2010 - 2011 Preview & Prognostications: Ohio High School Girls Basketball

Ohio Girls Basketball Report started 13 years ago has become over the last 10 years the #1 single-state scouting service in America. Currently there are 208 colleges across America that subscribe to Ohio Girls Basketball Report and rely on the information provided by Tom Jenkins and his staff in evaluating players from Ohio. Tom has over 45 years of playing, coaching and evaluating experience associated with the game of basketball. He is devoted solely to the promotion of the game of Ohio girls basketball through his publication, Ohio Girls Basketball Report and the promotion of the players of the game through his services.

Collaborating on this year's 2010-2011 Preview & Prognostications  is Bryce McKey, Associate Head Coach at Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown School and Head Coach of Sports City U, ESPN's #8 ranked travel team in the country this past year. Coach McKey is credited in getting HB "over the hump" in winning their 2nd consecutive state championships in 2009 and 2010. A disciple of the legendary coach Perry Reese, Jr., Coach McKey at age 24 has been a member of the OGBR staff for the last 5 years.

PREVIEW VITALS

It seems as though every 6 or 7 years a chapter ends and a new chapter begins in Ohio girls high school basketball.

A new chapter began in '96 as interest in the game of girls/women's basketball was re-ignited by way of the US Olympic team, in Ohio Regina reeled off 4 consecutive state championships and then this chapter culminated with Ohio's record breaking class of 2003 signing 103 NCAA D-I scholarships, solidifying our state as one of the 3 national hotbeds of girls basketball.

The next chapter began in 2004 as Mt. Notre Dame furthered Ohio's position as a national hotbed with their run winning 5 state championships over a 6 year period including 4 in a row and this chapter concluded prior to the beginning of this season with the dismantling of the Mt. Notre Dame program, the closing of the doors at Regina, some schools not even being able to field a team, transfers galore and more coaching changes than you can shake a stick at.

Thank goodness given the ending of the last chapter, this season is time for a new chapter in the book of Ohio girls high school basketball to began. My good friend Eric Frantz here at JJ Huddle / Ohio High Magazine has asked me to write a statewide all-division inclusive preview for this upcoming season...so the following is as Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band once sang "is like working on a mystery without any clues"...here goes...out of 798 high school basketball programs...

PREVIEW SCHEDULE

Nov. 15: Division IV Preview
Nov. 16: Division III Preview
Nov. 17: Division II Preview
Nov. 18: Division I Preview
Nov. 22: Division IV Preseason Power Poll
Nov. 23: Division III Preseason Power Poll
Nov. 24: Division II Preseason Power Poll
Nov. 25: Division I Preseason Power Poll

Division III Previews

D-III Springfield Region (SW & part of Central Ohio)

Favorite(s): Columbus Africentric Lady Nubians

Last year in the JJ Huddle / Ohio High Magazine tournament preview in regards to Coach Will McKinney's Africentric Lady Nubians I stated as follows :

"... I really like the Raven Ferguson (2011) led Africentric Lady Nubians but I think it will take them a year to navigate their way through the D-III waters before getting back to Columbus."

With a year under their cummerbund in Division III and still led by All-State performer and USA National Team U16 try-out invitee Raven Ferguson (Ohio State), the stylish Lady Nubians are the "Queens of 'Madison' Avenue" this year. Joining Ferguson in their stroll to the Schott are seasoned veterans of the runway Brittany Thomas (sr Akron), Kalyn Daniels (sr) and Chelsea Chambers (sr). The House of McKinney furthers its trendsetting fashion in this their 2nd year at the D-III level by the return of a healthy Brein Babbs (sr) who missed all of last year with an illness and Independence transfer Keyonna Black (jr) who under the OHSAA Bylaws had to sit out last year.   

Challenger(s): Middletown Madison Mohawks & Anna Rockets

As long as 1st team All-State(er) and USA U18 National Team member Ally Mallot (Dayton) is on any roster that team is a legit contender. However with the loss of Lindsey Hoskins (Lehigh) to graduation  the Mohawks of Madison have find the answer to the crucial question on which their season will depend...who will provide that "Hoskins" spark to light the competitive fire?...will it be one of the seniors Morgan Miller or Rachel Blevins? or will it be one of the juniors Brittany Shields, Ashley Cox or Abby Jerger?...or could it even be the young warrior, freshman Olivia Philpot? If the Chief Mohawk, Coach John Rossi, finds the answer expect to see a re-match of the best one-on-one match-ups the state has to offer Ferguson vs. Mallot.

Maybe not matching the Lady Nubians in "style points" but  more than capable of matching anyone in this region in "substance" are the Rockets launched out of Anna. Seniors Rebecca Burch and Carrie Watkins solidify the backcourt as one of the best backcourt combinations in this division statewide with sophomore Rachel Billing and senior Megan Fogt providing a solid foundation in the frontcourt. These Rockets are strong, capable and able to challenge The House of McKinney come March.

Outside Looking In: Middletown Bishop Fenwick Falcons & Versailles Tigers

After being interrogated 4 times between December and February (twice by Carroll and twice by Alter) the Falcon(s) and the Snowman (Coach Donn Burrows) will, if they survive, be tested, toughened and have the "secrets" to become a legit challenger in this region. Led by seniors Chelsea Farrell and Melanie Monahan are going to chance one last "run" at the Lady Nubians, the Rockets, the Mohawks and/or Tigers.

Slow learner?...after 13 years associated with the game of Ohio girls high school basketball one thing has finally been learned... if a Daugherty (River View) or a Raterman (Versailles) is associated with any team do not count them out ...it matters not if it is player or coach...if it is a Daugherty (Caroline, Bill, Kristin, Kari and now, Andi) or a Raterman (Jackie, Joe, Julie and Justine) there is always that chance. Coach Jackie (Raterman) Stonebraker is still prowling in front of the Tigers' bench therefore they are not being counted out !!!

D-III Athens Region (Eastern Ohio )

Favorite(s): Oak Hill Oaks

Picked 'em last year and was a bit surprised The Oaks did not return to the Final 4 last year as they returned their entire top 8 rotation from their 08-09 Final 4 run where they got beat in the championship by Regina "by only 15" (63-48) in Regina's perfect 27-0 season.

Pickin' The Mighty Oaks again this year as they still have 5 of their top 8 and 3 starters still on the roster from their 08-09 state runner-up team in now seniors (then sophomores) Mikie Strite and Kelsey Burton with now juniors (then freshmen) Lakin Caudill, Taylor Hale and Breanna Butler.

Challenger(s): Beverly Fort Frye  Cadets

Not since the days of Leslie Knoch (late '90s)  has there been this much excitement down on the river about Fort Frye Lady Cadet Basketball. Why all the excitement over a team that went 18-5 last year and was knocked in the district semis?...well let's begin with the Cadets started 3 freshmen last year (Taylor Buchannon, Deidra Combs and Morgan Liedtke); then this year they return one of their top players back from an ACL (6'1 jr Sammie Hanson); this year's roster has only 1 senior, 2 juniors, 8 sophomores and 3 freshmen; then both last year's JV and 8th grade teams went undefeated, and; on top of that they have a current 8th grader 6'1 Megan Liedtke who may be the best of all Coach Dan Liedtke's girls...so now wouldn't you be excited about Lady Cadet Basketball?..not just for this year but for years to come...Like Reverend Al Green once sang in that rock 'n roll hymnal...'Take Me to the River and Wash Me Down' !!!

Outside Looking In: Sugarcreek Garaway Pirates & Ironton Fighting Tigers

Paint Dry; Frame Advance; Church Pew Nod; Counting Sheep...call it what you will but if you control tempo your team has a chance...Coach Scott Bardall  may be the best in the state at reducing the game down to a "snail's pace" and controlling the tempo as he is closing in on 350 wins over 20 years as a head coach. This has been an effective style in terms of wins for the Garaway Pirates having made 2 Final Four appearances during Coach Bardall's 6 years as head of the girls program. To support the claim of the Pirates' proficiency in slowing and controlling the tempo all one has to do is look at their 4-1 tournament record from a year ago. In the Pirates 4 wins the average score was 32 to 22. In the Pirates' loss to Ironton in the regional semis the score was 31-24...so Garaway still slowed and controlled the tempo. With seniors Sarah Bardall and Andrea Kettlewell along with underclassmen Hallie Slemmer (jr) and Ayana Miska (soph) the swashbucklers are talented enough to make their 3rd Final 4 appearance.  Expect...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...sorry, dosed off.   

The Ironton Fighting Tigers return only 2 starters off their Final Four team of a year ago (6'1 sr Nikki Elswick & 5'8 sr Alex Taylor)...they only return 3 of their top 6 from last year's Final Four team...(jr Rebekkah Potter). The Fighting Tigers do return 11 off their Final Four roster of a year ago. Been there; done that..ain't nothing like knowing what it takes to get to The Schott.

D-III Cuyahoga Falls Region (NE Ohio)

Favorite(s): Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish

I don't believe Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish Basketball was what Aldous Huxley was thinking about when he wrote the futuristic novel "Brave New World" in 1931 yet it was centered around developments combining to cause change...Regina's doors have closed and the door of opportunity for Ursuline to return to Columbus has been unlocked. The only 2 years that Regina has not represented this region in this decade and were actually beaten on the floor, it was at the hands of the Fighting Irish from Youngstown Ursuline. (Note: Regina did lose a 3rd time in this decade - Forfeit last year to Elyria Catholic)

Opening the door for the Fighting Irish are Courtney Powell (a go-to top tier junior); Aurielle  Irzarry(1 of the top 10 point guards in the junior class);  Sydney Beasley (sophomore swing player), and; senior off-guard Ja'niece Whitehead.

The "Golden Dome" may still be on the campus at Notre Dame but with a little sun along with a little luck between now and March, Coach Sean Durkin may have his Golden Dome on the sidelines inside the Schott    

Challenger(s): Orrville Red Riders

Saddle Up !!! With 9 returning from last year's 20-3 varsity roster, Coach of the Year and seasoned sideline veteran (not to mention Marie Alberts' dad) Coach Mark Alberts is anxious to get this season's round-up underway. Leading the way are a pair of 1st team All-Conference performers in the Plybon sisters (senior Hillary & soph Hannah who also was 3rd team All-State as a freshman) along with 6'2 senior Sara Aultz, a 2nd team All-Conference selection. Opponents can expect to be rode hard and hung up wet as these Red Riders from Orrville are looking to hang 'em high in Columbus come March.   

Outside Looking In: Smithville Smithies & Elyria Catholic Panthers  

Jenna Pew, Alex Leister and Tara Schaffer may have graduated but that old  cliché "tradition never graduates" is as applicable as it has ever been in the case of this year's Smithville Smithies. Returning 2 starters in last year's freshman phenom (now a soph) Kylie Frizzell and junior Kelsey Kallenborn, the Smithies show back up this year with 4 of their top 7 and 9 of 12 from their Final 4 roster a year ago. Inside size match-ups are going to be an ongoing problem throughout the year...but as another cliché goes and often quoted by Hubie, "post players get you to the tournament (play-offs), guards advance you"...no matter what the level, no matter what the gender.  

Usually when a club goes 20-5, makes it to the regional finals and graduates 3 senior starters there is usually a bit of a downswing the following year...in the words of ESPN College Gameday's Lee Corso.."not so fast, my friend". These poised Panthers return their 2 leading scorers,  Emily Taylor and Ashley Schuster, who are joined by Myrasia Flowers, Anna McNeely and Tory Rothgery,  replenishing its senior leadership as all 5 are seniors. Add-in underclassmen Brittney McNamara (soph) and the EC Panthers are ready to fight for a place again in the Regina-less wilds of the Cuyahoga Falls Region (NE Ohio).

D-III Lexington Region (NW & part of Central OH)

Favorite(s): Findlay Liberty-Benton Eagles

The Champ is the Champ until someone knocks them off...coming off a perfect season (27-0) culminating in the 22 point thumping Middletown Madison before a crowd of 6,098 last year these Eagles are still soaring high. Why the favorite to repeat?  1st things first...you do not replace the mental and physical toughness nor the talent of an Amanda Hyde (2010 IPFW)...but these Eagles do return 2 starters from that perfect team  in 3 point sharpshooter Caite Craft (jr) and post Ashley Snider (sr) along with 3 of their top 6 (sr. Shanay Gibson)...overall the Eagles return 10 from last year's state championship roster who were 2nd all-time in Ohio girls basketball history for 3 point field goals made and only had 2 teams out of their 27 opponents stay within 9 points or less. Add the fact that head coach, Nate Iriwn, has a 74.5% winning percentage with these Eagles...why wouldn't these Eagles be the pre-season favorite?...gotta beat the Champ to be the Champ !!!

Challenger(s): Defiance Tinora Rams & Ottawa Hills Green Bears

As the only team to give last year’s State Champion, Liberty Benton, a competitive game in the tournament, expect Defiance Tinora to be hungry to get a rematch with the Eagles this year.  Last year's Co-Coach of the Year, Rich Thiel, believes his Anne Steffel-led Rams are on the brink of a special season, having a good balance of experience and talent as they return 6 of 11 from last year's battering arsenal with all 6 being seniors this year. (The Rams finished 22-3 and were rated #9 in last year’s final AP poll).  Being the only team to lose to last year’s eventual State Champion by single digits in the tournament, the Rams of Tinora believe and are extremely motivated...they have a goal, they have  a plan..thus it is not a "wish" ...they are Dodge Tough...oops Ram Tough and pursuing a dream that could ring true in March.

With Liberty Benton coming back to the pack this year coupled with Ottawa Hills returning Conference Co-POY Lauren Abenbdroth (sr), All-Conference selection Caroline Amos (jr) along with Haley Jarecki (jr) and Nancy Rumpf (jr), the Green Bears from Ottawa Hills are a legit challenger as Coach of the Year Sean Mercer looks to avenge the 22 point district loss to the LB Eagles last year.  

Outside Looking In:  Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs, Castalia Margaretta Polar Bears, Fort Recovery Indians, Metamora Evergreen and Richwood North Union Wildcats

Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs: The purple and gold bulldogs from Carroll return 4 seniors in Milligan, Evans, Wagner and Hughes as they look to advance in their district but have to overcome the Wildcats from North Union, this year's district favorite.

Castalia Margaretta Polar Bears: Margaretta lost by just two points last year in the District Final and have 10 players with varsity experience returning.  Coach Tim Tucker hopes his Polar Bears get out of hibernation early this year and continue to play as the weather gets warmer into March.

Fort Recovery Indians:  The Indians of Fort Recovery are as a hard working, fundamental small school program as there is in the state which their success over the years has reflected.  Although the Indians had the #1 seed in their district last year, they were ousted by one point against rival Archbold in the District Semi-Final.  Expect the Indians used that as motivation in this past off-season as they look to get back into the regional and beyond.

Metamora Evergreen Vikings: Returning 1st team All-District player Lauren Langenderfer (jr) makes Coach John Langenderfer's Vikings a legit challenger in Tinora's district this year.

Richwood North Union Wildcats:  Last year’s team went 20-5 as they entered the regional tournament, eventually losing to Collins Western Reserve in the regional semi-final.  The Wildcats are talented and have everyone expecting them to dominate their conference and then, make another run in the regional tournament.  

COMING NEXT WEEK...