Windmill City Weekend: Teams That Showed Real Title Potential

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Windmill City weekend once again delivered some of the best high school matchups in the state. With so much talent in the gym, a handful of teams stood out as groups that could be built for deep postseason runs. Below are 5 teams that showed that.. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Waubonsie Valley</strong> <em>- The warriors showed that they have a competitive roster, and all weekend they competed in every matchup. Even without their star suiting up (Adidas European Cup), the other players held their own. Arianna Garcia-Evans was up to her usual type of play with showing up in every category on the box score. [player_tooltip player_id='841181' first='Maya' last='Cobb'] showed her ability to be a solid and intriguing third option. While players like [player_tooltip player_id='743621' first='Maya' last='Pereda'] and [player_tooltip player_id='743628' first='Nicole' last='Douglas'] showed their ability to be high-tier complementary players. There's no doubt that this program can make another trip downstate. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Butler College Prep</strong><em> - The 2A class isn't the easiest, and the competition is spread throughout the state. Butler is a definite program that can contend for a downstate trip. From a roster building standpoint, they have a taller lineup, with over five girls standing 5'10 and taller, while most programs in the state have about three. Key returners like [player_tooltip player_id='514895' first='Xyanna' last='Walton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1105031' first='Kermincia' last='Wellington'] will make a significant impact on the offensive end, but freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1225771' first='Kennedy' last='Benson'] will be the gold ace who can change the game for this program. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Nashville</strong> - <em>It wouldn't be a shocker to see Nashville competing in March for a state title again. Their main core is back, and their big three (Emma Behrman, Samantha, and [player_tooltip player_id='863112' first='Summer' last='Brinkmann']) are still intact. However, Makayla Hajewski is a player who shouldn't be slept on. She is one of those glue kids who seems to keep everything together on the floor. Looking forward to seeing how they compete when the high school season starts. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Benet</strong> -<em> Every year, this program is in the conversation for competing for a state title, and this year is no different. They lost two big contributors to their program, but they had so much talent on deck ready to step up. The big 3 is still ready (Brigid RIfenburg, [player_tooltip player_id='419726' first='Emma' last='Briggs'], and [player_tooltip player_id='626814' first='Ava' last='Mersinger']), they have solid complementary pieces, [player_tooltip player_id='508963' first='Ava' last='Thomas'], and [player_tooltip player_id='514896' first='Sailer' last='Jones']. But they have two underclassmen who might be utilized this season in a big role ( [player_tooltip player_id='1246083' first='Hadley' last='Engler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='882110' first='Lucy' last='Tierney']). A talented and deep roster matched with a strong coaching staff goes a long way. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Downers Grove North</strong> -<em> For the past couple of years, you can count on 1 hand how many teams in Illinois played harder and more physical than DGN, and this year there's no drop off. There's no absokyre STAR on this team, but what they do have is a roster of players who compete at a high level on both ends of the floor from start to finish, and players that buy in and believe in their coaching staff. [player_tooltip player_id='732504' first='Campbell' last='Thulin'] and Ady Fanta will be at the top of scouting reports, and the incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1226258' first='Eva' last='Yerkovich'] could come into the season as a major threat. But missing players like Lizzy Murphy and [player_tooltip player_id='770917' first='Lylah' last='Pantuso'] will surely cause some opponents some games. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->