By Andrew Lovdahl

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, The OG, girls basketball & sports

IN THE DAYS leading up to the girls basketball team's season opener against Atwood-Hammond back in November, junior guard Aran Yoo and her teammates were unsure how the season would play out.

“We have potential,” Yoo said a few days before that game. “It's just a matter of if we decide to really focus and work together as a team.”

In that first game, which Uni ended up winning, junior Samantha Nguyen suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Since head coach Rebecca Murphy was counting on Nguyen to play point guard, a role that requires exceptional leadership and decision-making ability, the team was dealt a serious loss. Yoo and fellow junior guard Sarah Pfander had to share the responsibility.

The team went on to finish 12-12 overall in the regular season, going 8-4 in the East Central Illinois Conference. Both records represented significant improvements over last season, when the team finished 8-16, 5-5.

The Illineks, seeded 17th in the Watseka sectional, head into the IHSA Class A playoffs tonight against seventh-seeded Oakwood. The game begins 8 p.m. at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. [Note: For more about the game, see info box at left.]

The two teams played earlier this year, with Oakwood winning 72-39 on Nov. 21. The Comets finished 19-9 overall, 8-6 in the Vermillion Valley Conference.

But the Illineks were still struggling to find their identity after losing Nguyen. An upset tonight is certainly possible. In fact, it happened two years ago, when the Molly Smith-led Illineks lost to Oakwood in the 2004-05 regular season but turned around and beat the Comets in the playoffs.

If this year's Illineks are going to duplicate that feat, Yoo will be essential to the game plan. She has established herself as a top guard, leading the area in steals for most of the season. So who is this junior standout whose dynamic passing and clutch 3-point shooting have energized home crowds?

Assuming a new role

Yoo didn't go into this season thinking she would take the point. Indeed, playing without Nguyen wasn't easy for Yoo or her teammates at first.

“The team had to be flexible playing different positions they weren't familiar with, which probably contributed to our six-game losing streak,” said Yoo, referring to a stretch of losses in late November and early December.

Aran Yoo goes in for a layup against Judah

Christian during Uni's 49-47 win Jan. 22.

(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

Shortly before winter break, though, that streak ended with a 15-point home victory over Judah Christian, a conference opponent. Yoo led Uni scorers with 13 points and ended up with 7 steals, matching or setting personal season highs in both categories. In the team's next game, she scored 14 points and recorded 5 steals.

“We've settled down offensively,” Murphy said after a December victory against LeRoy, the team's third win in a row after the aforementioned six-game skid. “The loss of Sam put us in a little tailspin, but we've come out of that. Aran and Pfander have gained valuable playing time at the point guard position, and they're playing better. That's had an impact on the rest of the team.”

Additionally, Yoo was able to take more risks on offense, knowing that Pfander could back her up.

The main highlight of Yoo's season came on Senior Night, when she scored 21 points (setting the single-game high for this year's team), including three 3-point shots, and had 7 steals.

Her energy and attitude have rubbed off on the rest of the Illineks.

“I love playing with Aran,” Pfander said. “Her speed, her intensity, her athleticism — she is a great teammate on and off the court. She is supportive, and down to earth (despite all her steals and points).”

Yoo has only missed one game this season, because she was playing cello in the Illinois Music Educators Association all-district festival at Illinois State University in November. However, as luck would have it, there were two games scheduled on that day, and she was able to play in the second. She made up for lost time by scoring 13 points.

“On the court, when things get going, playing with Aran is incredibly fun,” Pfander said. “This can be showcased in her beautiful behind-the-back pass in the Buckley Christ Lutheran game. She keeps the tempo up and gets things going. Every time she makes a ‘three,' I think the team is more excited than her. She has a really contagious attitude, and the whole team would agree that it's a pleasure to have Aran as a player.”

The road to varsity

Yoo started playing basketball her subfreshman year. The only sports to choose from were basketball, cross country, and track. She had never played on a basketball team, although she occasionally played informally with her friends. She enjoyed it enough to join the subbie team.

In her freshman year she played primarily for junior varsity, appearing in a few varsity games as well.

But during her sophomore year, Yoo was one of several underclassmen — including Nguyen, Pfander, Ruthie Welch, Rachel Skoza, and Jessi Sullivan — who played a role on the varsity. Yoo even led the team in steals with almost 2.5 per game.

Now she is a starter for the Illineks, splitting time between shooting guard and point guard, and this time leading area players in steals with 5.4 per game. After Skoza's season ended Jan. 22 when she broke a bone in her shooting hand, Yoo became the team's leading scorer, raising her average to 8.8 points per game, highlighted by her 21-point breakout performance.

Off the court

Besides her involvement in basketball, Yoo plays cello in the Uni orchestra, and says her favorite course at Uni is probably English. She cites one of her favorite books as Toni Morrison's “Sula.”

Aran has a twin sister, Suran, who is also a Uni junior.

“There are definitely a lot more ups than downs,” said Aran about having a twin. “I don't have to carry all my books home and we can study together.”

“You also have someone there to discuss things constantly with,” commented Suran. “It's like your best friend living with you 24/7.”

Suran, who isn't on Uni's basketball team, was the leading scorer on Uni's soccer squad last season, but sibling rivalries are not a problem for the sisters.

“I guess it would seem that there would be competition, but since Suran and I are so close it doesn't come between us,” said Aran.

“It's nice to have someone who can encourage [you], and help you practice,” Suran agreed. “We also both understand what it is like to dedicate ourselves to sports.”

So what does the future hold? Short term, Aran plans to play soccer this spring, and both basketball and soccer during her senior year. After that, she wants to go into the field of psychology.

“This season was great,” said Aran, “but since there aren't a lot of seniors leaving, the
next season can only get better.”

VARSITY RECORD: 12-12 overall, 8-4 East Central Illinois Conference
(Games at Kenney Gym in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks ready for season opener tonight

Nov. 16: Atwood-Hammond, W 37-35
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Illineks triumph in season opener

Nov. 18: Hoopeston (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 45-23
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 13 pts
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 18: Chrisman (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 50-48
— leading scorers: Rachel Skoza & Jessi Sullivan, 15 pts each
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 20: Blue Ridge (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 52-47
— leading scorer: Sarah Pfander, 13 pts
— story: Illineks down Blue Ridge in tournament action

Nov. 21: Oakwood (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 72-39
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Shorthanded Uni loses to undefeated Oakwood

Nov. 24: Milford (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 44-24
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes sixth in Thanksgiving Classic

Nov. 28: Shiloh, L 45-25
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 5 pts
— story: Uni drops third straight

Nov. 30: Villa Grove, game postponed because of bad weather

Dec. 5: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, L 34-23
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 9 pts
— story: Slump continues as Uni falls to PBL

Dec. 8: Decatur Lutheran, L 57-38 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Uni begins conference play with loss to defending champ

Dec. 9: Villa Grove, L 38-27
— leading scorer: Kaylie Dastrup, 9 pts
— story: Villa Grove hands Illineks fourth home defeat of season

Dec. 11: Judah Christian, W 44-29 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 13 pts
— story: Illineks end six-game losing streak

Dec. 14: at DeLand-Weldon, W 64-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Illineks win by 38

Dec. 16: LeRoy, W 43-33
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 18 pts
— story: Girls basketball: Skoza, Yoo lead Uni to third straight win

Jan. 2: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 57-19 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 12 pts
— story: Four players score in double figures as Uni gets back to .500

Jan. 4: at Decatur Christian, W 53-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 15 pts
— story: Uni wins fifth straight game, record improves to 8-7

Jan. 6: Fisher, L 52-41
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 15 pts
— story: Fisher ends Uni winning streak

Jan. 8: Normal Calvary Baptist, L 48-36 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 12 pts
— story: Uni loses showdown for second place in conference

Jan. 11: DeLand-Weldon, W 58-14 *

— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 13 pts
— story: Uni completes sweep of DeLand-Weldon

Jan. 19: at Decatur Lutheran, L 79-41 *

— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts

— story: Conference leader Decatur Lutheran tops Uni

Jan. 22: at Judah Christian, W 49-47 *

— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts

— story: Illineks win close call against Judah, lose Skoza

Jan. 25: at Donovan, L 84-41

— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 12 pts

— story: Minus three players, Illineks lose big to Donovan

Jan. 26: Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 66-18 *

— leading scorer: Sarah Pfander, 19 pts

— story: see Illineks return to .500, improve ECIC record

Jan. 29: Decatur Christian, W 47-40 *

— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 21 pts

— story: Grill, Zaharescu go out winners on Senior Night

Feb. 1: at Normal Calvary Baptist, L 54-36 *

— leading scorer: Mandy Grill, 10 pts

— story: Illineks end regular season 12-12, 8-4

Remaining games: see IHSA playoff schedule (go to Watseka sectional)

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent