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Downers Grove, IL —
BEN MOORE
SCHOOL Bolingbrook boys
CLASS Junior
POSITION Forward
IMPACAT Even on a team that features two future collegiate players and a slew of other premier athletes, Moore has had a breakout campaign in every sense. The 6-foot-7 junior doesn’t have the bulk of most big men (175 pounds), but he has tremendous footwork in the paint, can put the ball on the floor, has an array of finishing moves and can play with his back to the basket or facing the rim. It’s one reason why he already has four scholarship offers on the table and is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game. “He’s someone that’s under the radar, but the numbers he’s putting up is forcing everyone to pay attention,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “But it’s not about the numbers with him. He just wants to win, and that’s the best part about him. He just does what it takes to win.”
SUSIE STERNARD
SCHOOL Westmont girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Center/forward
IMPACT Sternard got her senior campaign off to the right start when she opened the first game of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds against Elmwood Park. She has continued to excel on the offensive side of the ball, sharing the wealth with Jackie Zakhem and Amanda Anderson. Sternard helped contribute to the Sentinels’ 10-8 record, and will be key in halting Westmont’s four-game losing streak.
GREG GARRO
SCHOOL Downers South boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Center
IMPACT Senior guards Jamall Millison and Jerron Wilbut claim much of the spotlight for Downers South. But Garro has proved invaluable in the Mustangs’ 11-2 start this season. At 6-foot-6, Garro is averaging six points and five rebounds a game and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter Monday night to help the Mustangs come from behind and beat Fremd. “He gets key rebounds for baskets, gets his hand on the ball to keep possessions going for us and plays outstanding defense while often guarding bigger players from the other team,” head coach Jay Baum said.
CAM BELL
SCHOOL Lisle boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Guard
IMPACT Bell has had some difficult shoes to fill this year after losing Chris Wray and Phil Palicka to graduation. But Bell has stepped up and found his rhythm, becoming a scoring threat alongside Kazim Kahn. Recently in a competition at practice, Bell made 91-of-100 free throws, and he takes that same success consistency to the court. He recently made four free throws in the final minute of the Lions’ 61-52 victory over Sandwich.
BEN MOORE
SCHOOL Bolingbrook boys
CLASS Junior
POSITION Forward
IMPACAT Even on a team that features two future collegiate players and a slew of other premier athletes, Moore has had a breakout campaign in every sense. The 6-foot-7 junior doesn’t have the bulk of most big men (175 pounds), but he has tremendous footwork in the paint, can put the ball on the floor, has an array of finishing moves and can play with his back to the basket or facing the rim. It’s one reason why he already has four scholarship offers on the table and is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game. “He’s someone that’s under the radar, but the numbers he’s putting up is forcing everyone to pay attention,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “But it’s not about the numbers with him. He just wants to win, and that’s the best part about him. He just does what it takes to win.”
SUSIE STERNARD
SCHOOL Westmont girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Center/forward
IMPACT Sternard got her senior campaign off to the right start when she opened the first game of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds against Elmwood Park. She has continued to excel on the offensive side of the ball, sharing the wealth with Jackie Zakhem and Amanda Anderson. Sternard helped contribute to the Sentinels’ 10-8 record, and will be key in halting Westmont’s four-game losing streak.
GREG GARRO
SCHOOL Downers South boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Center
IMPACT Senior guards Jamall Millison and Jerron Wilbut claim much of the spotlight for Downers South. But Garro has proved invaluable in the Mustangs’ 11-2 start this season. At 6-foot-6, Garro is averaging six points and five rebounds a game and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter Monday night to help the Mustangs come from behind and beat Fremd. “He gets key rebounds for baskets, gets his hand on the ball to keep possessions going for us and plays outstanding defense while often guarding bigger players from the other team,” head coach Jay Baum said.
CAM BELL
SCHOOL Lisle boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Guard
IMPACT Bell has had some difficult shoes to fill this year after losing Chris Wray and Phil Palicka to graduation. But Bell has stepped up and found his rhythm, becoming a scoring threat alongside Kazim Kahn. Recently in a competition at practice, Bell made 91-of-100 free throws, and he takes that same success consistency to the court. He recently made four free throws in the final minute of the Lions’ 61-52 victory over Sandwich.
KATELYN KUBAL
SCHOOL Downers South girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Guard/forward
IMPACT After not playing last year, Kubal has stepped onto the court for her senior year and made quite a contribution. Often in the shadow of leading scorer Alison Dec and two-sport star Sarrah Ludwig, Kubal has remained under the radar for the most part throughout the Mustangs’ 11-5 start to the season. Kubal recently had 10 points and added clutch free throws in the 43-40 win over Rockford Lutheran.
KENNEDY CATTENHEAD
SCHOOL Bolingbrook girls
CLASS Junior
POSITION Guard
IMPACT Cattenhead did see varsity action last season, but with senior guards Ariel Massengale and Taylor Tuck running the show, her floor time was limited and she seldom was called upon to trigger the offense as a point guard. She averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds per game last season. Things are different this season. Cattenhead takes the floor to start the game and is now the one running the show offensively. She helps initiate the offense by forcing steals and jumping passing lanes on the defensive end. “She’s running the team,” Bolingbrook coach Tony Smith said. “She’s definitely graduated to be the person we can count on to get us into our offense and defense. We’re counting on her a lot more this year and we have been able to count on her.”
ROB MAHLKE
SCHOOL Downers North boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT Mahlke has emerged as the Trojans’ leading scorer, and his hard work in the offseason has proved key to his success. He is averaging 15.9 points per game with 5.6 rebounds and two assists a game. “Roby has been a standout player for us this year because of the hard work and dedication he has put forth in the offseason,” head coach James Thomas said. Mahlke found his way onto the Wheaton Warrenville Thanksgiving all-tournament team and was second in scoring amongst all players in the Hinsdale South Holiday Tournament, averaging 21.8 points per game.
MARY BEDALOV
SCHOOL Downers North girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT After losing five seniors who all played big minutes for the Trojans last year, this season’s 4-13 Downers North squad has had several players step up to fill those roles. Bedalov has put up points in almost every game, alongside returning four-year varsity player Mary Echemann and standout freshman Izzy Greenblatt.
KELLY URBAN
SCHOOL Lisle girls
CLASS Junior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT The Lisle girls basketball team has proved it can play with just about anybody, recently beating Timothy Christian to improve to 14-4 overall and 7-0 in Insterstate Eight Conference action. Urban has played a major role in that success. Earlier this season, she notched 26 points in the 48-43 win over Wheaton Academy.
CALVIN CASPER
SCHOOL Westmont boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Center/forward
IMPACT Although the Sentinels are usually led in scoring by junior Jean Pietrzak and senior Kevin Good, 6-foot-5 senior Casper has been key to Westmont’s 8-7 record this year. Casper has had his shining moments and is averaging about 10 points per game while pulling down almost as many rebounds per game.
BRIAN OWENS
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central boys
CLASS Junior
POSITION Point guard
IMPACT Fronted by senior Tom Garvin, freshman Matt Rafferty and senior Brad Anlauf, the Red Devils have a powerful offense. Owens, who also was a Breakout Player for the football team this fall, has been essential to the team’s 7-4 record, providing leadership and consistency in both games and practices. Considered the “glue guy” to the team, Owens has averaged eight points and four assists per game with his best performance in the one-point loss to Morgan Park, where he scored 18 points and had six assists.
DIJON JAMES
SCHOOL Hinsdale South boys
CLASS Senior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT Often shrouded by three-year starters Brock Benson and Phil George, the 6-foot-2 James often flies under the radar at Hinsdale South. James is averaging nine points and five rebounds per game, and shooting 52.5 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point mark and 75 percent from the free throw line. “He does so many little things that go unnoticed during games that have led to our team being successful,” coach Vince Doran said. Although James has proven himself on the 8-6 Hornets squad all season, he had his breakout performance against Willowbrook, scoring 27 points in a double-overtime win.
JEN LOISELLE
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT Loiselle has worked hard and waited her turn over the years. As a senior this season, she has finally earned a spot on the basketball court for the Red Devils. Although she’s not a full-time starter, she still contributes good minutes for the Red Devils, hitting a key basket in an upset win over ranked St. Joseph. “Through hard work and dedication and refusal to be upset about not playing last year, she has emerged as a sometime starter and constant help off the bench,” coach Tom McKenna said. “She represents everything that is good about high school sports.”
ANDREA MCNALLY
SCHOOL Hinsdale South girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Guard
IMPACT Andrea McNally has been the most consistent player on the team for the Hornets throughout her senior year, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. McNally helped lead the 11-4 Hornets to a win over ranked Marian Catholic at the Montini Holiday Tournament, nabbing nine points and two clutch free throws in the last minute of the game. McNally was named to the all-tournament team at the Hinsdale South Tip-Off Tournament.
NATALIE TOMERLIN
SCHOOL Hinsdale South girls
CLASS Senior
POSITION Forward
IMPACT Natalie Tomerlin is off to a great start for her senior season, averaging 7.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game — that’s twice her scoring output from last winter. Tomerlin also was key in the win over ranked Marian Catholic with nine points, eight rebounds and two steals. As a captain, she has continued to lead the Hornets on and off the court.
