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Schools

Lake Forest Girls Show Class in Regional Loss

Scouts maintain character through difficult season.

When the members of the girls’ basketball team attend their 10-year reunion in 2021, what will they remember? 

Will it be the one-win season with many losses coming by lopsided margins or the bonding and friendships developed through hard work? 

Judging from the cheers of fans and parents when emerged from the locker room with a box of cookies after bowing out of the Class 3A Zion Benton Regional Tuesday by falling to Lake Zurich, 52-24, it will be the relationships. 

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The loss ended Lake Forest’s season. 

“When I was a player I had seasons with lots of wins and some where we didn’t (win much),” Lake Forest coach Nick Balaban said. “What I remember are the bus rides, the laughter and the friendships.” 

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Balaban had nothing but pride for his charges after a testing season and challenging Regional opener against a North Suburban Conference foe that defeated them handily twice before. 

“I really enjoyed coaching these kids. They showed up every day, worked hard and never gave up,” Balaban said. “As assistant coach (Ed) Ferguson said, ‘if you watch the game and don’t look at the scoreboard, you wouldn’t know they were losing.’” 

The Regional opener was a microcosm of the Lake Forest season. After the Bears grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, Kelsey Simet tied the game with a quick layup. The Scouts stayed in the game for the next five minutes with scrappy defense and solid rebounding before Lake Zurich went on a 19-2 run to take control. 

The spirited play continued throughout as the Scouts demonstrated the spirit Balaban believes will guide them through their lives long after their basketball careers are over. 

“I told them after the game they will be able to develop the strength from this to be successful in life,” Balaban said. “Most of them won’t play again (competitively).”

That is the case for three of the team’s four seniors. hopes to perform for St. Mary’s College in South Bend while Kenning, Haley Marshall and Bridget Nelson will continue their education without competitive basketball. 

As the fourth quarter ebbed with the Scouts down 44-16, Balaban made sure Mocogni —despite her four fouls— Kenning, Marshall and Nelson were in the game. Kenning’s six points shared individual scoring honors with junior Marina Katz. 

As the contest drew to a close, he removed each senior to the applause of the Lake Forest contingent. Each player received warm congratulations from their coaches and teammates. 

“I did it to show my appreciation. I didn’t realize the effect it would have,” Balaban said, showing surprise at the crowd’s reaction. He also mentioned Bear Coach Chris Bennett congratulated him after the game for the class he showed honoring his seniors. 

As the seniors were honored toward the end of their last game, Balaban used the experience to begin building next year’s squad. He hopes the 11 returning underclassmen will learn not only from this year’s bonding effort, but from the seniors as well. 

“The seniors were role models,” Balaban said. “I could always count on them to keep the spirits of the team up.”

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