Warrior Girls Look for Another Big Year

Waubonsie Valley girls basketball coach Kim Connell set the bar awfully high in a first year that included 26 wins and a berth in the Class 4A sectional finals.

But with so much talented youth last winter, most expected more of the same--that is another conference championship and another deep run in the postseason. But Waubonsie Valley will open its new season against Downers Grove South on Tuesday minus a pair of players who were expected back in the starting lineup.

 Junior guard Erica Jordan will be sidelined with a knee injury until January, while fellow all-area performer Keiera Ray has taken her strong all-around game to the defending state champs after transferring to Bolingbrook this fall.

“Offensively, we’ll be alright,” said Connell, who returns three healthy starters from last year’s 26-3 squad. “Our defense could be a question mark early because we lose our top two defenders. But we’re working hard in practice.”

 On the bright side, Becky Williford returns at point guard after averaging more than 11 points and 3 assists last season as a sophomore. She will be joined by fellow returning starters Tami Morice and Rachel Ross. Morice is a sharp shooter, while the 6-foot-3 Ross is a tough rebounder and defender down low.  

“It’s going to be a challenge to repeat last year’s success, yes,” said Connell, who coached previously at Rockford Boylan before taking over the Warriors program in 2009-2010. “But I think we’re capable.”

Until Jordan returns, the Warriors’ starting lineup will be filled out by sophomore power forward Gratia Brooks and small forward Tanysha Walls, who played guard last year. Walls and Morice each earned all-area honorable mention honors last season.

“We’re trying to get as far as we did last year and hopefully get farther,” said Morice, one of the team’s top 3-point threats. “We feel confident and I think we’ll do pretty well again.”

Connell expects Jordan Myers, Rachelle Benn and Nia Williams each to make significant contributions off the bench after gaining some valuable varsity experience last season.

After winning the Upstate Eight Conference title last year, Connell expects this year’s new conference set-up – which will pit the Warriors against Metea Valley and former coach Kris Kalivas twice and also twice against Neuqua Valley — to create a number of challenges as Bartlett returns a number of its top players from a year ago.