Sandburg’s Ellie Driscoll loves basketball so much that just playing the sport isn’t enough for her.
In the coming months, the senior guard is going to explore a new avenue.
“My dad (Rich) runs the South Side Catholic League,” Driscoll said. “It’s a family thing. So, this winter, I’m going to be a referee. It will be awesome, for sure.
“It will give me a different perspective on the game — 1,000%.”
Driscoll had her scoring perspective on display Tuesday night, putting up 28 points for the host Eagles in a 56-55 nonconference loss to Yorkville in both teams’ season opener in Orland Park.
Zoe Trunk added 11 points for Sandburg (0-1), while her twin sister, Olivia, landed nine rebounds and four steals. The Eagles tied up the ball with nine seconds left but missed a final shot.
Yorkville (1-0), which is coached by former Sandburg star Kim Wensits, featured a balanced attack. The Foxes were led by Macie Jones and Aubrey Spychalski with eight points apiece.
Driscoll, meanwhile, finished with 15 points in the first half and then built upon that total in the second half thanks to 3-point shooting and driving into the lane. She made three 3-pointers.
Although she has been Sandburg’s most dangerous outside shooter for two seasons, she worked on her game in the offseason with Rich, a former Brother Rice star.
“We would play about 3-5 times a week,” Ellie said. “I would be working on my shot. We did things off the dribble. He would guard me.
“Obviously, I’m going to be defended a lot closer because people know I can shoot the ball, so he is doing anything he can to try to get me to the next level.”
About that next level? Driscoll isn’t sure what her future in college is going to be. She has some options with basketball, soccer and golf, but things are hazy right now.
“Honestly, we’re just going to see how it goes,” she said. “I’ve applied to colleges and I’ve seen different places. Wherever it takes me.
“I just want to do my best my senior season and take it game by game.”
Sandburg coach Nick Fotopoulos, who’s looking for big things from her this winter, brought Driscoll up to the varsity late in her freshman season but she soon broke her shooting wrist.
He’s enjoyed watching her flourish the past two years.
“The best thing about Ellie is that she is super positive,” Fotopoulos said of Driscoll. “She’s always trying to lead with positivity. That’s a really good thing. Any athlete will react well to that.
“The more she can lead through positive actions and positive communication, that’s going to help us and it will help her. I’m so proud of her.”
Driscoll comes from a rich basketball family, starting with her 84-year-old grandfather, Chico.
Chico, who is in Leo’s Hall of Fame and played in college at Loyola, attended Tuesday’s game to watch her put on a scoring show. Her uncles, Tony and Jay, were top players at Mount Carmel.
All of them played and all of them were referees as well, blowing the whistle for fourth-grade games all the way up to the Division I level.
Ellie confirmed that growing up in that environment made her competitive.
“I’ve always had that drive to work hard and be my best,” she said. “It’s awesome to have my grandpa at the games because he started it all.”
Driscoll pointed out that she’s not worried about the season-opening loss for the Eagles, who have four returning starters but also six sophomores on the roster.
“I’m excited because the experienced players and younger players are getting to know each other,” she said. “We have the depth. Once we get it figured out, we’re going to be hard to beat.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
