Dec. 18, 2015
SPORTS
Blueprint
11
Girls varsity basketball freshens up with new players with them and I got to know everyone better I realized that I got over my issue with confidence,” Lueken said. The 5’5” freshman Maggie Greco “It really helps me to understand the received the ball off the inbound. game better and value my minutes… She grasped the ball, turned, and I have to work for [my minutes] just marched her dribble toward half like everyone else has to work to play court. a lot. I need to keep up my work in A Willowbrook defender guarded practice to ensure game time.” her closely as she shouted the play “I feel like I’m getting the hang of call. The girls scrambled their posiit … Considering we are freshmen tions on the floor and the 6’0” freshon varsity, I feel like [Coach Long] man Holly Lueken popped out to the gives us a really good amount of time. 3-point line on the left wing side. When she puts you in, you know that Greco found Lueken and quickly she believes in you,” Greco said. “But rifled a pass straight to her chest and, the girls are a real confidence booster in the same motion, Lueken caught right now. They always cheer each the ball, faced the basket and let it fly other on and they really work well -- nothing but net. together as a team. The already young core of the DGS Following the team’s 53-39 home girls varsity basketball team has wel- opener victory over Leyden, head comed the two freshmen. Although coach Lindsie Long reflected on the they are the youngest members on team’s performance. varsity, Lueken and Greco both look “I just think [Lueken] has experito make their voices heard and their ence playing; she plays AAU and presence on the court recognized this she’s really focused on basketball. season. She’s been practicing really hard When the two initially joined the and she’s one of our more basketball team, they struggled with confidence smart players,” Long said. “[Greco]’s being on a team with older ballplaya hustler, she’ll go 110% for you. I ers. think she’s still a little nervous with “I was really nervous because I playing on the varsity level, but that’s didn’t want anyone to think of me why I’m trying to give her more time [as overconfident] on the team, but in the games to get her more comthen once I actually started playing fortable and in rhythm with just the tempo of the game,” Since the age of 5, Greco’s father had always stressed athletics on her and got her involved in many different sports. She eventually found basketball to be “the right fit” for her and began competitive play in fifth grade when she made her Holly Lueken shooting a three over the opposing players. school basketball Photos by Joe Stellato team. “I know By Joe Stellato Editor-in-Chief Print
I’m just a freshman on varsity, but as I keep playing basketball for DGS I want to strengthen my ability to be a leader... I’m thinking way ahead, but I really want to work on being a leader,” Greco said. At a young age, Lueken was exposed to competitive basketball. She has been playing for her AAU basketball team, the Illinois Lady Lightning, since she was in fourth grade. Even Maggie Greco finding open space on the court to get the shot off. with all this experience, she still looks for more ways to a huge presence, she’s already had improve her game as she progresses like 3 shot blocks [in the first two through the varsity season, particugames]… She’s a playmaker she can larly becoming accustomed to playing definitely go in there and make those on the court with some new faces. plays,” McLean said. “I would always struggle to Long comments on the impact the maintain the same skills,” Lueken veterans have on their new freshman said. “It’s always hard for me, with teammates. new people, to notice everyone’s tal“The older girls have been helpent and everyone’s weaknesses and ing them constantly on the court use that for our advantage to win.” the first couple weeks of practice... Senior Kelly McLean is a returning I just think they love to spend time starter to the varsity lineup. She betogether. When they’re on the court, lieves the two freshmen are “going to they’re bonding and when they’re off be a big part of this year.” As a fellow the court, it’s bonding,” Long said. member of the backcourt, McLean “Spending time to get to know them acknowledges Greco for her innate as [people] and gaining their trust passing ability and the positive atmo- with each other helps them on the sphere she brings to the team. court…” “She has this like really positive After first experiencing trouble energy. She wants to learn and she with confidence, Lueken and Greco wants to get better and that’s awehave become more comfortable with some to have on a team, that’s the their teammates. best kind of teammate,” McLean said. “They’re all really nice and it’s “Every single basketball player will really fun to play with all of them. appreciate someone that will make They help me on and off the court to that good extra pass and she does be [able to] come out of my shell and that. I think she brings just a lot of play how I normally play,” Lueken focus, intensity and definitely defense said. too.” “Just to see how the girls worked McLean believes Lueken also together well on the court and how brings positivity to the team with her they picked each other up and cheertenacity on the court and her lively ing each other on and it made me less personality off of it. and less nervous and more a part of “When she’s bubbly, everyone the team,” Greco said. else around her gets like that… she Contact Joe at projects that energy and positivity jste1881@csd99.org and it’s really awesome and she’s
Special Olympics basketball hopes to head downstate By Grace Chaplin Opinions Editor The Special Olympics basketball teams officially started their season on Nov. 1. The teams are excited to start a new season and they have high hopes for what’s to come. There are four teams that are made up of teens from DGS, DGN and Transition 99 who are evaluated to determine what level team they will be on. No one is cut from the team, they are simply divided into different levels that vary every year depending on the students who are evaluated. The teams practice one to two times a week at either DGS or DGN. The practices consists of a warm up, skill technique and some scrimmages. The boys’ record so far this season
is 2-0. Special Olympics basketball had three teams last year, and all qualified for state, but the overall goal for the boys is never just winning. Special Service teacher and one of the coaches for the Special Olympics team Kevin Ahrens explained what his goal for this season is. “It’s to have all of our players to have a good experience and to have fun, to be connected to the school and to improve our skills. Winning is never the focus of our team, it’s just about improving and getting better and having a good experience and just letting the results take care of themselves,” Ahrens said. Senior Alex Newell has similar goals for himself and his teammates. “[My goal is] to play hard and if we do good in the regional finals, and
win two games we get to qualify for state again. I’m hoping I go down to state again but if I don’t, that’s ok too because there’s always another season,” Newell said. Players from all of the different levels seem to all be passionate about the game. Freshman Ziggy Markowski is a new member on the team.. “I just really like it [basketball], it’s so much fun,” Markowski said. The success of the team is driven
Graphic by Michaela Burton by the passion within the players and coaches. Stay tuned this season to follow the Special Olympics basketball team. There will be a pack the place in January, come show your support. Contact Grace at gcha0641@csd99.org