The Scribe
11-25-2006, 06:03 PM
Second Region
Scott Brown
WKDZ Radio
Henderson County and Christian County have combined to win the last six Region Two titles. Union County (2000) was the last team other than either Lady Colonel squad to hoist the region title trophy.
With four starters back from a 20-11 team that advanced to the region championship, the Bravettes appear ready to dethrone district and region rival Henderson County.
Head coach Scott Ricks has a pair of 13-point scorers returning in 5-11 senior Ashley Word (13 ppg., 10 rpg.) and 5-9 senior Clarissa Houston (13 ppg., 5 rpg.).
Senior point guard Kayla Rose (9 ppg., 4.1 apg.) also returns for Union County, who is the only Second Region school to ever win a state title (1996).
“The seniors should do well. I have six of them and all will get playing time,” said Ricks, who will intertwine a talented freshman class into the mix.
Union County has beefed up their schedule some as well, playing in tournaments in Indiana and Owensboro as well as hosting Region One power Marshall County (Jan. 19), Region Three contender Muhlenberg North (Jan. 22), and playing Region Four favorite Franklin-Simpson (Feb. 10).
“We just have to stay focused every game on what we want to do,” Ricks said.
Union County will get two looks at their top competition – district rival Henderson County – during the year.
The Lady Colonels (19-11) lost to Union County in the Sixth District title game but rebounded to beat them 58-51 for their second consecutive region title.
Head coach Jeff Haile enters his 21st season on the Henderson bench having to replace three starters, including leading scorer Sierra Gilbert.
Junior guard Rinesha Soaper (15.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg.) led the Lady Colonels in steals and will be one of the centerpieces of Haile’s up-tempo offense.
5-10 junior Whitney Bingemer returns in the frontcourt after averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Six-foot sophomore Alyse Poindexter, the team’s second-leading rebounder, should be ready to move into the starter’s role after scoring nearly four points a game last year.
3. Christian County (25-4) saw their run to Bowling Green end with a first-round loss to Henderson County in the region tournament.
Head coach Donnie Dillard isn’t used to facing this many questions to start a season.
Gone is Miss Basketball Arnika Brown, and several new faces dot the Lady Colonels’ roster.
Junior point guard Shana McCombs (8.8 ppg., 4.7 apg.) and sophomore Denisha Mumford (11.4 ppg.) give Dillard a strong start in the backcourt, while 6-1 junior Rikiah Gatlin will try and pick up some of the inside scoring slack from the departed Miss Basketball.
One thing is for sure. Dillard will find enough players to field a team compatible with his up-tempo, pressing style.
4. Lyon County (22-8) won their first Fifth District title since 1989 and won a game in the region tourney for the first time since 1985.
Head coach Malissa Thomas has four starters and much of her bench returning as they look to become the first Fifth District team to win the region title since Caldwell County in 1993.
6-1 senior Allison Mussato is one of the region’s best inside players after scoring 16 points and hauling down seven rebounds as a junior.
She’s joined on the frontline by 5-10 junior Abby McLeod (6 ppg., 6 rpg.), who’s hoping a solid summer translates into an improved winter.
In the backcourt, the Lady Lyons return 5-6 senior Olivia Akridge, who scored eight points and dished out 7.3 assists last year.
Junior Hayley Parrent gives the Lady Lyons a guard who can penetrate the lane or hit the outside shot.
“Our team should be much more seasoned and poised than last year. We have experienced some success, so our confidence level should be increased,” Thomas said. “I also expect to see improvements in consistency and leadership. We can be successful against the larger schools if we can play with confidence and without fear. We will also have to take care of the basketball and improve on the defensive end in order to meet our team goals.”
5. Hopkins County Central (12-19) returns junior Kari Jo Harris (18 ppg., 8 rpg.) and sophomore guard Julia Wooten (7 ppg., 2 apg.) from last year’s team that won their fifth straight district title.
“We graduated three seniors from last year’s team, and two of them had been three-year starters,” said head coach Kent Akin. “We will be very young, but we’re going to be a deeper team and can play more pressure defense than in the past.”
6. Madisonville (10-16) is expecting to make a run at the Seventh District title under second-year head coach Marty Cline, who took the University Heights boys’ team to the Sweet 16 two years ago.
Tierra Jackson and Heidi Clayton highlight a talented freshman class along with junior Rachel Oakley.
The rest of the region is in a rebuilding mode (Webster County, Hopkinsville, Crittenden County) although some up-and-comers include Dawson Springs and Caldwell County.
Top Players
1. Rinesha Soaper – Henderson County – Quick guard ready to lead the Lady Colonel offense
2. Ashley Word – Union County – The top inside player in the region
3. Kari Jo Harris – Hopkins County Central – Tough as nails players who can beat you a variety of ways
4. Clarissa Houston – Union County – May be the most underrated player in the region
5. Allison Mussato – Lyon County – Runs the floor well and tough to keep off the boards
6. Shana McCombs – Christian County – Lightning fast guard who will be called upon to shoulder more of the offensive burden this year
7. Alyse Poindexter – Henderson County – May prove to be the region’s most improved player at season’s end
8. Chelsea Mills – Dawson Springs – Always finds a way to get to the basket and score or rebound
9. Olivia Akridge – Lyon County – A one-person press-breaker who has a knack for finding the open player
10. Melly Heaton – Caldwell County – Solid inside-outside player who can slash to the basket
Scott Brown
WKDZ Radio
Henderson County and Christian County have combined to win the last six Region Two titles. Union County (2000) was the last team other than either Lady Colonel squad to hoist the region title trophy.
With four starters back from a 20-11 team that advanced to the region championship, the Bravettes appear ready to dethrone district and region rival Henderson County.
Head coach Scott Ricks has a pair of 13-point scorers returning in 5-11 senior Ashley Word (13 ppg., 10 rpg.) and 5-9 senior Clarissa Houston (13 ppg., 5 rpg.).
Senior point guard Kayla Rose (9 ppg., 4.1 apg.) also returns for Union County, who is the only Second Region school to ever win a state title (1996).
“The seniors should do well. I have six of them and all will get playing time,” said Ricks, who will intertwine a talented freshman class into the mix.
Union County has beefed up their schedule some as well, playing in tournaments in Indiana and Owensboro as well as hosting Region One power Marshall County (Jan. 19), Region Three contender Muhlenberg North (Jan. 22), and playing Region Four favorite Franklin-Simpson (Feb. 10).
“We just have to stay focused every game on what we want to do,” Ricks said.
Union County will get two looks at their top competition – district rival Henderson County – during the year.
The Lady Colonels (19-11) lost to Union County in the Sixth District title game but rebounded to beat them 58-51 for their second consecutive region title.
Head coach Jeff Haile enters his 21st season on the Henderson bench having to replace three starters, including leading scorer Sierra Gilbert.
Junior guard Rinesha Soaper (15.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg.) led the Lady Colonels in steals and will be one of the centerpieces of Haile’s up-tempo offense.
5-10 junior Whitney Bingemer returns in the frontcourt after averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Six-foot sophomore Alyse Poindexter, the team’s second-leading rebounder, should be ready to move into the starter’s role after scoring nearly four points a game last year.
3. Christian County (25-4) saw their run to Bowling Green end with a first-round loss to Henderson County in the region tournament.
Head coach Donnie Dillard isn’t used to facing this many questions to start a season.
Gone is Miss Basketball Arnika Brown, and several new faces dot the Lady Colonels’ roster.
Junior point guard Shana McCombs (8.8 ppg., 4.7 apg.) and sophomore Denisha Mumford (11.4 ppg.) give Dillard a strong start in the backcourt, while 6-1 junior Rikiah Gatlin will try and pick up some of the inside scoring slack from the departed Miss Basketball.
One thing is for sure. Dillard will find enough players to field a team compatible with his up-tempo, pressing style.
4. Lyon County (22-8) won their first Fifth District title since 1989 and won a game in the region tourney for the first time since 1985.
Head coach Malissa Thomas has four starters and much of her bench returning as they look to become the first Fifth District team to win the region title since Caldwell County in 1993.
6-1 senior Allison Mussato is one of the region’s best inside players after scoring 16 points and hauling down seven rebounds as a junior.
She’s joined on the frontline by 5-10 junior Abby McLeod (6 ppg., 6 rpg.), who’s hoping a solid summer translates into an improved winter.
In the backcourt, the Lady Lyons return 5-6 senior Olivia Akridge, who scored eight points and dished out 7.3 assists last year.
Junior Hayley Parrent gives the Lady Lyons a guard who can penetrate the lane or hit the outside shot.
“Our team should be much more seasoned and poised than last year. We have experienced some success, so our confidence level should be increased,” Thomas said. “I also expect to see improvements in consistency and leadership. We can be successful against the larger schools if we can play with confidence and without fear. We will also have to take care of the basketball and improve on the defensive end in order to meet our team goals.”
5. Hopkins County Central (12-19) returns junior Kari Jo Harris (18 ppg., 8 rpg.) and sophomore guard Julia Wooten (7 ppg., 2 apg.) from last year’s team that won their fifth straight district title.
“We graduated three seniors from last year’s team, and two of them had been three-year starters,” said head coach Kent Akin. “We will be very young, but we’re going to be a deeper team and can play more pressure defense than in the past.”
6. Madisonville (10-16) is expecting to make a run at the Seventh District title under second-year head coach Marty Cline, who took the University Heights boys’ team to the Sweet 16 two years ago.
Tierra Jackson and Heidi Clayton highlight a talented freshman class along with junior Rachel Oakley.
The rest of the region is in a rebuilding mode (Webster County, Hopkinsville, Crittenden County) although some up-and-comers include Dawson Springs and Caldwell County.
Top Players
1. Rinesha Soaper – Henderson County – Quick guard ready to lead the Lady Colonel offense
2. Ashley Word – Union County – The top inside player in the region
3. Kari Jo Harris – Hopkins County Central – Tough as nails players who can beat you a variety of ways
4. Clarissa Houston – Union County – May be the most underrated player in the region
5. Allison Mussato – Lyon County – Runs the floor well and tough to keep off the boards
6. Shana McCombs – Christian County – Lightning fast guard who will be called upon to shoulder more of the offensive burden this year
7. Alyse Poindexter – Henderson County – May prove to be the region’s most improved player at season’s end
8. Chelsea Mills – Dawson Springs – Always finds a way to get to the basket and score or rebound
9. Olivia Akridge – Lyon County – A one-person press-breaker who has a knack for finding the open player
10. Melly Heaton – Caldwell County – Solid inside-outside player who can slash to the basket