Hinsdale Central looks to youth

After setting a school record for losses in a season, Hinsdale Central is looking for some up-and-coming players to improve its fortunes.

Sophomores Jenna Broz and Maddie Roglich and freshman Gabrielle Rush close out their AAU season in the next few weeks. Broz, a 6-foot-1 center, plays for Lisle-based Bulls Elite Black 2014 while Roglich and Rush are teammates with the Lady Lightning Columbia.

The Lightning played in the Nike Summer Showcase last week at North Central College in Napeville and head to Franklin, Tenn., this weekend for the Music City Madness. Both Roglich and Rush will miss the season-ending tournament in Waukegan, which starts July 28. Rush, who plans on trying out next month, has a commitment to a tennis tournament.

Rush could not join her older sister Christine on the Devils. Christine graduated in May while Gabrielle will become the last girl in her family to play basketball at Hinsdale Central. Gabrielle’s younger brother, Matthew, is a fifth grader at Hinsdale Middle School. Christine and Gabrielle’s older siblings, Danielle and Nick, played basketball at Nazareth.

Because of Christine, Gabrielle is very familiar with the Devils program.

“I’ve known everyone for a while since I was in the sixth grade,” Gabrielle Rush said. “With my sister on the team, it’s good because we’ve all played together. I’ve known each other’s style.”

Rush played point guard for the AAU Lightning and has been learning that position for the high school team.

As expected, Rush is learning to adjust from eighth grade to the varsity level.

“The girls are a lot bigger and stronger,” said Rush, who received an All-American honor earlier this summer at a nationals qualifier in Deerfield.

After the Nike Summer Showcase, Hinsdale Central’s AAU players earned a breack since the Devils did not field at team at the annual Maine West Observation tournament last weekend.

“With Gabrielle in one class and with a bunch of freshmen and even sophomores becoming juniors, this year I’m sure we’ll improve,” Roglich said. “If it’s not this year, it will be next year.”

Broz, a Clarendon Hills resident, has been working on her shooting this summer. Her Bulls team also participated in the Nike Summer Showcase.

“After practice every day I stay for just shooting,” Broz said. “Coach (Tom) McKenna gives me packets to work on shooting. You keep track of how many you make to watch yourself improve.”

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