Season Preview: Lake Forest Girls Seek Leadership From Seniors

Developing leadership to replace six departing seniors from last years' 15-14 team will be biggest test as the season gets underway.

Both the challenges and a path to success were evident for coach Nick Balaban's scrappy squad in a 45-31 season-opening loss at Regina Dominican on Nov. 16.

"We're very inexperienced this year," said Balaban. "We have a lot to build and a team that is willing to learn. We're looking for leadership. We need our seniors to step up. If we get that, it will help."

Three of those seniors are forward Bridget Nelson along with guards Mackenzie Kenning and Haley Marshall. Their play against the Panthers showed the coach's expectations for leadership are not misplaced.

"The three seniors played well and that's what I wanted," said Balaban. "Nelson really led by example. She's been working hard and it showed. She's earned more minutes. Marshall laid it all on the line all the time."

Junior point guard Marina Katz, a returning starter and "natural leader," according to Balaban, is another of the players Lake Forest will pin its hopes on this season. The direction was evident as she controlled the Scouts offense against Regina and played tenacious defense with several interceptions and steals. Kenning, who Balaban labels the Scouts' "best perimeter shooter," completes an experienced backcourt.

Katz and Kenning helped keep Lake Forest in the game for most of three quarters trailing 19-17 with 4:10 to play, but the lack of experience started to show as the Panthers pulled away. Missed layups and free throws allowed Regina take control toward the end of the third quarter.

 Balaban realizes work on these fundamentals is an opportunity the Scouts must seize to achieve success this season.

"We were only 6 of 21 from the line and missed a lot of layups," said Balaban. "If we make 50 percent of our free throws and those layups go in, we're in the game at the end."

During practice, Lake Forest shoots at least 75 free throws a day and has numerous layup drills. "These are the things we can coach the girls to do. Where we are as a team, these are the things we need to do," added Balaban.

Along with the missed free throws and layups, the Scouts inexperience showed in their field goal percentage. "They didn't set themselves," said Balaban. "They need to take an extra second to get ready to shoot. That's something they can work on to get better."

Junior guard Allie Danneker, who is "explosive going to the basket," according to Balaban, is another contributor in the coach's plans. Team captain and senior forward Adrienne Mocogni, who is recovering from a torn ACL, hopes to be ready to play next month. Sophomore Isabelle Montagne, the tallest Scout at 5-foot-9, should give the squad added depth at forward when her injured knee heals.

The Scouts (0-2), who dropped the opening game of the Deerfield Invitational to the host Warriors, 62-35, on Thursday, continue tourney play against North Chicago at 5 p.m. today (Nov. 20), Evanston at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Waukegan at 3 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 24) and Niles West at 5 p.m. Nov. 27.