McHenry Times

The high school girls basketball season is underway, and some McHenry High School players are expecting a tough battle for the Fox Valley Conference title.

Last season, McHenry came in fifth place in the Fox Valley Conference (FVC) with a 15-13 record, which was the Warriors' best record since 2011. Three teams tied for first place in the conference last year, and out of the nine teams in the FVC, seven finished with a conference record of .500 or better.

The Warriors hope to finish conference play stronger than last season. The team started out its conference schedule with a record of 6-3 but then lost five of the following seven games to finish with a conference record of 8-8. In the McHenry regional tournament, the Warriors fell 54-49 to Crystal Lake South High School in double overtime. One thing that should help the Warriors this season is some added depth to the roster. A number of key players from last year’s team are returning, and the team has added two transfer students.

Liz Alsot, a senior at McHenry, was named to Northwest Herald's "5 players to watch" list. Last season, Alsot was one of the best players for McHenry and averaged a double-double on the season, with an average of 13 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. She comes into this season 212 points away from reaching a career total of 1,000 points. Next year, Alsot will play ball at the University of Indianapolis.

Another McHenry player who made the list is senior guard Aannah Interrante. This will be Interrante’s first year at McHenry after transferring from Johnsburg High School. Last season, she helped her team capture a 3A regional title and averaged nearly 16 points per game. She also is a strong shooter from beyond the arc, hitting 91 three-pointers last year. She was a starter for the past three years on the Johnsburg team and has committed to play for Bradley University next season. 

Isabel Gscheidle is another player to watch. The junior shooting guard averaged 10 points per game and made 51 three-pointers last season. 

McHenry opened its season Nov. 13 against Larkin High School. The Warriors claimed an 85-43 win over the Royals. The Warriors controlled the game from tip-off and never trailed. Two nights later, the Warriors were back in action and won its second game of the year, knocking off Belvidere North High School by a score of 57-43. 

The team will open conference play Nov. 28 against Prairie Ridge High School. Other key matchups for the Warriors this season include a Dec. 2 game against Cary-Grove High School. Last year, Cary-Grove tied for the No. 1 spot in the FVC; however, the Trojans may not be as strong this year after losing last year’s high scorer, Becca Kendeigh, who graduated.

Hampshire High School should pose a strong challenge for the Warriors as well. Last season Hampshire was tied for first place in the conference, and have won two FVC titles in the past three years. McHenry will take on Hampshire on Jan. 5 and again Feb. 9 in the final game of the regular season.