Among the coaches polled, the New Trier girls basketball team is the prohibitive favorite to the win the 2015-16 Central Suburban South title.
It makes sense.
The Trevians return three starters — senior forward Jeannie Boehm, senior guard Haley Greer, senior forward Kathryn Pedi — from a team that went 10-0 in league play, 31-2 overall and took third place at the Class 4A state tournament.
But New Trier coach Teri Rodgers exercised caution when it came to predicting a third consecutive conference championship.
“Any number of teams can win it,” she said. “Even if a team is having a down year, they still are dangerous.”
A case can be made that the CSL South is one of the best basketball conferences in the state. In the past 10 seasons, four teams from two schools have qualified for state tournaments.
Before the Trevians took third last season, Maine South was third in Class 4A in 2011. In 2007, New Trier advanced to the Class AA state tournament. A year earlier, Maine South took third in Class AA.
“It’s an ultra-competitive league,” Maine South coach Mark Smith said. “It’s harder to win our conference than our sectional sometimes.”
Boehm is as much of an expert on the CSL South as anybody who’s played in the conference. This will be her fourth season as a starter for the Trevians. As a junior, the 6-foot-3 Harvard commit averaged 15.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4 blocks per game.
“There are so many good teams and players in our conference,” she said. “We definitely are not comfortable.”
Five of the six teams — excluding Waukegan — welcome back at least three starters. Evanston, Glenbrook South and Maine South all have four back to the starting lineup. The Wildkits, who went 4-6 in league play, lost to New Trier 41-39 in the Class 4A sectional final at Glenbrook South. Evanston won the league title in 2013.
“Evanston always gives us a challenge,” Boehm said. “It’s a rivalry thing. We get up for each other every single time we play, and we all know each other so well.”
Evanston is led by junior guard Leighah-Amori Wool and junior forward Krystal Forrester, both of whom have been starters on two teams that captured Class 4A regional championships. Junior guard Savannah Norfleet and junior guard Allysah Boothe also both have considerable varsity experience.
“Jeannie gives [New Trier] the advantage,” Evanston coach Elliot Whitefield said. “I think they will miss [2015 graduate] Jackie [Welch] a lot. She added a lot of athleticism to that team. I don’t see them going 10-0 again, but until somebody beats them, they are on top of the conference.
“I think we have an opportunity to win it. If I were a betting man, I’d have no problem betting on us.”
Glenbrook South was second in league play last season, its two losses coming to New Trier. The Titans are a legitimate contender with the likes of senior forward Caitlin Morrison, senior forward Sarah McDonagh, senior guard Sydney DeHorn and junior guard Carie Weinman. Sophomore guard Lizzie Shaw should make an immediate impact, according to Glenbrook South coach Steve Weissenstein.
“I know Caitlin and Carie through AAU, and we have been talking about how good the conference is going to be this year,” Boehm said.
Don’t forget about Maine South.
In addition to bringing four starters back — senior guard Sam Fagenholz, senior guard Riley Eckhart, senior guard Julia Sirvinskas, senior forward Julia Spuria — the Hawks have 11 players who were on varsity when they won a Class 4A regional title last season.
“We are way ahead of where we were at this stage last year,” Smith said. “They understand the system better and are able to teach it to the younger players.”
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Smith said Eckhart is poised for a breakout season. She will take over the primary scoring role from Nina Anderson, who now is a freshman player at Illinois Wesleyan, the 2012 Division III national champions.
“Riley is our best three-point shooter and will be one of the best perimeter shooters in the area,” he said. “Plus, she’s fast and can get rebounds. I’m excited to see what she can do.”
Even Tony Konsewicz’s Niles West teams — minus Jewell Loyd — garner respect from league peers. The Wolves last won the conference championship in 2012 during Loyd’s senior season. This season, senior guard Jalynn Estrada is one of the better floor leaders in the CSL South.
“They always give us fits,” Whitefield said. “Certain teams match up well with certain teams.”
Over the years, the common denominator in the conference has been coaching.
Whitefield, entering his fifth season, has the least experience among the five contenders, while Rodgers and Weissenstein are entering their 18th seasons. Smith is in his 10th season, and Konsewicz is in his ninth. All five coaches have won conference championships and sectional titles.
“The conference success speaks to my fellow coaches,” Smith said. “Steve scouts better than anybody, Teri’s knowledge of the game is tremendous, Elliot’s teams get better throughout the course of a season and Tony has done some extraordinary things at Niles West. It’s an impressive group that I’m proud to be part of.”
Closer look: CSL SouthEvanston
Coach: Elliot Whitefield, entering fifth season
Projected starters: Jr. G Leighah-Amori Wool, Jr. G Savannah Norfleet, Jr. G Allysah Boothe, Jr. F Krystal Forrester, Jr. F Leah Robinson
Last season: 19-12, lost in a Class 4A sectional final to New Trier, 41-39
Glenbrook South
Coach: Steve Weissenstein, entering 18th season
Projected starters: Sr. G Sydney DeHorn, Jr. G Carie Weinman, So. G Lizzie Shaw, Sr. F Caitlin Morrison, Sr. F Sarah McDonagh
Last season: 22-6, lost in a Class 4A sectional semifinal to Evanston, 62-57
Maine South
Coach: Mark Smith, entering 10th season
Projected starters: Sr. G Sam Fagenholz, Sr. G Riley Eckhart, Sr. G Julia Sirvinskas, Sr. F Julia Spuria
Last season: 16-16, lost in a Class 4A sectional semifinal to New Trier, 60-40
New Trier
Coach: Teri Rodgers, entering 18th season
Projected starters: Sr. G Haley Greer, Sr. G Autumn Kalis, Sr. G Alison Borsotti, Sr. F Kathryn Pedi, Sr. F Jeannie Boehm
Last season: 31-2, won the Class 4A state third-place game over Homewood-Flossmoor, 43-41
Niles West
Coach: Tony Konsewicz, entering ninth season
Projected starters: Sr. G Jalynn Estrada, Sr. G Selma Sabovic, So. G Tricia Pabst, Fr. G Samantha Galanopoulos, So. C Nicole Zelazko
Last season: 15-14, lost in a Class 4A regional semifinal to Taft, 44-40
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