If you ask Lyons Township girls basketball coach Dawn Schabacker, sans stat-sheets or box scores, how many games the Lions won last year or even about her players’ scoring averages, chances are she may not recall those numbers.
On some levels this basketball amnesia mirrors Schabacker’s approach regarding her young team. The Lions are simply focused on playing the game hard and improving along the way. If LT can achieve those intangible objectives at a high level during the upcoming season, that’s a good starting point to success for Schabacker. Besides, she figures the “numbers” will take care of themselves anyway.
“Last year, we had a lot of conference losses so it was a tough year in some respects,” Schabacker said. “I saw [last season] really as more of a rebuilding year. Because our players are all different classes [sophomores, juniors and seniors], I’m really hoping we can just establish some continuity and good play on the offensive end. We want to play an up-tempo style of basketball and really play hard defensively.”
Facing an always challenging schedule in the West Suburban (Silver) Conference, the Lions will lean on the talent and experience of several returning players. Five-foot-10-inch senior forward Jill Keeve, also a member of the Lions’ outstanding volleyball team which advanced to the super-sectional this week, is a very consistent inside presence on both ends of the court. Keeve showed glimpses of her considerable upside last winter, scoring 15 points (11 in the fourth quarter) during a 48-33 loss to highly-regarded Hinsdale Central.
Brittany Yelnick, a 5-6 senior who plays both the shooting guard and small forward positions, is a strong defensive player with excellent quickness. Ashley Campos, who gained invaluable experience logging heavy minutes as a junior, will see time at both guard spots, serving as a hybrid scorer/distributor.
Seniors Sarah Hoffman, Alyson Lawaniak (6-1), Olya Cholewick, and Molly Barry (6-foot), who was called up to the varsity toward the end of last season, are all potential starters for the Lions.
This year, Schabacker views the conference race as wide open. After going undefeated last season, Hinsdale Central is the team to beat, but York and Oak Park are also strong contenders for the title. LT begins its season by hosting a tournament from Nov. 16-24 at the South Campus. The eight-day hoops extravaganza allows the Lions an opportunity to play five games before jumping into conference play on Nov. 26 at Oak Park (7:30 p.m.). In early December, the Lions welcome Downers Grove North (Dec. 1 at 4 p.m.) and York (Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.) for two pivotal early season match-ups.
“We want to challenge for our conference,” Schabacker added. “I’m optimistic that we can.”