Kelsey Egger is a lanky 6-foot center and Maggie Zeleny is a pint-sized point guard for Riverside-Brookfield. At first glance, the close friends may appear as basketball’s odd couple, but these seniors share a common denominator this season: leadership.

Egger is the Bulldogs’ lone returning starter, while Zeleny served as a key reserve on last year’s 27-4 club which won conference and regional championships.

“Coach [Larry] Rocco, Kelsey and me had a talk,” Zeleny said. “He told us that we have to pick everybody up, get the tempo moving in practice, and make sure we’re working hard. It’s our responsibility to keep everybody working together.”

So far, so good for the redesigned Bulldogs. In the annual RB Blue-White scrimmage (won by the Blue team 48-45) over the weekend, Rocco’s players all competed hard in a spirited preseason tune up.

“Nobody is picking us to have much of a year and that’s fine,” Rocco said. “It will be a learning process. Our goal this season like every [season] is to play our best basketball at the end of the year. I think this group is certainly capable of achieving that goal.”

Egger, who averaged seven points and six rebounds per game last season, returns as the Bulldogs’ center of attention. Rocco believes Egger has “double-double” potential and will be a major factor on both ends of the court.

“I just need to keep running the floor and keeping up with the pace,” Egger said. “That’s what [coach] Rocco expects from everybody. We did really well in summer league. The players all get along so there really aren’t any issues, which is nice.”

Egger will be flanked by a pair of promising junior forwards in Meghan Orgler and Elena Duve. Both returning varsity players are athletic, all-court players who can score and are well suited for Rocco’s up-tempo system.

In the backcourt, Sandburg transfer/point guard Danielle Peco takes over for graduated star Jessie Hutchens (14 points per game). Junior Kiley Rusen, a good shooter, will assume the starting two-guard role. The versatile Alleigh VandeMerkt should provide excellent guard depth off the bench.

The rest of Rocco’s bench consists of several talented albeit relatively unproven (on the varsity level) players, including Julie Minella, Yasmin Gonzalez, Brittany Janney, Gina Sapienza, Megan Walsen, Astin Moravek, Caitlin Boxell and Megan Frey.

While conference newcomer Glenbard South and Illiana Christian are pegged as preseason Metro Suburban Conference favorites, the Bulldogs will be vying for their ninth straight league title.

“It’s going to be more challenging,” Egger said. “Even though it will be tougher to win conference, that’s good for us. We just don’t want easy wins.”

Key returners: Kelsey Egger, Maggie Zeleny

Newcomers: Danielle Peco, Alleigh VandeMerkt

2009-10 record: 27-4 overall, 9-1 Metro Suburban Conference

Tidbit: With 507 career victories (329 at RB) as a softball coach, Rocco was recently elected into the Illinois Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame.

2010-11 Home Schedule

  • Tues., Nov. 16 Addison Trail 7 p.m.
  • Wed., Nov. 24 Gordon Tech 3 p.m. (Bill VandeMerkt Tournament)
  • Fri., Nov. 26 Morton 2:30 p.m. (Bill VandeMerkt Tournament)
  • Sat., Nov. 27 Nazareth 2:30 p.m. (Bill VandeMerkt Tournament)
  • Tues., Nov. 30 Illiana Christian 7 p.m.
  • Tues., Dec. 7 Ridgewood 7 p.m.
  • Sat., Dec. 11 Lyons Township 2:30 p.m.
  • Tues., Jan. 25 Fenton 7 p.m.
  • Sat., Jan. 29 Westmont 2:30 p.m.
  • Tues., Feb. 1 Elmwood Park 7 p.m.
  • Thurs., Feb. 3 Timothy Christian 7 p.m.
  • Sat., Feb. 5 Leyden 2:30 p.m.
  • Fri., Feb. 11 Glenbard South 5:30 p.m.