They return a big and experienced front court in center Jessica Hamman and richly athletic and experienced forwards Lyndee Arnold and Julie DeMuth. With 5-10 senior Mary Sutliff and experienced guards Georgiann Michels and Tara Traczyk, the Trojans should rule the Lake Athletic Conference again.   A tough schedule, solid defense and a weak sectional mean the Trojans will be playing deep in the state tournament again.  But they won't see anybody until the semistate that is the equal of South Bend Riley, who they'll play on Dec. 7 in the Hammond Civic Center.


5. Valparaiso  (21-3)

This team has very little experience but don't be deceived. Prep teams are based on point guards and centers. Junior Lauren Hutton returns as the starting point guard and 6-foot-2 centers Lindsey Humes and Cassie Kerns return up front.  The Vikings play at a pace where they can use their height while younger players develop. They may not beat Crown Point in the DAC but they could stay even with the Bulldogs by playoff time.


6. Chesterton (11-12)

The Trojans return four starters from last year including coach Jack Campbell's daughter Catherine (Cat) Campbell. If 6-foot sophomore Stephanie Boyle can hold her own against the big people at Merrillville, CP and Valpo, this team should finish in the top half of the DAC.  There's not a lot of offense here and the schedule includes Riley, St. Joseph's, Lake Central, Gary West Side and Jefferson outside the league. The Trojans' record won't be great but they could upset the field at sectional time.


7. ANDREAN  (19-5)

This team is almost all new from last year but good players suddenly appear at Noll and Andrean all the time. Highly regarded is 6-foot junior guard Kim McCloskey as well as 5-10 freshman forward Suzanne Cunningham, 'little' sister of Andrean and Purdue alum Carson Cunningham.   5-9 junior Amy Goetz returns as a starter and 5-5 senior Kelly Swisher should settle the team. Early games against Lowell and Highland will probably be postponed because of the 59er football team. A big key is 6-foot center Brooke Bosak, who is untested.
She will be tested as the 59ers play 75% of the powerhouse Duneland Conference.

8. MERRILLVILLE (8-14)

I do not know the new coach but the potential is certainly here. Junior Marshay Jolly is one of the top five players in the DAC and super quick guard Brittany Usery and Melissa Borom can attack the defense. Up front, 5-10 Karen Davis is big and 6-1 freshman Brittany Moore is even bigger.
The Pirates' schedule is not as tough as that of CP, LC, Valpo and Chesterton and this squad is probably too young to win three sectional games in a row but I believe there is enough raw basketball ability here to compete for the DAC title this season if they shock Crown Point on Dec. 13.

9.  Portage (12-10)

This team always plays hard. They aren't as big as many other DAC schools but they have the point guard in 5-7 junior Nikki McDonald. Forwards Leigh Cotton and Caitlin Austgen have to bump up their scoring.  Carly Ristich is a solid player but the Indians' depth is very unproven and the schedule is very tough.

10. LOWELL  (6-16)

There's not much doubt this will be a comeback season for Lowell. The question is simply, how far will they come back. Lisa Schulfer, an all-area volleyball and track performer, will move to forward along side 6-1 junior center Mary Taylor and 5-9 power forward Brooke Bell.  I like their three guards in McKensey Wietbrock, Kristin Kania and Natalie Hanas. This will be a strong defensive team but they need to find accurate shooters, especially against CP, LC, Andrean (twice) and Kankakee Valley.



TOPS IN 2A

1. North Judson (24-2)

North Judson lost a lot of size but they return both backcourt starters in senior Megan Brown (7 ppg.) and Tiffany Trusty (12 ppg.). In small school basketball, it's all about the guards. The front court will be all new and the Jays need 5-10 Alicia Richie or 6-foot Beth Warkentien to be varsity caliber at center. And the problem at North Judson is that you have to be varsity caliber against the likes of Plymouth, Kankakee Valley, Twin Lakes and Tippecanoe Valley, all 3A schools.

2. Culver  (15-9)

If North Judson is in northwest Indiana, Culver is too and the legend continues as all-stater Stacy Stevens (24 ppg.) leads the girls from the shores of Lake Maxincuckee. You've got to, love this little momma. Stevens, at 5-foot-2 is Culver's all-time leading scorer and a state playoff rival of teams like Washington Township and Hebron.  Culver has a 6-foot center in Martha Davis and a 5-6 forward in Nichelle McCune (11 ppg.). This should be a very good 1A team. It isn't impossible that the Cavaliers are this year's Hebron.

3. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (18-5)

I know that Washington Township is 1A but they are probably better than any 2A team in this area. Sophomore center Alisha Polite returns to anchor the front court for good-shooting guard Christie Gladdis (14 ppg.) Depth is a problem but this was a disciplined team with size in 5-11 Jennifer Sievers and 5-9 Jackie Curry.  They can't have any injuries but, if healthy, the Senators are probably the PCC favorites.

4. BOONE GROVE (16-6)

Boone has the PCC's best point guard in Karissa Walter and the league's best athlete in 5-8 wing player Jenn Keller.  Three good 5-10 forwards in Heather Moy, AJ Puller and Rachel Jenkins will score and rebound enough for the Wolves to equal last year's record against a tougher schedule which includes North Judson, North Newton and Crown Point. Boone's sophomore class is very good.

5. Wheeler (11-11)

This team won't go 11-11 again with 6-0 Maggie Schultz and 5-9 junior guard Alyse Bruszewski. Depth should develop but it will have to because the BearCats will play DAC powers Chesterton and Merrillville.  You hesitate to pick teams that may have ball-handling trouble.

6. Oregon-Davis (16-5)

The O-D girls got blown out at Hebron in the state tournament last year but  they'll return four starters in their fast breaking run-and-shoot offense. The question is, will good defensive teams shut them down like Hebron did last spring.  The BobCats start four seniors so they know what they want to do and they have more experience than any other small school in this area.