Class 3A: The Best Returning Teams…
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Rosters have changed for better or “worse”… but these teams below are not the ones to be looked over, but the ones you need to have circled on your calendar. Photo: Twitter:@CorsairsGBB CARMEL CORSAIRS The Varsity Corsairs out of Carmel…
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Continue ReadingRosters have changed for better or “worse”… but these teams below are not the ones to be looked over, but the ones you need to have circled on your calendar.
CARMEL CORSAIRS
The Varsity Corsairs out of Carmel (Mundelein).. are on a back-to-back journey, and their chances of repeating are high. The roster this year will be missing a big piece in Grace Sullivan (Bucknell WBB), however with the additions of Molli Ward Molli Ward 5'10" | SG Carmel Catholic | 2024 IL , Ana Gerstung Ana Gerstung 5'5" | PG Carmel Catholic | 2024 IL , the emergence of the sophomore defensive menace Ashley Schlabowske Ashley Schlabowske 5'8" | PG Carmel Catholic | 2024 State IL , the glue Mia Gillis Mia Gillis 6'1" | SF Carmel Catholic | 2023 State IL , and the return of the Michigan State commit J-Wood ( Jordan Wood Jordan Wood 6'4" | PF Carmel Catholic | 2023 State #15 Nation IL ).. the Corsairs are ready to go. The offensive and defensive scheme will likely be adjusted, but I believe the players on this team will be ready to adjust and step up. The feeling of winning state is one thing, but the feeling and the road to get back is another.
NAZARETH ROADRUNNERS
I’m not sure that any team in Illinois has a better and taller incoming freshman class than the Roadrunners out of LaGrange. Only losing 3 games last year with a tough 4 point loss to Carmel at state.. Nazareth has reloaded. The two incoming freshman standouts in Stella Sakalas & 6’2 Jane Manecke Jane Manecke 6'2" | PF Nazareth | 2026 State IL , will be a huge addition to the senior sniper Grace Carstensen Grace Carstensen 5'11" | SG Nazareth Academy | 2023 State IL , junior point forwards Danni Scully Danni Scully 6'1" | SF Nazareth Academy | 2024 State IL & Olivia Austin Olivia Austin 6'0" | PF Nazareth Academy | 2024 State IL , and the lightning-quick guard Amalia Dray Amalia Dray 5'9" | CG Nazareth Academy | 2024 IL . This team has always played with great ball movement and strong discipline on the defensive end. The Roadrunners will be state bound again… but will they bring a parade to downtown Lagrange? I think so.
DEERFIELD WARRIORS
There’s no team in this any class in this state, with a more exciting and electrifying guard lineup than Deerfield. When you have the amazing pairing of The Kerstein Sisters, Nikki Kerstein Nikki Kerstein 5'8" | PG Montini Catholic | 2025 State IL , and Lexi Kerstein Lexi Kerstein 5'7" | PG Deerfield | 2023 State IL , and the highly scouted and wizard of a player Aubrey Galvan Aubrey Galvan 5'7" | PG Loyola Academy | 2025 State IL … you’re going to want to be front row for this show, with some treats from Scoops and Cookies (Candace Parker Approved!)
Complimenting those three are; the standout versatile senior Olivia Kerndt Olivia Kerndt 6'0" | PF Deerfield | 2023 State IL , and junior Kate Trella Kate Trella 5'9" | PF Deerfield | 2024 IL who’s coming off a strong summer. The Warriors will look to come back better and get further this season… they have the talent, the coaching, & the family energy to put them at the top.
GENESEO LADY LEAFS
25 straight wins last year to kick off the 2021-2022 season. The Lady Leafs were no team to be slept on, and even with the loss of star guards Kammie Ludwig (Providence WBB) & Ali Rapps ( Belmont XCTF), the Geneseo squad is returning with standout senior and heptathlete Annie Wirth, and the sharp-shooting combo guard Danielle Beach. The adjustment and step-up mentality will have to kick in before winter and you can see that it’s already shifting. What those two recent graduates bought to this program was everything… but you don’t finish a season with a 31/33 record with only two people… This squad is truly a TEAM.
Geneseo will be back.
SYCAMORE SPARTANS
The loss of 6 seniors (Kylie Vonschanse, Andrea Foulk, Reese Hill, Jakiya Thompson Team Leader/school assist leader Ella Shipley, and the 2021-22 3A Three Point Champion & UST WBB Faith Feuerbach) to any team is huge, the quality and leadership of each of those 6 seniors bought will be missed. However… the talent of the three-level scoring headache of a guard Lexi Carlsen Lexi Carlsen 5'8" | CG Sycamore | 2024 State IL , & Western Michigan commit/walking double-double Evyn Carrier Evyn Carrier 6'4" | PF Sycamore | 2023 State IL will still be a handful for teams in this class. Both players are liable for a big game in any matchup, and if both are hitting on all cylinders, it’ll be a long night. With complimentary pieces surrounding them, The Spartans look to have another strong regular season, and a longer postseason.