By Jenna Mastrolonardo
Staff Writer
With a record of 19-10 and 6-4 at conference, last year was a solid season for the girls’ basketball team.  Among that team’s main accomplishments were victories at the Lion’s Thanksgiving Tournament, Regional Championship, and making the top 6 at the Dundee Crown Christmas Tournament.
This year, the team hopes to accomplish all of the above and a little bit more – they’d like to place higher at the Dundee Crown Tournament and they want to be more of a force in conference and in sectionals.
This could be hard, considering the team lost two key players, Alyssa Glennon and Danielle Brucci, to graduation last year.
“They started almost every game for us,” said coach Martha Kelly.
Filling in for last year’s starters Alyssa Glennon and Danielle Brucci are seniors Lexi Glennon and Rachel Hunt, both of whom are three year starters.
Kelly is also looking for juniors Marissa Pettenuzzo, Sarah Hunt and Sarah Winans, along with senior Alyssa Baker, to contribute.
One obstacle the Knights will have to overcome is the loss of quickness and defensive stopping power from last year.
“We were a very good defensive team because of our speed,” Kelly said. That same speed isn’t present this year, but the team is doing their best to work around it.
So far, they seem to be succeeding, with a 5-0 record so far, including games tough opponents like Libertyville, who won 20 games last year (check for coverage of the girls’ and boys’ Thanksgiving tournaments on Tuesday).
In conference,  Hersey, Elk Grove, and Wheeling are the Knights’ main rivals.
“I would say we have a very good chance at competing for a conference championship if we hold our poise,” said Kelly. “There’s no reason why we can’t do just as good, or better, than last year.”