Last year at this time, Renee Brantley was the head coach of the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity girls basketball team on an interim basis. This season, she’s got the job full time, and she’s appreciative of the opportunity.
“It’s great, but my philosophy doesn’t change,” Brantley said. “We set the standard and expectations. The players hold each other accountable and we hold them accountable as well.”
OPRF senior forward Genevieve Simkowski, who is entering her third varsity season, agrees.
“Things are going good,” she said. “We’re all excited to start the season because I think we have a good team this year.”
OPRF, which went 7-25 and lost in the Class 4A regional final last season, has seven returning players: Simkowski; sophomore Taryn Draine; juniors Gabriella Chesney and Leia Hammerschmidt; and seniors Siena Alfonsi, Anna Breuer, and Claire Detmer.
The Huskies’ varsity newcomers are sophomores Selah Sarai Backeberg, Leilani Baldwin, and Marie Spencer and juniors Tavia Allen, Elaina Barnett, Ellanna Brucato, Ameina Johnson, and Aoife Mahic.
“There’s a lot of teaching and learning going on,” Brantley said. “But the chemistry is there and they’re building something. Everyone’s bought in.”
“The new girls are very good leaders and bring a lot to the team,” Simkowski said. “It’s fun playing with them because they’re helping out a lot.”
OPRF is getting an added boost this year with the return of JP Coughlin as an assistant coach. Coughlin served as the Huskies head coach for eight seasons (2013-2021).
“He’s very motivating and keeps our heads up,” Simkowski said. “He’s always giving good advice.”
“The experience and knowledge JP has is huge,” Brantley added.
As is the custom, OPRF has a challenging schedule. Highlights include the Brenda Whitsell Thanksgiving Tournament at Hinsdale South and the Loyola Academy Christmas Tournament, as well as non-conference games against New Trier and crosstown competitors Fenwick and Trinity.
“Beating Fenwick is always a season goal for the team,” stated Simkowski.
The Huskies expect stern competition within the West Suburban Silver, generally regarded as one of the Chicago area’s best conferences.
“Anybody in the conference is always going to be tough,” said Brantley. “Downers Grove North is the defending champion, so everything goes through them. You never know how things will turn out; it’s any given night.”
As the culture-building process continues, OPRF is emphasizing growth and development on a daily basis.
“We just want to be better. Our goal is to compete within our conference,” Brantley said. “We want to be better this year from last year and set ourselves up for success. Every night, we want to give ourselves an opportunity.”
“I want to be the best player I can be, always working hard. I also want to lead the conference in steals because that’s a big part of my game,” Simkowski said. “As a team, we want to win more games and go far in the playoffs.”
OPRF opens up with Sandburg at Hinsdale South, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m.
“It won’t be an easy game, but I think we can win if we all give 100 percent,” said Simkowski.