New-look Friars have talent, size

As someone who has been coaching since Gerald Ford was in the White House, Fenwick High School girls basketball coach Dave Power has witnessed nearly everything that has happened in the history of Illinois prep basketball.

Yet he still sounds like a kid opening Christmas presents when he talks about the upcoming season.

“I’m looking forward to the season,” Power said. “I still have a lot of fun with this. I’m so excited about our young talent.”

Power, who begins his 39th season just six wins shy of becoming the second girls coach in state history to win 900 games, has a roster short on experience but long on enthusiasm.

Guard Kiki Sheard is the only senior and the Friars have only three juniors, but that may be a good thing considering Fenwick is coming off back-to-back losing seasons. The only other losing seasons were 1992-93 and 1993-94, the first two in program history.

 “It’s a whole different vibe,” Power said. “I think we have probably one of the best attitudes and team chemistry we’ve had in a while.

“The girls are excited but young. We’ll be a little inconsistent, but I love this team. They’re going to be fun to see grow up.”

Sheard will be the group’s mother hen. The 5-7 spark plug has been lightly recruited by colleges since undergoing surgery for a torn ACL in April, but she’s healthy and ready to prove any doubters wrong.

“She’s our only veteran presence,” Power noted. “She’s flying under the radar.

“She has a great handle and takes the ball to the basket hard. We’re looking for her to have a real good senior season.”

The only other Friars with prior varsity experience are 5-10 junior Mackenzie Berschel, 5-11 sophomore McKenzie Blaze and 5-10 sophomore Kate Moore. None were starters, but all are tall, something Power sees as significant.

“We have real good height this year,” Power said. “We have one of the tallest teams we’ve had in years.”

Indeed, the Friars also have a trio of 6-footers in junior Kelly Carpenter and sophomores Charlotte Quinn and Margaret Planek.

Quinn is the daughter of former Fenwick boys basketball coach John Quinn and Planek was a starter for Fenwick’s sectional champion volleyball team this fall.

“Quinn is a lefty who gives us versatility,” Power said. “(Carpenter) is very strong, solid around the basket and can hit the three.”

Blaze and Moore will vie for time at the guard spots along with Berschel and junior Chance Baggett. Freshmen Mary Kate Kapsch and Gianna Ortiz could be point guards of the future.

“(Berschel) is one of our best three-point shooters and has worked hard on other facets of her game,” Power said. “She can help us on the boards.

“Remember Baggett’s name. She’s got real good speed.”

Fans can forget about watching Fenwick’s run-and-gun offense of the past two years which featured hockey-line line changes and a slew of incredibly high-scoring games but also the most losses in a two-year period in school history.

Power has junked that for a more traditional offense because the team lacks overall speed, but the Friars will still look to get out and run when it is warranted.

Another big change is Fenwick’s conference affiliation. They left the tough East Suburban Catholic Conference, regarded as the Chicago area’s toughest, for the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference.

It may be a case of going from the frying pan into the fire because the Friars will be in the GCAC Red Division along with the likes of Trinity, Montini, Loyola, Providence, Mother McAuley and St. Ignatius.

The switch to the GCAC brings back memories for Power, who captured the league’s first state championship with Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1987. While the Friars may struggle early against a tough schedule, Power isn’t worried.

“Some coaches are too worried about the regular season and their rank and record,” Power said. “I realize that fades real fast if you lose in the first round of the playoffs.

“I don’t care about wins and losses because we’re going to be playing our best ball at the end. We’ll play the best teams and if we take some lumps, maybe the next year we’ll dish some up.”

Next year might actually be the first part of 2016.

“We’ll take a few lumps early but I think they will step it up in the New Year,” Power said. “What I like about this team is there’s a real good vibe and buzz.

“They’re getting after it more than I’ve seen the last couple years. They’re on the same page.”