After finishing third in the state singles tournament as a freshman, Hinsdale South’s Taylor Marable entered her sophomore season as the favorite for the state title.
But a hand injury has delayed the start of Marable’s season and likely will wipe it out completely.
An MRI performed at the end of August appeared to show a fracture of the hook of the hamate bone, located between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand.
“I didn’t even know I had that bone,” said the right-handed Marable, ranked 24th in the nation among girls 16-and-under by TennisInformation.com.
Marable underwent a bone scan Wednesday. If the fracture is confirmed, Marable will need corrective surgery.
“I seriously doubt she’ll play this season,” Hinsdale South coach Bob Comerford said.
Marable said the injury first appeared in mid-June. She was limited to five matches over the summer, compared to the 60 she expected to play.
“Part of it is a function of the power she generates relative to her size,” said her mother, Linda Marable. “It just took a toll on her body.”
— Nathan Baird
Basketball buzz
St. Joseph guard Tony Freeman visited Iowa last weekend and his host was ex-Westmont All-Stater Pierre Pierce, according to Rivals.com. Freeman said he also plans official visits to Illinois, DePaul and Nevada-Las Vegas. All four schools have offered scholarships. Rivals.com also reports that Homewood-Flossmoor’s 6-8 Julian Wright, rated the No. 10 player in the country, has made visits to Illinois and Arizona.
On both occasions, Wright acquitted himself well in pick-up games against college players. He is planning a visit to DePaul on the weekend of Sept. 17-18. Kansas is making a late rush: Coach Bill Self made a home visit to meet Wright on Thursday night.
Hales Franciscan’s 6-3 Nate Minnoy, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the state, and 6-5 guard/forward Marcus Green of Leyden have made oral commitments to Purdue.
— Bob Sakamoto
Valley peaking
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Defending Class AA state soccer champion Neuqua Valley (6-0-1) extended its unbeaten streak to 33 games with a 2-0 home victory over Larkin on Thursday. Goalkeeper Brad Sommer has four shutouts and has allowed only two goals.
Five of the six Wildcats’ graduated senior captains who contributed to the streak last year are playing Division I soccer: Chris Clark (Santa Clara); Nick Coulson (Gonzaga); Drew Degurian and Andrew Monteith (Bradley); and Scott Shugh (Vanderbilt). Sulav Singh, who graduated a year early, plans to play college soccer next season.
— Dave Surico
Road to recovery
Tennessee’s Candace Parker, three-time Ms. Basketball of Illinois from Naperville Central, underwent follow-up knee surgery Wednesday that could cause her to miss her freshman season.
The surgery repaired the lateral meniscus and lateral articular cartilage in Parker’s left knee, according to Jenny Moshak, the school’s assistant athletics director for sports medicine.
— Alan Sutton
Going for 3
Fenwick’s road to a hockey three-peat unofficially starts Friday. The two-time defending state champion Friars face Sandburg in Fenwick’s opening game of the annual Elite Eight preseason tournament. Naperville Central is host.
The eight-team tournament also features Marist, Stevenson, Mt. Carmel, Neuqua Valley and St. Rita.
— Ross Forman