The big picture, the impressive Van Gogh the top-ranked Stevenson girls basketball team has become, isn’t necessarily what sophomore Teresa Davis has as her focus.
Because for Davis and other junior-varsity players at Stevenson, the grand scheme of things is not necessarily a pretty sight.
Six sophomores are already on Stevenson’s 20-0 varsity team, including three starters. Add freshman sensation Tamika Catchings and the picture begins to materialize: There isn’t much room at the top.
Davis understands upward mobility will not be easy in the Stevenson girls basketball program, which has been propelled the last two years by youngsters. And by focusing on her own immediate season at the JV level, she is unusually optimistic.
“I do think about (the future),” Davis admits, “but it’s becoming such a good program here that if I work hard, set my goals and reach them, I’ll be a part of it. There’s so much talent, but playing time will come if you work hard.”
Davis is part of the tremendously athletic class of 1996 that has laid the foundation for Stevenson’s continued success. Sophomores Tauja Catchings, Katie Coleman and Trish DeClark are all starters for Stevenson, the Tribune’s top team, which is ranked No. 11 nationally by USA Today. Danielle Mall is the only senior starter and only one junior, Rebekah Ford, sees much playing time.
And with sophomores Christy Miller, Noelle Medenwaldt and Felice Rosenzweig also on varsity, the junior varsity might seem decimated.
It’s not. So far, underclassmen have compiled a 12-0 record without the six best members of the sophomore class. The freshman A team is 11-1.
“(Playing on varsity) was a major concern for this group,” said veteran junior-varsity coach Mike Fitzgerald, who addressed the issue at the beginning of the season. “We’ve told them to go out and play as hard as we can and not worry about the future. If they look at the big picture, it could be depressing. But if you look at being part of a program and playing a role, good things can happen.”
The catalysts for Stevenson’s transformation from a mediocre program to a state-title contender have been the Catchings sisters, who are daughters of Wanda and Harvey, a former NBA player.
Tauja, a 5-foot-10-inch sophomore averaging 14.5 points a game, started on varsity last year and earned all-conference honors. Tamika, a gangly 6-footer, is touted as one of the best freshman prospects in the nation and leads the team in scoring with 16.4 points a game.
Relying heavily on an inside game and cat-like quickness on sister-connected fast breaks, the two have led Stevenson past No. 2 Whitney Young, No. 4 Washington, No. 5 Mother McAuley, No. 8 York, No. 9 Maine West, No. 10 Libertyville and No. 15 Barrington.
They have made such an impact on the program that rumors about the family moving to Texas began to surface, most likely by hopeful opponents. “It’s rumored all the time, even when I wasn’t thinking about it,” said Wanda, who would like to be closer to family in Texas. “But now it’s mostly me who wants to move. I’m pretty sure they’ll finish high school here.”
Losing the Catchings sisters would be a blow for the program and Stevenson coach Frank Mattucci, who was blessed with Tauja in just his second year at the school. But he calls the rumors an “outside distraction” and points out how the other players have already improved and gained confidence by playing with Tauja and Tamika.
“This team has caught on due to the Catchings,” said Mattucci, who led the Patriots to their first conference title last year with five freshmen on varsity.
“They make everyone else better scorers because they draw opponents to them. My first year here everyone wanted to go home after 2 1/2 hours of practice except (current senior) Danielle (Mall). Tamika is the first in the gym and the last out. She’s not the only one.”
But it’s not just the varsity; the feeder teams are just as focused. Already hard-working JV players have been rewarded and moved up. Rosenzweig led the JV in scoring and became the sixth sophomore on varsity when she was promoted a few games before Christmas.
“I don’t really think about starting, I just want to be part of it,” Rosenzweig said. “People (on JV) aren’t frustrated, they just want it even more. It’s a select and limited group so it means more if you make it.”
That attitude is pushing Stevenson along in the most successful year in school history. Davis says some of her junior-varsity teammates have talked about not trying out next year because they were afraid they wouldn’t make the team.
“If they give up, of course they’re not going to make it,” Davis said. “But if they work hard over the summer, they could excel past others.”
