J’burg sisters await season together

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

JOHNSBURG – There was something about watching her younger sister on the basketball court last winter that made Kara DiTusa nostalgic.

It had been four years since the Johnsburg senior had laced up basketball shoes. Her winters had been spent behind volleyball nets, pads strapped to her knees, sharpening the skills necessary to be an outside option for the Skyhawks’ varsity volleyball team.

DiTusa had accomplished that, earning a spot on the varsity roster during her freshman year and working tirelessly for various Sky High teams in the offseason.

With that goal met, DiTusa set a new one last winter inside Johnsburg’s gym.

“I thought I might as well play basketball and give it another shot,” she said. “Last year when I was watching all of (sister) Kallie’s games, I just realized that I missed it. I’ve got some really good friends on the team, and I thought for my senior year I’d really like to play.”

Kara not only will lace up shoes and share the court with Kallie, a sophomore, during both volleyball and basketball for one final year, but the two likely will fill holes in the Skyhawks’ roster that had concerned coach Mike Toussaint.

At 5-foot-9 and 5-10 respectively, Kara and Kallie add depth and bring post and shooting skills to a team that lost four starters, including all-around standout Danielle Slivka and power forward Krista Volden, who played similar roles.

Whether the sisters will feel any pressure once the season begins remains to be seen, but there are 116 days until it starts and Kallie has the jitters.

Kallie led the freshman team in scoring last season, averaging 12 points a game, and practiced with the varsity team a few times. She knows what Toussaint expects from his players and that she is going to become a part of one of the area’s most respected girls basketball programs, so she can’t shake the nerves even though she should come into the season flying under the radar.

Kara will have the same luxury and is feeling the same nervousness, but she is relying on her sister to keep her even-keeled.

“We never fight,” Kallie said. “We’ve played on the same volleyball teams for years, and it’s going to be nice to do this together this year.”

Once Kara made her decision to play basketball this season, she showed Toussaint immediately that she was serious.

Kara hasn’t missed one day of camp, one practice or one workout. She and Kallie have juggled their volleyball and basketball responsibilities easily, and Kara’s game is noticeably sharper.

“I think she had to adjust most to the speed of the game,” Toussaint said. “The first day of camp [senior guard Melissa] Dixon gave her a blind pass and it nearly took her head off. But her dedication has been amazing. She wants to do it, and she’s doing awesome.”

Kara will play center, and Kallie will be a shooting guard. Kara’s rebounding skills and aggression in the post have impressed Toussaint, while Kallie is showing a wide range of skills that should make her a huge asset.

“We have struggled in the past with rebounding, but [Kara] blocks well, rebounds well and is just really strong down low, whereas Kallie has a great shot and some nice moves and is really versatile,” Toussaint said. “They both have the possibility of starting this year. We lost a lot of leadership, too, so I’m hoping especially Kara can step in and be a leader. There’s no doubt, though, that they’ll give us a lot of depth.”