Straight To The Hoop

Still not satisfied

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:33:02 -0600

Bolingbrook sophomore forward Morgan Tuck returned from an ACL tear Friday night in the top-ranked Raiders' season opener against No. 2 Marian Catholic at home, a 61-42 victory for the defending Class 4A state champions.
Tuck scored 11 points. She said she felt fine and wasn't thinking about reinjuring the knee. Tuck said she wasn't really surprised, either, that she came back in about six months after tearing it over the summer.
And junior guard Ariel Massengale was very impressive, as always. She had 10 steals and scored 12 points. Her defense probably contributed to Marian's 29 turnovers.
But the season is early and coach Tony Smith didn't like all he saw.
"The first game, that is to be expected and we have to work on some things," Smith said. "We didn't do the job. We didn't get into it quick enough and [Marian] got a lot of open looks. We won the game and we'll take it, but there's not going to be any more of 'Yeah, I know, I got it.' "
Smith was also displeased at the number of points the Raiders gave up.
"I don't take anything away from Marian Catholic, but we're at a different level than that," Smith said.
* * * *
And who would have thought that Marian Catholic, the No. 2 ranked team, would start the season 0-2? I guess the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup was a bit lopsided, but it is still too early to judge the Spartans.
Coach Annie Basic wants another shot at Bolingbrook -- like, maybe, next week.
But seriously, Marian Catholic could face Bolingbrook again in the Class 4A playoffs and that's what Basic is hoping will happen.
"I've been so fortunate to have the type of talent I have had at Marian," Basic said. "You have to help these kids to get where they can be. Next Saturday hopefully we can be 3-2.
"Our goal is to play Bolingbrook again at the end of the year," Basic said. "Marian does not give up."

Galloping Mustangs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:26:45 -0600

Morgan Park beat Trinity Tuesday night in River Forest 49-36. I guess you could say it was a surprising victory for the Mustangs since they were ranked No. 24 and Trinity was No. 7.
Morgan Park was impressive. The Mustangs play that fast-break, up-tempo kind of basketball that the Public League is known for, and it was great to see another Public League team aside from the Usual Suspects (Whitney Young, Marshall, Bogan and Von Steuben) not only have a place in the Top 25 but also be a part in an upset.
Trinity, by contrast, is a very young team. The Blazers start two freshmen in Mikayla Leyden and Taylor Nazon, two sophomores in Gracie Sanchez and Megan Podkowa and a junior in Divinity Brown.
Coach Eddie Stritzel notes that of the youngsters, Sanchez is going to be the glue that holds the Blazers' offense together and she isn't half bad on defense, either. She scored 12 points, had 11 rebounds and three blocks.
After the game, Morgan Park sophomore guard Kendyl Nunn -- who scored 11 points, six of them in the third quarter to put the Mustangs ahead for good -- said she wants Morgan Park to get more respect than a No. 24 ranking.
Kendyl, Morgan Park will be ranked No. 24 no more. You'll have to look a lot higher in the Super 25 on Monday to find your Mustangs.
* * * * * * * * * *
It's off to Bolingbrook Friday night for No. 1 vs. No. 2, the host Raiders (the defending Class 4A state champions) and Marian Catholic. Can Marian pull off the third upset of the week, after the Spartans themselves were upset against Lincoln-Way East on Tuesday, 48-41? No. 18 Hillcrest was also upset on Thursday night at unranked Homewood-Flossmoor.

Hot topics of conversation

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:13:53 -0600

The Sun-Times girls basketball preview came out today. And as always it generated a lot of feedback.
The most talked about portion of the preview is always the top 50 list. There were several e-mails asking why certain players were not included. If those particular players were included we would be over 50. So who do you take out? It's always a difficult decision and one that I dread every year, hating to offend those not chosen. Believe me, it isn't personal.
The other hot topic of e-mails is the 20 questions, more specifically, the best seniors, juniors and sophomores. The question reads: "Who are the five best . . . " I only list five players in each because I feel that if you list more on one class and less in another class, that really isn't fair. Those five best in each class were taken off the top 50 list. However, among freshmen -- Who are some freshmen to watch? -- I break that rule and try to list as many as I can, since freshmen aren't on the top 50 list anyway.
A few players in question were Marian Catholic's Jasmine Matthews, who has five Division I offers; T.F. North's Centrese McGee (an Illinois recruit); South Elgin sophomore Becca Smith; Bogan junior Ariel Haynes; freshman Kari Moffat from Stevenson and the sophomores from Trinity Megan Podkowa and Gracie Sanchez.
These players are all strong in their own right. Just because they were omitted from a list should not take away from their worth to the game.

Historical Signing

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:32:16 -0600

St. Joseph senior Shannika Bryant will make some history at the Westchester school this week when she signs a Division I letter of intent to play at Wichita State University. Bryant is the first female basketball player from St. Joseph to earn a D-I scholarship.

Holmes makes her decision

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:14:40 -0600

Bogan senior forward Lynette Holmes decided Saturday to give a commitment to Xavier. Holmes picked Xavier over Michigan State and Missouri. She is considered one of the top players in the Public League.

Where will Bogan's Holmes go?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:27:50 -0600

It's never too early to really start thinking and talking about the basketball season.
In terms of college commitments, here's what's up:
Most of the major players have already made their college choices. Fenwick's Trish Liston is going to Duke, Hinsdale Central's Toni Kokenis is going to Stanford and Montini's Michala Johnson is going to Connecticut, just to name a few of the big names.
But in the Public League, Bogan senior Lynette Holmes is undecided. She should be making her choice in the next few weeks. Holmes, who made news when she came to Chicago after fleeing her native New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit, is deciding among the following schools: Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Marquette, Miami, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina State, Pittsburg and Xavier.
Adding to Holmes' exposure is the forthcoming December issue of ESPN's Rise Magazine with Holmes on the cover.

Sibley commits

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:37:43 -0600

St. Charles North's 6-foot post player Dana Sibley gave a committment to St. Xavier University. Sibley is going to a program that has been to the NAIA Sweet 16 the last two years.

Janae Smith commits

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:55:31 -0600

Rich Central forward Janae Smith made an oral commitment to the College of Charleston. Smith chose the College of Charleston over Evansville, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Pepperdine, Mississippi State and UIC.

More college commitments

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:24:22 -0600

Whitney Young senior guard Laquita Garner made an oral commitment to Texas Pan-American this week.
DePaul received a verbal from 6-1 forward Jasmine Penny of Logansport, Ind.

Capatosto chooses

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:05:00 -0600

Elk Grove forward Ashley Capatosto made an oral committment to St. Bonaventure in New York on Tuesday. The 6-footer is Elk Grove's all-time leading scorer, earning the honor in her junior season.

Hazemi takes her pick

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:27:55 -0600

Glenbard West forward Nicole Hazemi gave Southern Indiana a verbal committment over the weekend. Hazemi chose Southern Indiana over Southern Illinois, Detroit, Southeast Missouri State, Holy Cross, Manhattan and Southern Illinois Edwardsville. Hazemi will join former Moninti standout Cootie Leeberg at Southern Indiana.

Another Big East committment for Bolingbrook

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:13:26 -0600

Bolingbrook coach Tony Smith announced Friday that 6-foot guard Nicosia Henry gave Seton Hall a verbal committment this week. Henry is the second Bolingbrook player to commit to a Big East school this offseason. The first being Mercedes Griffin, who committed to Marquette.
Henry, a senior, is a four-year varsity player who went Downstate with Bolingbrook in her three previous seasons. Smith said Henry was a key contributor on Bolingbrook's 2009 Class 4A state championship team.

Another T.F. North player commits

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:11:02 -0600

A second T.F. North player made a college committment this week when guard Dawn Luster gave IUPUI a verbal on Wednesday. Luster, who started her prep career at Hope before transferring to the Calumet City school, chose IUPUI over Loyola, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan. Luster's teammate, 6-2 forward Janese Randolph, had committed to Cincinnati Tuesday night.

T.F. North's Randolph commits

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:31:29 -0600

T.F. North's leading scorer and rebounder, Jenese Randolph, gave Cincinnati a verbal committment Tuesday night. Randolph is a 6-2 post player and chose Cincinnati over Memphis, Northern Illinois, Providence and UIC.

Lindfors makes a choice

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:51:33 -0600

Elk Grove's 6-4 senior center Courtney Lindfors made a verbal committment to Wisconsin-Milwaukee over the weekend. Lindfors was a member of Driscoll's Class 2A state championship team last season, but transferred to Elk Grove after Driscoll closed after the school year last spring.
"Elk Grove has been really welcoming," she said. "It's a lot less stressful now [deciding on Wisconsin-Milwaukee]."