North Shore ready to keep up play

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:06PM

Two seasons ago, North Shore Country Day was on top.

During the 2008-09 season, the Raiders won the Independent School League

championship for the first time since the 1988-89 campaign before earning

the program's first-ever regional title.

After an 11-11 effort last season that included the team's third consecutive

trip to a Class 1A regional final, the Raiders, at least on paper, are in

rebuilding mode. They lost four starters, including standout Sammy Gray, a

first-team all-conference selection.

"We're coming off three or four pretty strong years, but we lost a lot from

last year," said seventh-year coach Jon Cohn, whose team was fourth in

league play at 3-4. Latin won the conference championship. "Our numbers are

way down. We are struggling for players."

Kim Kahnweiler is one player who gives Cohn a reason to keep the team's

sights set high. A three-sport athlete, the junior point guard is back for

her third varsity season.

"She didn't play much this summer," the coach said. "But when she came into

the gym, she was ready to go.

"Even though we are rebuilding, the most important position to have is point

guard. When you have a good one, you can stay in a lot of games. That's

comforting."

Kahnweiler, who was second on the team in scoring at 12 points a game last

season, must be careful to not do too much on the court.

"We talked to her about that," Cohn said. "Kim knows for our team to have

some success she has to score and make her teammates better. She's very

unselfish already, but we may need her to get more selfish."

Junior guard Alex Barker and sophomore guard Ilhana Redzovic are expected to

be increase their contributions this season. Barker was the first player off

the bench last season, while Redzovic started on the JV team and played some

varsity minutes.

"Alex is a real tough kid who loves to play," Cohn said. "She's battled

injuries throughout her career, so her ability to stay healthy is a big

key."

Redzovic will be the Raiders' top outside threat as well as one of team's

toughest players to keep out of the gym.

"She's rapidly improving," Cohn said. "She will be our zone-buster."

What's missing for the Raiders rests in the frontcourt. At least right now,

Cohn said he will start a five-guard lineup.

"We are really, really small," he said. "That's going to be a major

problem."

Junior guard Michelle Cervantes and freshman guard Becca Slotkin are

expected to help out in their first varsity seasons. In fact, Slotkin had no

clue she was going to play varsity until last week.

"Whether she's ready or not, she's going to be thrown in there," Cohn said.

"But she's solid. I think she can handle it."

The Raiders start the season Nov. 19 by hosting their own holiday

tournament.

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