By Chris Parker
Wheaton girls basketball will look to compete for conference and district titles with three all-conference players returning this season.
A trio of seniors will bring leadership for the Bulldogs. That group includes Monica Hinojosa, Patti Vang and Lori McNeil.
Hinojosa was a second-team all-conference selection last season.
“When she’s on the floor she makes a big impact. She’s our leading rebounder and leading scorer from the inside,” Wheaton head coach Jessica Lombard said.
Vang is a hard-working forward.
“She’s not the top scorer or defender but she leads by example with her work ethic. Sometimes she has to guard one of the biggest girls on the floor and she succeeds, she’s a very hard worker,” Lombard said.
McNeil is a strong defender at forward.
“She is one of our top defenders and makes a difference when she’s on the floor. If it’s pulling down a big rebound or just her hustle presence brings the team to another level,” Lombard said.
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Juniors Lily Ray and Alison Whitman are Wheaton’s other two returning all-conference selections.
Ray is a point guard who was named second-team all-conference last season.
“She runs the team, and has only grown and gotten better doing just that,” Lombard said. “She’s become more of a threat offensively and it’s hard for others to guard her. She also is our leading defender and takes pride in stopping the best player on the opposing team.”
Whitman was named first-team all-conference as a shooting guard last year.
“She’s our leading outside shooter, she’s hard to guard when she catches on fire,” Lombard said. “Always ready for a challenge and has continued to grow and get better.”
Bailee Gorman and Lakeshia Wise will be newcomers to this year’s team.
Overall experience will be a strength for Wheaton this year.
“We lost a couple (of close) games last year, so pray to have a healthy successful year and execute close games we weren’t able to pull off in the past,” Lombard said. “Being upperclassmen dominated, I’m excited to see what the girls accomplish this season.”
Wheaton opens the regular season Nov. 20-24 at the Verona Tournament.
