The Scribe
11-25-2006, 06:06 PM
Seventh Region
By Charles Taylor
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Two years removed from one of the greatest runs in girls’ basketball history, the Sacred Heart Academy basketball program is looking to start another streak.
The Valkyries won three straight state titles from 2002-04 and are the Seventh Region favorites once again after losing to Mercy in last year’s regional final.
Coach Donna Moir has her entire roster back from last season, including All-Stater Elizabeth Campbell, and she’s added some key newcomers.
But as is usual in the Seventh Region, it won’t be easy.
Manual is also a top-10 team in the state, while Assumption, Mercy and Fern Creek are all top-20 teams and several others could challenge.
Once again, the region is perhaps the state’s toughest from top-to-bottom.
1. SACRED HEART VALKYRIES – Campbell is a 6-foot-2 post player who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds last season and has started for three seasons. She’s the only holdover from the Valkyries’ state title team in ’04.
Campbell is a Division I prospect and is the daughter of former University of Kentucky tight end Jim Campbell, who played in the NFL.
Moir is also expecting a lot from seniors Caroline Klein and Katie Kopple, who can both play multiple positions.
Senior Sarah Askin and juniors Whitney Ising and Kathryn Denbow are solid at the guard position. Freshmen Autumn Miller and Katie Petrino, the daughter of University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino, will contribute.
2. MANUAL LADY CRIMSONS – Coach Stacy Pendleton saw his team win 24 games last season but they lost in the regional semifinals to Sacred Heart.
This season, Pendleton believes his team could be better.
Junior Brittany Wilson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season and is one of the state’s top juniors. She has improved her game outside of the paint.
Seniors Lakesha Perry and Ladajar Baker and junior Danielle Woodmore are other key returning players for the Lady Crimsons, who can go 10 deep.
3. ASSUMPTION ROCKETS – The Rockets probably have the best player in the region in Thia Gholson, but she’s just coming off knee surgery.
The 6-1 Gholson was dunking in AAU games before she hurt her knee last summer and should be close to 100 percent before the first regular-season game. She averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds playing along side Vanderbilt University freshman Amber Norton for the Rockets last season.
Guard Eileen Kennedy has signed with the University of Dayton and is a solid floor general, while juniors Lauren Huter and Carrie Minogue are strong posts.
4. MERCY JAGUARS – Veteran coach Mark Evans won the regional title last season but then lost four starters and several other key reserves.
But still coaches know Evans and his fast-paced program will be among the state’s elite no matter what the talent level is at Mercy.
Shawna Culver averaged six points last season and is the lone senior, while junior Katie Wiedmar is the one lone starter back on the roster.
Junior Hope Thomas is the tallest player in the program at 6-1, while juniors Amy Wimsatt, Paige Kaelin and Lara Protenic are all key figures.
Kelly Cox is another junior but will miss time because of a knee injury.
5. FERN CREEK LADY TIGERS – The Lady Tigers burst onto the scene last season with 15 wins and look to improve on that this season.
Junior Monique Reid averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists a game and is one of the state’s top juniors. She could vie for regional Player of the Year honors.
Junior Sherrice Gaines, who is back after a knee injury, will join Reid as the top players. Tiffany Moses and Angelina Patrick are other top juniors.
6. BALLARD LADY BRUINS – Coach Ken Smith might have the best pure point guard in the region – Tedra Elliott – and one of the areas unknown players – Jade Barber.
The 5-6 Elliott is a three-year starter and averaged 11 points and six assists as a junior. She’s a Division I player who can do just about anything on the court.
The 6-2 Barber is a tall and lanky transfer from Waggener. She sat out last season but is drawing major college interest, including the University of Connecticut.
Seniors Petre Freeman and Diamond Metcalfe and junior Amy Lomax are other players that Smith said he could count on.
7. MOORE LADY MUSTANGS – The Lady Mustangs return all five starters and nine of the top 10 for coach David Meadows. The top player back in the fold is Chiquita Evans, who is starting her fourth straight year and is nearing 1,000 career points.
The one major obstacle is that Evans is the teams tallest player at 5-10.
8. MALE LADY BULLDOGS – One can never count the Lady Bulldogs and veteran coach Leslie Scully out of the picture.
Male is young but there’s plenty of talent and Scully expects a few upsets. Emily Beckman averaged 10 points and seven rebounds as a junior.
9. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY CENTURIONS – Coach Don Rice has reloaded a bit after losing All-Stater Meredith Marsh to graduation.
Junior point guard Brooke Willoughby and sophomore forward Clair Buchanan will lead the way. Freshman Antonia Slaughter is one of the state’s best underclassmen and a transfer from Shelby County.
Top Players
1. Thia Gholson, Assumption, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: She can dunk! But is she 100 percent from knee injury?
2. Elizabeth Campbell, Sacred Heart, 6-2, Sr.
Comment: One of the state’s most consistent seniors.
3. Monique Reid, Fern Creek, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: Could have more ability than any other player in the state.
4. Brittany Wilson, Manual, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: A bear on the boards and scores at will in the paint.
5. Teadra Elliott, Ballard, 5-6, Sr.
Comment: She makes the Lady Bruins go.
6. Caroline Klein, Sacred Heart, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Tallest guard in the region; should score more this season.
7. Chiquita Evans, Moore, 5-10, Sr.
Comment: Has been plagued by injuries during her career.
8. Sherrice Gaines, Fern Creek, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: A true scorer if she’s recovered from knee injury.
9. Eileen Kennedy, Assumption, 5-8, Sr.
Comment: Nothing flashy, but she’s steady handling the rock.
10. Katie Weidmar, Mercy, 5-6, Jr.
Comment: Must step into leadership role for the Jaguars.
By Charles Taylor
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Two years removed from one of the greatest runs in girls’ basketball history, the Sacred Heart Academy basketball program is looking to start another streak.
The Valkyries won three straight state titles from 2002-04 and are the Seventh Region favorites once again after losing to Mercy in last year’s regional final.
Coach Donna Moir has her entire roster back from last season, including All-Stater Elizabeth Campbell, and she’s added some key newcomers.
But as is usual in the Seventh Region, it won’t be easy.
Manual is also a top-10 team in the state, while Assumption, Mercy and Fern Creek are all top-20 teams and several others could challenge.
Once again, the region is perhaps the state’s toughest from top-to-bottom.
1. SACRED HEART VALKYRIES – Campbell is a 6-foot-2 post player who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds last season and has started for three seasons. She’s the only holdover from the Valkyries’ state title team in ’04.
Campbell is a Division I prospect and is the daughter of former University of Kentucky tight end Jim Campbell, who played in the NFL.
Moir is also expecting a lot from seniors Caroline Klein and Katie Kopple, who can both play multiple positions.
Senior Sarah Askin and juniors Whitney Ising and Kathryn Denbow are solid at the guard position. Freshmen Autumn Miller and Katie Petrino, the daughter of University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino, will contribute.
2. MANUAL LADY CRIMSONS – Coach Stacy Pendleton saw his team win 24 games last season but they lost in the regional semifinals to Sacred Heart.
This season, Pendleton believes his team could be better.
Junior Brittany Wilson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season and is one of the state’s top juniors. She has improved her game outside of the paint.
Seniors Lakesha Perry and Ladajar Baker and junior Danielle Woodmore are other key returning players for the Lady Crimsons, who can go 10 deep.
3. ASSUMPTION ROCKETS – The Rockets probably have the best player in the region in Thia Gholson, but she’s just coming off knee surgery.
The 6-1 Gholson was dunking in AAU games before she hurt her knee last summer and should be close to 100 percent before the first regular-season game. She averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds playing along side Vanderbilt University freshman Amber Norton for the Rockets last season.
Guard Eileen Kennedy has signed with the University of Dayton and is a solid floor general, while juniors Lauren Huter and Carrie Minogue are strong posts.
4. MERCY JAGUARS – Veteran coach Mark Evans won the regional title last season but then lost four starters and several other key reserves.
But still coaches know Evans and his fast-paced program will be among the state’s elite no matter what the talent level is at Mercy.
Shawna Culver averaged six points last season and is the lone senior, while junior Katie Wiedmar is the one lone starter back on the roster.
Junior Hope Thomas is the tallest player in the program at 6-1, while juniors Amy Wimsatt, Paige Kaelin and Lara Protenic are all key figures.
Kelly Cox is another junior but will miss time because of a knee injury.
5. FERN CREEK LADY TIGERS – The Lady Tigers burst onto the scene last season with 15 wins and look to improve on that this season.
Junior Monique Reid averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and six assists a game and is one of the state’s top juniors. She could vie for regional Player of the Year honors.
Junior Sherrice Gaines, who is back after a knee injury, will join Reid as the top players. Tiffany Moses and Angelina Patrick are other top juniors.
6. BALLARD LADY BRUINS – Coach Ken Smith might have the best pure point guard in the region – Tedra Elliott – and one of the areas unknown players – Jade Barber.
The 5-6 Elliott is a three-year starter and averaged 11 points and six assists as a junior. She’s a Division I player who can do just about anything on the court.
The 6-2 Barber is a tall and lanky transfer from Waggener. She sat out last season but is drawing major college interest, including the University of Connecticut.
Seniors Petre Freeman and Diamond Metcalfe and junior Amy Lomax are other players that Smith said he could count on.
7. MOORE LADY MUSTANGS – The Lady Mustangs return all five starters and nine of the top 10 for coach David Meadows. The top player back in the fold is Chiquita Evans, who is starting her fourth straight year and is nearing 1,000 career points.
The one major obstacle is that Evans is the teams tallest player at 5-10.
8. MALE LADY BULLDOGS – One can never count the Lady Bulldogs and veteran coach Leslie Scully out of the picture.
Male is young but there’s plenty of talent and Scully expects a few upsets. Emily Beckman averaged 10 points and seven rebounds as a junior.
9. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY CENTURIONS – Coach Don Rice has reloaded a bit after losing All-Stater Meredith Marsh to graduation.
Junior point guard Brooke Willoughby and sophomore forward Clair Buchanan will lead the way. Freshman Antonia Slaughter is one of the state’s best underclassmen and a transfer from Shelby County.
Top Players
1. Thia Gholson, Assumption, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: She can dunk! But is she 100 percent from knee injury?
2. Elizabeth Campbell, Sacred Heart, 6-2, Sr.
Comment: One of the state’s most consistent seniors.
3. Monique Reid, Fern Creek, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: Could have more ability than any other player in the state.
4. Brittany Wilson, Manual, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: A bear on the boards and scores at will in the paint.
5. Teadra Elliott, Ballard, 5-6, Sr.
Comment: She makes the Lady Bruins go.
6. Caroline Klein, Sacred Heart, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Tallest guard in the region; should score more this season.
7. Chiquita Evans, Moore, 5-10, Sr.
Comment: Has been plagued by injuries during her career.
8. Sherrice Gaines, Fern Creek, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: A true scorer if she’s recovered from knee injury.
9. Eileen Kennedy, Assumption, 5-8, Sr.
Comment: Nothing flashy, but she’s steady handling the rock.
10. Katie Weidmar, Mercy, 5-6, Jr.
Comment: Must step into leadership role for the Jaguars.