March 13, 2025
Sports

Girls Basketball: Previewing Glenbard South, Glenbard West, St. Francis, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South

By Joshua Welge
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Glenbard South Maggie Bair (42) goes up for a shot in the first quarter while West Aurora defender tries to block Maggie in the first quarter Friday during the Wheaton North Bill Neibch Tournament. David Toney - For Shaw Media. (David Toney)

The girls basketball season tips off this week with many teams playing in tournaments to start the year. Here’s the outlook for area teams:

GLENBARD SOUTH RAIDERS

Coach: Morgan Eufrasio

2017-18 record: 30-4

TOP PLAYERS

NAME YEAR POS.

Maggie Bair sr. F

Lauren Cohen so. G

Rocky LaPonte jr. G

Nya Jones sr. G/F

Outlook: The Raiders are coming off a historic season, taking third place in Class 3A in Glenbard South's first state appearance. They graduated three three-year starters, but All-Stater Bair is a great foundation to build on. The lanky 6-foot-2 Drake recruit averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds as a junior, and can do it all – run the point, make 3s, take defenders off the dribble and dominate the glass. Cohen will be Glenbard South's key perimeter defender, and primary ballhandler. Jones, a transfer from Montini, adds a new option on offense to take pressure off Bair.

"Our program is focused on defense," Eufrasio said.

GLENBARD WEST HILLTOPPERS

Coach: Kristi Faulkner

2017-18 record: 24-6

TOP PLAYERS

NAME YEAR POS.

Katelyn Heller sr. G

Taylor Huff jr. F

Jamiyah Thomas sr. F/C

Nikki Adamski sr. F

Maggie Stutelberg so. G

Outlook: The Hilltoppers are coming off quite a first season under former Glenbard West great Faulkner. Glenbard West won its first West Suburban Silver title since 2006. Heller, Huff and Thomas are all key pieces back from that group. Huff averaged 11 points and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore, Heller 8 points and 4 rebounds as a junior.

"We are very excited for the season," Faulkner said. "We have some talent, leadership and versatility on this year's team."

ST. FRANCIS SPARTANS

Coach: Sandy DeCraene

2017-18 record: 14-14

TOP PLAYERS

NAME YEAR POS.

Katie Chaparro so. G

Megan Lombard sr. F

Shannon Cooney jr. G

Emily Dziengel jr. F

Ashley Sullivan jr. G

Maddie Fasana jr. G

Elizabeth Grivetti jr. G

Outlook: The Spartans graduated four starters – notably, Antwainette Walker, who averaged 20 points per game and is now playing at Arkansas-Little Rock. Chaparro, a sophomore point guard who averaged 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds, is the lone returning starter. Lombardo started some games, and Madison Wisted returns after missing all of last year with a torn ACL. Adding to the uncertainty of the season, St. Francis makes its debut in the Metro Suburban Conference.

"While I would not call this a rebuilding year, it is certainly a lot of new going on," said De Craene, who took over at midseason last year. We should be competitive. We don't have one outstanding player so teamwork all the way down the bench will be important."

WHEATON NORTH FALCONS

Coach: David Eaton

2017-18 record: 20-9

TOP PLAYERS

NAME YEAR POS.

Nikki Baird sr. F

Sarah Topps sr. G

Jenna Kortenhoeven sr. F

Leeya Zander jr. G

Rachel Brady jr. G

Ellie Hubbard so. G

Claire Hyde fr. G

Outlook: The Falcons, who graduated all-time leading scorer Hannah Swider, will have a young group in its first season in the DuKane Conference. Baird, a Belmont recruit, is a nice base to build on. Rangy and versatile, she can hit the perimeter shot and rebound inside. Topps received starting experience last year when the Falcons were short-handed with injuries. The collective experience of winning a regional title, and playing eventual champion Geneva in sectionals, should help.

"We'll look to build on our past success with a new set of faces," Eaton said.

WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH TIGERS

Coach: Rob Kroehnke

2017-18 record: 27-4

TOP PLAYERS

NAME YEAR POS.

Mira Emma sr. G

MacKenzie Stebbins sr. F

Kylie Ruggles sr. G

Maria Dohse sr. F

Paige Miller sr. F

Abby Struebing sr. G

Outlook: The Tigers come off a wonderful, if perhaps unexpected season, where they went undefeated from December until late February and advanced to a sectional final before losing to eventual state champion Geneva. Losing All-Area post Jayla Johnson hurts, but a good nucleus returns. Emma averaged nine points, Stebbins eight and Ruggles five per game. As always, WW South's success starts and ends with stellar defense. This year, look for the Tigers to push the pace a bit more. WW South's first DuKane Conference game is yes, against Geneva Dec. 1.

"It's a great group returning with big-game experience," Kroehnke said. "We will continue to play great defense."