The departure of some of the area’s best girls basketball players because of graduation means many Fox Valley Conference teams plan to rely on defense as they build chemistry on offense.

Still, Cary-Grove and Huntley are expected to assert claim as the best team in the FVC Valley Division, relying on a mix of a tough, physical defense and playing smart on offense.

“Your team has got to play defense before you can give a darn about anything you do offensively,” C-G coach Rod Saffert said. “ ... And what I saw this summer from everybody, there was a lot more defensive work going on. I think it will be interesting.