Future looks bright for Trojans

Cary-Grove freshman forward Olivia Jakubicek (right), pulling down a rebound last month, will be one of many players returning next season for the Trojans. C-G went 26-4 this season. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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During the girls basketball postseason, a prediction gained some credibility, and it likely will not come as a shock.

Cary-Grove’s girls basketball team is going to be very, very good.

Now that the 2009-10 season is finished, local teams can simultaneously reflect on the season and start planning for the next.

But no local girls team’s future seems rosier than C-G’s.

The Trojans return all but five players from this season’s team, which went 26-4 and lost an IHSA Class 4A sectional semifinal to then-unbeaten Geneva – a game C-G almost won.

C-G will return star forward Claire Jakubicek and her up-and-coming younger sister, Olivia, sophomore Paige Lincicum and junior point guard Megan Straumann, who tore her ACL in December and did not play during the second half of the season.

“We’ve got a lot coming back,” C-G coach Rod Saffert said. “We’re very excited about what’s coming up. We should be just as good or better than we were this year, but, of course, some of it depends on when we get Meg back at full strength. Her therapy is going really well, and we expect her back 100 percent by next season.

“These girls feel like they have the potential to do some really good things.”

C-G split the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title with Jacobs this year and could add another plaque to its case next season if all goes according to plan.

In the FVC Fox Division, both Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central return key players from successful campaigns. Junior guards Nelle Youel and Erin Frazier should return for the Tigers while guards Haley Ljunggren and Emily Bruksch should be back for the Wolves. Junior center Taylor Smerecky also helped Prairie Ridge down the stretch this season, contributing substantially to the Wolves’ Class 3A regional title.

Hampshire could pick up where it left off this season, as well. The Whip-Purs will return forward Alex Dumoulin, who averages a double-double, and sharpshooters Karla Vietinghoff and Jessie Van Dorin. Kelsey Anderson also returns to run the point. Coach Sue Ellett’s daughter, Connie, adds another outside threat and should see more playing time next year.

Johnsburg will have to fill the voids left by point guard Megan Lopez and forwards Danielle Slivka and Krista Volden. The Skyhawks return the area’s leading scorer in Melissa Dixon, who will be in her final year, and guards Susan Conroy and Mary Kate Wright, who came up big in the postseason. Sophomore Ashley Schuld should contribute down low.

Richmond-Burton also should be competitive in the Big Northern Conference East Division. Dayton recruit Erin Thomas will be a junior and is known for her ball-handling skills. The Rockets also developed junior forward
Nikki Zaobidny into a threat inside.