Hornets Done Kidding Around

The youth movement is finally over this season for Hinsdale South's girls' basketball team.

That's good news for the Hornets, who hope it's bad news for everybody else.

"We are no longer a young team. This is the first year we are not starting any freshmen," first-year head coach Jen Belmonte said. "We'll start one sophomore, but we're primarily juniors, and a lot of those juniors have already been on the varsity for two years.

"We also have a good supporting group of hard-working seniors that will contribute immediately."

Belmonte is a 2002 Hinsdale South grad and was a two-sport star in basketball and soccer, both of which she played in college at St. Xavier University in Chicago. She takes over as varsity coach after coaching the Hornets' lower levels in recent years.

In juniors Andrea McNally, Natalie Tomerlin, and Uzo Okoro, the Hornets have three seasoned varsity starters. The 6-foot Okoro was last year's leading scorer and rebounder and figures to be a force in the area again this season.

"You know you can get the ball in to her and you know it's going in," Belmonte said. "It's a quick hit and it's done and on every rebound, she's there. I think she can actually be a little more powerful inside this year and use her muscle. She's such a nice kid but when you get her angry, and pumped up, she can be a force."

Tomerlin's all-around play and smarts at a forward's spot will help key the Hornets, as she battles inside next to Okoro.

The Hornets graduated a single player from last year's 14-12 squad in Angel Selmon, and while they'll miss her defensive intensity they figure that better team depth and improved shooting will make up for it.

Senior guard Jackie Belmonte can shoot the trey and Romiti is already a proven quantity as a sophomore. A solid defensive player in senior forward Keke Thomas also will be expected to contribute heavily.

Four seniors, seven juniors and three sophomores will suit up this season for Belmonte, who expects to go 10 players deep and utilize them all. "The nice thing is we have four returning starters, so everyone kind of knows their role already," she said.

Belmonte believes that McNally, Romiti and Jackie Belmonte give her flexibility at the guard spots. Romiti was the team's second-leading scorer last year as a freshman.

"We have the big girl in (Okoro) and we have fast, interchangeable guards who want to run the floor and who are smart. Our one, two, and three can all play the one, two, or the three."

Seniors Kristin Cleary, Rayshauna Clark, juniors Tina Romiti, Brittany DeClouette, Emily Fung and Kendra Brady, and sophomores Kerry Just and Kristin Dimitrijevic round out Belmonte's roster. All will be expected to contribute.

The Hornets open the season on Nov. 16 at Lemont, before hosting the annual Hornet Invite to play teams like Wheaton North, Hinsdale Central and Neuqua Valley.

Belmonte sees Proviso East and Downers Grove South as the West Suburban Conference Gold Division teams that all others will be aiming for, and she and assistant coach Christie Johnson think their girls are ready.

"They're not freshmen anymore and I think they're ready to take that next step," Belmonte said. "Last year was a learning year, and we're ready and excited to compete against the best teams in the area."