Girls Basketball: Injuries derailed Fillies’ momentum

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Barrington's Nicole Collins gets behind the Wheaton St. Francis' defense at the Suburban Holiday Showcase at Loyola Academy on Wednesday December 28, 2011. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 24, 2012 8:29AM

It’s getting down to the finish line. Either guard Nicole Collins chooses to lace up her shoes again, and play hoops for the University of Illinois at Springfield, or she says so long to basketball.

“They have been interested in her,” said Barrington coach Babbi Barriero. “She enjoyed her visit and liked meeting the players. Hopefully she can go there and make an impact.”

We can retrace the Barrington season and see that the Fillies (13-18) were playing well, having won seven of nine games, when Barrington battled Conant in late January. That’s when the senior Collins hit the floor and sustained a concussion.

“That was a tough knock at the end of the year,’’ Barriero said. “Nicole was simply one of the best shooters we’ve had here at Barrington. She had a beautiful touch and tremendous court sense. She was an excellent ball handler. Those are big shoes to fill.”

The Fillies ended basketball season on Valentine’s Night. Collins and sophomore Angie Kirchoff had 11 points each in a 39-36 regional loss to Prospect.

Of course there are good byes to make to the senior class. In addition to Collins, Abby Taplett, who came back from an ACL tear, also graduates.

“She came back and burned her way into the starting lineup,’’ Barriero said. “She was a gutsy player who didn’t try to do too much.”

Three-point shooter Natasha Singh is another senior moving on.

“She really gets it, she said. “She understands what it’s like to be on a team. She’s a very driven girl. She’s so gracious. She was an all-around emotional leader.”

Barriero recalled watching senior K.D. Madden playing basketball back in the fifth grade.

“K.D’s father came up to me and said he wanted to start a fifth-grade travel team,’’ Barriero said. “I watched her grow up. She’s a free spirit who really loves to play basketball. She’s a positive girl.”

The Fillies lose height with the graduation of 6-foot-1 senior Brooke Fanslow.

“What a great emotional player,” she said. “She could have easily been one our captains. She never worried about herself.”

Another 6-footer, Samantha Carmen, made her contribution in practice.

“She was a senior who understood her role,” she said.

Certainly the Fillies can reload with a tough center like Alexa Resch.

“She’s got some capabilities in the post,’’ she said. “I expect her to be leader next year.”

That junior class also includes Maddie Bartz, Ashley Heine, Molly Curran, Kelly Hauser, Katherine Sodeika and Emily Gerber. Much has been made of the key sophomores, Kirchoff and Brooke Gunderson.

“Angie and Brooke did some wonderful things this year,’’ Barriero noted. “I’m excited about the future but it’s definitely hard to say good bye to the seniors.”