Markovic, Hicks Give Glenbard South Girls Formidable Frontcourt

If the season-opener 66-46 drubbing of Batavia is any indication, Glenbard South's girls basketball team should have little difficulty accomplishing one of head coach Julie Fonda's goals for 2010-11: winning 20 games.

Senior 6-4 center Nevena Markovic dominated the Tuesday night matchup, pumping in 29 points and snapping down 15 rebounds. Combined with junior forward Patrice Hicks (5-11), who averaged 12 points a game last year, the Raiders once again possess one of the area's most formidable frontcourt tandems.

"Expectations are very high around her (Markovic), and she knows that," Fonda said. "Patrice can dominate a game. She's such a sound basketball player. She can choose when she takes over a game. They are kind of our catalysts. We'll go as they go."

Needless to say, the Raiders' offense will center around their two inside standouts.

"With a 6-4 kid, you have to get touches in the post," Fonda said. "With Patrice's athleticism, they have a great connection. When teams go to collapse on them, it's going to be an inside-out game. We're going to have to kick it out to my guards and let them do the shooting."

The Raiders' backcourt returns starters Sarah Engelhardt and Alyse Cates, both seniors. However, Fonda noted that sophomore Theresa Scheet is pushing for playing time.

"Sarah and Alyse are very good, sound defensive players," Fonda said. "I can match up Sarah against any guard in the county and she'll do anything to shut them down. Alyse and Theresa are battling for point guard. Theresa is giving her a run for her money."

Cates and Scheet's approach to playing point guard is different, Fonda said. Cates likes to push the ball upcourt, while Scheet can shoot the three and is more comfortable setting up a half-court game.

Fonda said there's also a possibility that opponents could see Cates and Scheet out on the floor at the same time, with Scheet playing a two-guard.

"That's not out of the question," she said.

Additionally, Fonda believes junior guard Hannah Davey will get some minutes throughout the course of the season.

"She's done a lot of great things in practice," Fonda said. "I see her contributing over the year."

Markovic and Hicks are certainly more than enough for foes to contend with inside, yet Fonda also can throw junior Danielle Chitkowski and senior Bridget Anderson into the mix.

"Dani right now is my starting three," Fonda said. "She does all the intangibles and is a pure hustler. She can score for us and she plays good defense. Bridget is a similar player. At the forward spot, she offers quickness and cuts to the basket very well. Bridget will see her share of playing time as well."

This season, the Raiders are playing in the Metro Suburban Conference, won last year by Riverside-Brookfield. Fenton, Illiana Christian, Ridgewood, Timothy Christian and Elmwood Park are also members of the conference. Fonda said she's doing some homework in order to become more familiar with these particular squads.

"The teams are relatively new to me," she said. "I've done some reading about the teams, but it's going to be kind of a new venture for us, so we're not taking anything for granted."