Basketball returns with new coach, players
By John Baracani
After having last season canceled after only 14 games, the Lady Apaches will open the 1999-2000 season with a new coach and a new core of players.
New coach Steve Crick replaces Joe Conroy, whose team suffered through an 0-14, injury- plagued season, leading to last year’s cancellation.
Crick said that the cancellation last year will have no affect on his club this year.
"There’s a new coach and new players," he said. "We weren’t here so we don’t know the difference. The thought isn’t in our heads."
While this year’s team is predominantly composed of freshmen, Crick’s club does have two sophomores on the roster; Guard Nicole Oberle, who was on last year’s roster, but unable to play due to a knee injury, and Center Christina Borri, who did not play last year.
Rounding out the remainder of the team are Guards Jaimie Kromm, Julia Tybor, and Sharon Gast; Forwards Jaci Bice, Monica Terrando, and Stacy Niedzwicki; and Center Megan Walters.
According to Crick, the major difference in this year’s team is the amount of depth that his team has.
He also believes that the freshmen players joining this year’s club have the experience and ability to help IVCC be successful.
"We have some really good players from winning high school programs- that’s a plus," he said. "Having players with state tournament experience will help. They know how to play under pressure in big games."
Crick’s team has three players who earned either All State or All Conference team honors while in high school last year.
While the Lady Apaches will be a strong offensive team, according to their coach, he believes that rebounding is an apparent weakness, having no players over 5'11".
"We should be real strong offensively; with our shooting, quickness, and ball handling, but rebounding could be a problem- we’re not very big. I’m a little concerned about that," he said.
"We should put a lot of points up, we’ll be exciting to watch. We’ll have to battle defensively and hopefully stop the other team from scoring."
Crick likes his team’s chances of competing with the talented teams in the conference this season, such as Blackhawk , Sauk Valley, and Kishwaukee, adding that no teams really know what to expect from IVCC, after the cancellation of last season.
"Other teams may take us lightly because we didn’t finish the season last year. That might help us get a little bit of an advantage."
The season opens on November 12 and 13 with the Highland Classic where the Lady Apaches will tip off against Lincoln Trail, with the winner of that match facing the winner of the game between South Suburban and Highland.
"We have to be ready for anything," Crick said. "It will be a good game. We’ll have to adjust as the game goes."
IVCC then heads to Rock Valley on Nov. 16 for what Crick believes will be a competitive game, and also puts him up against his former assistant coach.
"It should be a pretty close game, they have a decent roster," he said.
The Lady Apaches open the home portion of their schedule on Nov. 20 against Lake County, a team that Crick believes will be a tough opponent.
"They’re a good team from a good basketball area. They will be a good test for us, they are an established program," he said. "I’m sure it will be a good game, I think we can compete with them."
Crick looks forward to the start of a new era for Lady Apaches basketball, and thinks that his team can be competitive.
"I think we’ll be right in thick of things, I think we can compete with anyone in the conference. It’s going to be fun."