By FRANK CASH
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
CARTHAGE, Ill. -- Nearly everyone involved in the Illini West girls basketball program would agree one of the highlights of the year is when the team takes its annual summer trip.
For the last four years, the Lady Chargers have loaded the bus and gone to team camps at Tennessee, Duke, North Carolina and Michigan State.
This past summer's trip to Louisiana State University might have been the best of them all.
"It was unbelievable," Illini West senior Katelyn Jacoby said. "Great campus, great facilities. Plus, we got to go to New Orleans one day."
The trip to Bayou Country was beneficial in another way. It helped the upperclassmen bond with the incoming freshmen.
"That really helped us," senior Lauren Gronewold said. "We got to know the freshmen we didn't know yet. And they got to know us and learn how to be more comfortable with us."
That could pay off more than normal this season.
Don't be surprised if some of those freshmen -- particularly Michaela Gronewold, Josie Finch, Aubrie Carlisle and Shelbi White -- see some varsity action.
Illini West returns seven letterwinners from last year's 26-3 Class 2A sectional semifinalists, but there may be times when the freshmen are called upon.
"We've got a lot of experience back, but a lot of that is role-playing experience," Illini West coach Zach Keene said. "There will be times, especially early in the season, when we may need a freshman on the floor for a stretch. I think they'll be ready."
The loss of Graci Bastert may require Keene to call up some of the freshmen earlier than he would like. The sophomore point guard was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her lower back earlier this fall and isn't expected to play until mid-December.
Bastert, the first player off the bench last year, averaged 7.6 points and three assists per game.
"Right now, about all Graci can do is shoot free throws," Keene said. "We could speed her along, but it's one of those things where you have to look at the big picture. Do you want her playing now or do you want her healthy later on?"
Despite not having Bastert available, there hasn't been an Illini West team this far ahead of the learning curve in the program's five years of existence.
"That's been a big help," Lauren Gronewold said. "We worked on a lot of stuff this summer and everyone got on the same page so we didn't have to start at the beginning once practice started."
Don't be surprised if Illini West is a little faster-paced this season. The Lady Chargers graduated the program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder in 6-footer Carter Wear.
Wear, who is playing at St. Ambrose, averaged 19 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season and was a two-time all-stater. She scored in double figures in the last 34 games of her career.
"Always in the past, it was รข Give Carter the ball, let her score,'" Jacoby said. "Now, we'll need to be a little better with our perimeter shooting. It should open up some of the offense."
Wear didn't always score to be effective the past three years.
"A lot of times, teams would key on Carter and that would open up opportunities for Lauren and some of the other players," Keene said. "But now it's time to pass the torch. There are three girls out there who played an awfully lot last year who are ready to take it."
And they want to help the Lady Chargers take the next step. No Illini West has yet to win a sectional championship, one of this year's goals.
"What it comes down to is do these girls believe in themselves," Keene said. "Do they have what it takes to make that next step? Do they have the focus, the desire, the determination to continue the tradition? If they work hard, I think they can do it."
