Just outside Benet’s gym in early February, Larry Parker could be seen talking with Danielle Campbell.
The 6-foot-5-inch senior from Young, which had just beaten the host Redwings, listened intently. She was coming off an 11-point, 10-rebound performance. But Parker saw so much more in her.
“I just told her, `You know what? You’re the difference-maker on this team. You’re the person other teams have trouble matching up with,'” he said.
Parker knows a bit about basketball. He played at Iowa, raised a son (Anthony) who made it to the NBA and his daughter (Candace) may be the best girls player to come out of Illinois.
“She’s a wonderful young lady,” Parker said the other day about Campbell. “Very sweet, very respectful.”
And very good on the basketball court. That’s why Campbell joins New Trier’s Deirdre Naughton, Bartlett’s Lindsay Schrader, Peoria Richwoods’ Biannca Ward and Olney East Richland’s Brittany Johnson on the 2004-05 Tribune All-State Girls Basketball Team.
After that little talk with someone she literally has to look up to– Parker is 6-5 3/4–Campbell responded with some big games.
In the sectional final against Marshall, she had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Young had to get by New Trier in the supersectionals. Last season the Dolphins lost that game by 23 points. This time, with Campbell scoring 17 and grabbing 15 rebounds, they eliminated the Trevians.
When Young lost its semifinal matchup with eventual Class AA state champion Peoria Richwoods, Campbell had 26 points and 11 rebounds. For the season, the Purdue signee averaged 14 points, 12.5 rebounds and four blocks a game.
Two of Campbell’s All-State senior teammates, Naughton and Schrader, pushed their way to the top of fans’ lists for best player in the Chicago area, if not the state.
Schrader averaged 22.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and led Bartlett to the Class AA state championship game, which it lost 52-48 to Peoria Richwoods. In that game she tied a state championship mark with 18 rebounds. Schrader defines basketball at the Upstate Eight school, which opened in 1998.
“I don’t know how many schools get to say this, that they’ve got a McDonald’s All-American,” Bartlett coach Denise Sarna said after her team’s 30-5 season. “It just doesn’t happen every day.”
The 6-foot forward, who will continue her basketball career at Notre Dame, finished with 2,423 career points. If she hadn’t fallen ill late in her junior year, Schrader undoubtedly would have surpassed the 2,500 mark.
Wake Forest women’s coach Mike Peterson is delighted to have nabbed Naughton, New Trier’s leading all-time scorer–girls or boys. The 5-10 senior averaged 24 points, 3.9 steals and 3.3 assists, guided the Trevians to a runner-up state finish in 2004 and wound up with 2,144 career points.
“She’s so versatile,” Peterson said. “She’s a really good athlete who can handle the ball.”
Naughton was outstanding in January when New Trier (29-5) went 11-0. She followed up a 31-point game against Hope with 30 against Buffalo Grove. Then she had 32 points and eight steals in a victory over St. Louis Incarnate Word, one of Missouri’s top teams.
Peoria Richwoods coach John Gross said Ward, whose family moved from Joliet before her freshman year of high school, “is the best sophomore I’ve coached.” Gross was at Bartonville Limestone for 26 years and is closing in on 600 career victories. The 5-4 guard averaged 15.7 points in guiding the Knights to the best record ever compiled by a girls basketball team in the state–38-0.
“She’s super quick, handles the ball well and does it all,” said Gross, whose former players include former Ms. Basketball Tammy Van Oppen.
East Richland coach Curt Dobbs knows his high school is out of the way, but that hasn’t stopped a procession of college coaches from coming to see his sophomore standout. The 5-11 Johnson scored 929 points–the 11th best season in Illinois girls history. With 1,784 career points, Johnson is on target to beat the all-time scoring mark set by Williamsville’s Angie Sapp (3,403).
“LSU came to watch her play twice,” said Dobbs, referring to a team that spent much of the year at the top of the women’s rankings. And his list went on: “Kansas State, Arizona, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern . . . “
Johnson’s shooting percentage can only be termed remarkable. She made 347 of 652 attempts (54 percent) and was 195 of 216 from the free-throw line. And her 47 consecutive free throws demolished the previous state mark (39).
Danielle Campbell, Young
6-5, senior, center
The rock in the middle and always a threat to block shots for the Dolphins (28-2), who finished third in Class AA. Averaged 14 points, 12.1 rebounds and shot 61.5 percent from field. College: Purdue.
Brittany Johnson, East Richland
5-11, sophomore, guard/forward
One acclaimed college coach insists she’s the best sophomore shooting guard in nation. Averaged 31 points, 5.9 rebounds per game for 20-10 Tigers. Her 47 consecutive free throws broke the state mark by eight.
Deirdre Naughton, New Trier
5-10, senior, guard
Acclaimed by many as the best guard in the state. Set school scoring mark–boys or girls–with 2,144 career points. Averaged 24 points, 3.3 assists, 3.9 steals for 29-5 Trevians. College: Wake Forest.
Lindsay Schrader, Bartlett
6-0, senior, forward
The lone McDonald’s All-American from Illinois led Hawks (30-5) to Class AA runner-up finish. Averaged 22.1 points, 10.6 rebounds per game and scored 2,423 career points. College: Notre Dame.
Biannca Ward, Peoria Richwoods
5-4, sophomore, guard
Ball-handling and scoring made team unbeatable en route to record 38 victories and Class AA state title. Averaged 15.7 points. Outstanding title game: 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds, three steals.
SECOND TEAM
KRISTI CIRONE
5-8, sr., guard, Resurrection
GCAC Player of the Year averaged 21 points and finished as Bandits’ all-time points leader with 2,325.
College: Illinois State.
JENNY ECKHART
5-7, sr., guard, Carmel
Player of the Year in tough East Suburban Catholic averaged 16.4 points, 5 assists.
College: Syracuse.
BRITTANNY JOHNSON
5-8, sr., guard, Fenwick
Clutch player who averaged 15.8 points led Friars to fifth state quarterfinals in six years.
College: Boston College.
THERESA LISCH
5-9, jr., guard, Belle. Althoff
Daughter of former NFL QB Rusty Lisch averaged 22.4 points for Class A third-place team.
JOCELYN MELLEN
6-3, jr., center, Ster. Newman
Led Comets to Class A semis with surprising ball skills, solid scoring (19.0) and rebounding (13.3).
SPECIAL MENTION
Guards
Andrea Bankhead, sr., Proviso West
Rachel Buchek, soph., Buffalo Grove
Latear Eason, soph., Hope
Megan Edwards, sr., Maine West
Mallory Heydorn, sr., Lyons
Emilie Hirt, 5-6, sr., Hersey
Skye Johnson, sr., Marian Catholic
Britney Jones, sr., Marshall
Kailey Klein, jr., Spring Valley Hall
TK LaFleur, sr., Warren
Sarah Liesen, sr., Quincy Notre Dame
Brittany Marshall, sr., Oak Park
Brittany McCoy, jr., Loyola
Megan McGann, sr., Peoria Richwoods
Samantha Quigley, jr., Joliet Catholic
Claire Sheehan, jr., St. Charles East
Brittney Thomas, soph., Bolingbrook
Amanda Walker, sr., Hampshire
Latoya Wright, sr., Galesburg
Kristina Yedinak, sr., Ottawa Marquette
Forwards
Erin Cattell, sr., Sandburg
Kristin Cartwright, sr., Lake Forest
Brooke Cultra, sr., Iroquois West
Meghan Hutchens, sr., Riverside-Brookfield
Jen Juergens, jr., Bishop McNamara
Kelly Krumwiede, sr., Glenbard W.
Taylor Lawless, soph., Wheeling
Jamie Majerowicz, sr., Lane
Holly Medley, sr., Bolingbrook
Elizabeth Pietrzak, jr., St. Ignatius
Lauren Schober, sr., Regina
Kenyatta Shelton, jr., Crane
Brooke Singleton, sr., Rosewood-Yorkwood
Lacey Simpson, sr., Zion-Benton
Casey Taylor, sr., Marian Catholic
Amanda Thompson, jr., Young
Centers
Katie Fournier, sr., Moline
Amy Jaeschke, soph., New Trier
Emily Maggert, soph., Paris
Kaitlin McInerney, jr., Benet
ASSOCIATED PRESS CLASS AA ALL-STATE TEAM
First team
Danielle Campbell, Young
Brittanny Johnson, Fenwick
Deirdre Naughton, New Trier
Lindsay Schrader, Bartlett
Biannca Ward, Peoria Richwoods
Second team
Erin Cattell, Sandburg
Kristi Cirone, Resurrection
Jenny Eckhart, Carmel
Katie Fournier, Moline
LaToya Wright, Galesburg
Third team
Kendra Donley, Mah.-Seymour
Britney Jones, Marshall
Kelly Krumweide, Glenbard West
TK LaFleur, Warren
Lacey Simpson, Zion-Benton
Honorable mention
Kristin Cartwright, Lake Forest
Lauren DeGiorolamo, Belleville W.
Megan Edwards, Maine West
Paige Fiedorowicz, Johnsburg
Kristen Fox, Ottawa
Kacia Gillette, Rockton Hononegah
Maggie Krick, Washington (Ill.)
Allie Lindemann, Champ. Central
Jamia Malone, Peoria Central
Tamara McCaskill, Edwardsville
Brittany McCoy, Loyola
Holly Medley, Bolingbrook
Georgia Mueller, Springfield
Jen Nichols, Woodstock
Tracy Pontius, Morton
Sam Quigley, Joliet Catholic
Hanna Reising, Peoria Richwoods
Ann Terronez, Geneseo
Amanda Thompson, Young
