| PLAYERS TO WATCH Class of 2001 The following are the key SENIOR players from the Region and around the state that will be factors for their respective teams this season. They are not ranked, but are represented by class and shown in alphabetical order. | Top Region Seniors
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Class of 2001
Amanda Bernard (5'8 G/F) Crown Point - This highly underrated player set the Bulldogs' all-time record for 3-point percentage by shooting an amazing 52% last season. Combined with the outside shooting of fellow guards Sarah Zondor and Alex Webster, Bernard completes the Crown Point triple-threat backcourt this season. Nikki Borys (6'0 F/C) Crown Point - Her performance against LaPorte last season, proved she can dominate anywhere in and around the paint when she wants to. The Lady Bulldog coaches will expect her to be more consistent this season, and she should live up to those expectations after having an excellent AAU season. Her presence inside gives Crown Point an excellent inside/outside game. *Jenny DeMuth (5'11 G/F) Highland - Named Basketball Player of the Year last season by The Times, DeMuth is one of the top players in the state and a strong candidate for Miss Basketball this year. Named an AAU All-American this past summer, she will attend Indiana University on a full basketball scholarship next year. Averaged 23.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.9 steals a game in 1999-2000. Angela Grabczak (5'8 G/F) Hobart - An excellent outside shooter, Grabczak will be expected to provide leadership and scoring to an improved Hobart team this season. She has excellent quickness and could become at top player in the Duneland Conference this season. *Lauren Hansen (5'11 F) Portage - Hansen is a player that doesn't get much statewide recognition, but has developed into one of the top post players in the state. With the graduation of Natalie Yudt, Hansen is now expected to provide leadership and scoring for the Portage squad this season. Named to the DAC All-Conference Team last season, she will attend Wheeling Jesuit on a full basketball scholarship next year. Tracy Jackson (5'8 G) East Chicago Central - This speedy guard led an improved East Chicago team last season. Named to the Times All-Area 2nd Team last year averaging 13.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 2.1 apg, she is expected to have a big year for the Lady Cardinals this season. Corrie Kaczmarek (5'5 G) Highland - This bundle of energy runs the floor for the Lady Trojans and is a a big reason the Trojans have been at the top of the Region standings for the past two years. She's an excellent defender with good quickness. Dana Lippelt (5'6 G) Valparaiso - A defensive specialist for state runner-up Valparaiso, Lippelt plays with intensity and seems to enjoy the challenge of guarding the opposing team's top player. A key to Valpo's success over the past several years, she has developed an outside shot and will be expected to score more this season for the Lady Vikings. Erica Martin (5'8 G) Kouts - This dead-on shooter was the Porter County Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore. She is one of the top scorers in the state and can nail the jumper from anywhere on the floor. Named to The Times All-Area 1st Team last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior. Allison Mosak (5'8 G/F) Valparaiso - A key role player in Valparaiso's drive to the state finals last season, Mosak is an excellent passer that knows her role and executes it to perfection. She is a tough and seasoned player who sets the pick and does all the other little things that go unnoticed by the average basketball fan. Mosak will be expected to step up her offensive presence this season for Valpo. Christy Poparad (5'9 G/F) Chesterton - A blue collar player who can score and rebound, Poparad will, without a doubt, be the Trojans' main scoring threat this season. After picking up the scoring slack for Chesterton last season, she became one of the top players in the Region and was named DAC All-Conference. Brooke Reed (5'8 G) LaPorte - Reed was half of a double backcourt scoring threat last season, but will take the lead in 2000-2001 for the Lady Slicers. She and her teammates upset Chesterton in first-round sectional play, and took state runner-up Valparaiso down to wire in the semi-final sectional game. Reed will provide scoring and leadership for this team looking for respect this season. *Courtney Rosenbaum (5'11 F/C) Valparaiso - The lead half of Valpo's senior twin towers, Rosenbaum had a break out season in 1999-2000, taking the Lady Vikings all the way to State Championship game. Named MVP of the Duneland Conference last year, Rosenbaum was also a Junior All Star this past summer. An excellent, physical rebounder who dominated in the paint last season, she is a definite Indiana All-Star candidate. Look for her to improve on her averages from last season of 16.1 ppg and 9.1 rpg. JoAnn Smith (5'5 G) Hammond Gavit - Quick-as-a-cat defender, Smith can also find the hole with consistency. She averaged 13.2 points and 4.1 assists last season, and was named to the LAC All-Conference Team and The Times 2nd Team All-Area last season. Smith is expected to lead an up-and-coming Gavit team this season. *Kimberly Smith (5'10 F) Gary West Side - One of the most talented players ever to play at Gary West Side, Smith can dominate when she puts her mind to it. A 1st Team All-Area selection last year for both The Times and Post-Tribune, she was also named to the Northwestern All-Conference Team last season with averages of 10.8 ppg and 8.7 rpg. *Lee Traynham (5'11 F/C) Valparaiso - The other half of Valpo's twin towers, Traynham doesn't show much emotion, but works harder than anyone on the floor. She is one of the top post players in the state and is expected to have a big year for the Lady Vikings. A Times 2nd Team All-Area player and DAC All-Conference Team selection last year, she averaged 11.9 ppg and 6 rpg last season. Andrea Walker (5'5 G) Wheeler - Walker is one of the top scorers in the Porter County Conference and will be the mainstay on a team that returns all of its starters. New coach Phil Misecko will expect Walker to provide strong leadership and direction for this team ready to claim its share of the PCC. If Wheeler is at the top of the conference late in February, Walker will be the reason why. LaSharon Watson (5'7 G) Gary Roosevelt - One of the top players in the Northwest Conference and possibly the Region that doesn't see a lot of press due to a rebuilding program. Watson can light it up from the outside with the best of them and was named to the Northwest All-Conference Team. *Sarah Zondor (5'7 G) Crown Point - A 2nd Team All-Area selection for both The Times and Post-Tribune last season, Zondor averaged 12.6 ppg and 5.0 rpg. She was Tom May's first ever sophomore MVP, and followed it up by being named MVP again as a junior. Zondor was also named to the DAC All-Conference Team for the second year running. As she displayed in a sectional win over Lake Central with 28 points (9-9 from the line), she has a reputation as one of the top outside and charity stripe shooters in the Region.
Tai Adkins
(6'1") Gary West
Side
SENIORS Kelly Abbott (5'11") Fort
Wayne Leo |
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The inclusion of any player on this page is based upon the humble opinion of the Region Roundball Review pseudo-staff. |