
St. Edward possesses two key players who would make any coach envious in 6-3 senior center Cece Rapp and 5-4 sophomore guard Maddie Spagnola.
Coach Michelle Dawson knows, however that team success takes more than two stars, and stresses the need to find the intangibles that bind together any good team.
"Last year we had a really good core of players who were unselfish and looking for each other with passes in our offense," she said. "We had a good team chemistry, and this group we're hoping can develop that again."
Rapp and Spagnola make it easier to find the right mix. Rapp is headed on scholarship to Division II Lindenwood in Missouri next season after averaging 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in the pivot.
"She's stronger in the paint offensively and defensively," Dawson said.
- Gene Chamberlain
Under Dave Owles, Waubonsie Valley seeks to answer question of who?
If Waubonsie Valley girls basketball coach Dave Owles were teaching math, he would stress multiplication over mere addition.
The Warriors are still in rebuilding mode going into Owles' third year, but there was incremental progress last winter as the team improved from four wins in 2012-13 to a 6-20 record.
It would be foolish to think Owles is satisfied with that trajectory.
"We went from four wins to six last year," Owles said. "We're not looking for an extra two wins. We've set the bar much higher."
To achieve that, Owles challenged his players to commit to offseason training both on the court and in the weight room.
"There was a lot of everyone putting in individual work in the offseason," Owles said. "We really stressed to them that this is the only way we're going to get better as a team, if everyone improves their individual skills.
"We have seven girls that took that to heart, so there is competitiveness in practice."
- Matt Le Cren
Joe Kilbride's guarded optimism reigns at Benet
There has been a changing of the guard at Benet, but don't expect much else to change.
Longtime assistant Joe Kilbride has taken the reins from legendary coach Peter Paul, who retired after winning 617 games in 29 seasons.
But with eight returning players, including five seniors, back from a squad that went 21-10 and won a regional title, the Redwings expect to keep on winning.
"I told Peter if I don't screw it up we should be pretty good," Kilbride said. "I'm guardedly optimistic. I know the girls are excited to get started."
They have reason to be as a trio of three-year starters leads the way.
- Matt Le Cren
Bryce Menendez right in role for talent-laden Neuqua Valley
Neuqua Valley graduated four players who are now in the college ranks from a team that won 28 games and a sectional title last winter.
But Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams is still smiling.
That's because the Wildcats -- as they have been the past couple years -- are loaded with talent of all ages. Two players have already committed to Division I schools and a couple more may eventually join them.
"We're in good shape," Williams said. "We've had the privilege of being really deep. We have a nice mixture of ages. It's the same thing as last year."
- Matt Le Cren
Cedric Williams takes the helm for up-and-coming Metea Valley
A new era has begun at Metea Valley.
The Mustangs have a new coach, and are searching for new leaders one year after capturing the school's first regional championship.
Cedric Williams succeeds Kris Kalivas, who had been coach since the program's inception five years ago. Williams made his head coaching debut Tuesday against Plainfield East after being the top assistant the past three seasons.
"It's good to be on the court and enjoying the young ladies that we have this year," Williams said. "It's been busy but it's been a total blessing.
"The kids are enjoying the process. They're working hard to get better and be a better team. We've been preaching the team concept and that will pay dividends at the end of the day."
- Matt Le Cren
Larkin looks forward to having 1-2 punch
Larkin girls basketball coach Ruben Flores has his top scorer and top all-around player returning from a team that improved to 10 wins last year.
What Flores has to go with sophomore forward Marlee Kyles and senior guard Quixmia Washington is likely to remain a question mark until several weeks of the season.
"We have a good bunch of juniors coming up from the sophomore level and some sophomores, but I think it will be a little tough in the beginning until we get everything situated and our timing down," Flores said.
The 5-6 Kyles led the Royals last year by averaging 13.1 points and 7.4 rebounds.
"She's got a really nice shot and a high basketball IQ," Flores said. "She sees defenses for what they are and utilizes the teammates and the schemes that we have. Having her back bodes well for the next two years."
- Gene Chamberlain
