The Scribe
11-26-2007, 05:08 PM
BGP 11th Region Girls' Preview
BY RON HARRISON
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
The 11th Region should be extremely competitive this season with several challengers poised to challenge defending region and state champion Lexington Christian Academy for their crown.
The region consists of 17 teams divided into four districts (41st, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th). The 41st District consists of Frankfort, Franklin County, Western Hills, and Woodford County. The 42nd District consists of Bryan Station, Henry Clay, Sayre, and Scott County. The 43rd District consists of Lafayette, Lexington Catholic, Lexington Christian Academy, Paul L. Dunbar, and Tates Creek. The 44th District consists of Berea, Madison Central, Madison Southern, and Model.
The information included in this preview comes from coaches as well as personal observations from last season and over the summer.
1. Lexington Christian Academy (34-3): The Lady Eagles had a magical season last year as they won the All “A” Classic and the state championship. LCA graduated a key component to their team in Emily London who averaged 19.4 ppg.
Coach Jason Seamands returns four starters and a lot of talent to defend their crown. 5-9 Jr. Anna Martin averaged 14.8 ppg has the ability to get to the basket as well as score off her long-range jump shot. 5-9 Jr. Courtney Clifton (13 ppg) handles the ball well and scores from anywhere on the floor.
6-0 Jr. Clara Mitchell (9.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) rebounds, defends, and is hard to handle in the paint. 6-1 So. Sarah Beth Barnette (8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) scores come from mid-range to long-range jump shot, excellent potential. 5-7 Sr. guard Hilary Thornton is another key returnee.
Top newcomers include 5-11 Fr. forward Kelli Rhinehart and 5-6 Fr. guard Rachel Cox. The Lady Eagles will fact tough competition in the 11th Region this season but they have the talent and experience to repeat.
2. Paul L. Dunbar (20-7): Coach Michael Sowers’ Lady Bulldogs went 22-0 this summer, won the State High School AAU Championship, and have the talent returning to not only challenge for the regional crown but for state honors as well.
Dunbar has size, talent, athleticism, and the ability to score. They have a very talented senior class including 5-7 guard Cameron Howard, 5-5 guard Megan LaRue, 5-7 guard Chelsey Johnson, 5-7 guard Pilar Walker, and 6-1 center Chantelle Pressley. 6-0 So. forward Ebony Rowe is an athletic frontliner with excellent skills.
Other players expected to contribute include 5-2 Jr. Lauren Mitchell, 5-3 Jr. Ashley Lucas, 5-3 Jr. Erin Lucas, 5-4 So. Kristi McIntosh, 5-8 So. Courtney Haney, 6-2 Fr. Shomari Kendrick, and 5-4 Fr. Christin Haney.
3. Lexington Catholic (30-4): Coach Jeff Hans’ Lady Knights graduated two talented players but return an excellent nucleus capable of capturing the crown. 5-11 Sr. guard Natalie Novosel is a leading candidate for Miss Basketball and has committed to Notre Dame. Novosel averaged 17.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and recorded 126 steals and 104 assists.
5-9 Sr. Briana Green averaged 12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and added 187 assists and 98 steals. 5-9 Jr. Maggie Wilson averaged 10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 91 assists.
Other players expected to be key contributors are 5-11 Jr. Shaneque McGhee, 5-9 Jr. Danielle Corbett, 5-11 Sr. Meagan Donnelly, 6-0 Sr. Lauren Conrad, and 5-8 So. Anna Gayle Scott. Conrad missed last year with an injury and is expected to provide help in the paint this season. Novosel gives the Lady Knights a weapon that is virtually unstoppable when she takes the ball to the basket.
4. Henry Clay (18-12): Coach Scott Cromwell’s Lady Blue Devils have the size and returning talent to be a contender again this season. 6-2 Sr. Gwen Rucker (13.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) has committed to Louisville and is a force in the paint at both ends of the court.
5-11 Jr. Brittany Coles (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg) has the ability to record a double-double (scoring and rebounding) every night. Other key performers include 5-6 Sr. Raven Price (9.5 ppg), 5-5 Sr. Demetria Nichols (6.7 ppg), and 5-6 Sr. Hanna Blankenship (6.3 ppg). 6-2 Jr. Annalee Abell is also a talented inside player.
Henry Clay returns seven of their top nine players.
5. Lafayette (18-9): Coach Allison Tate Denton’s Lady Generals have the talent and experience to make a lot of noise in the 11th Region race this season. 6-3 Sr. center Que’ Christian is a defensive presence in the paint. 6-0 Sr. Katie Aldrich has good post moves and is an excellent rebounder.
5-9 Sr. Corin Dunn is a great leader and a good rebounder. 5-10 Sr. Kennae Demus is very athletic, rebounds well, and has the ability to create her shot. 5-5 Jr. Maya Hanatini has rapidly improved and is a good defender.
5-7 So. Lisa Hack has an excellent three point shot. 5-6 So. Ali Ross works extremely hard and has a great shooting form. 6-0 Jr. Jessica Walker and 6-0 So. Morgan Walker add size, and 5-5 Jr. Amber Gamboa and 5-2 So. Jameka Gillespie add depth.
Coach Denton has several freshmen and eighth graders waiting in the wings.
6. Scott County (25-4): Coach Steve Helton’s Lady Cardinals graduated five seniors including Miss Basketball Rebecca Gray and Holly Milburn.
Scott County has good talent, albeit some of it young. The Lady Cardinals will rapidly improve throughout the year and the young players will be expected to “grow up” during the season. 5-4 Sr. guard Kayla Moses (15 ppg) is a strong, athletic guard who can shoot the three pointer.
5-10 So. guard Madisen Webb (10 ppg, 6 rpg) is a very strong physical player who can play all five positions. Other key returning members: 5-9 Fr. guard Kristen Stainback has downtown range on her jump shot. 5-8 Fr. forward Alex McKenzie is strong and athletic. 5-9 Fr. forward Tanner Tevis is the best overall athlete on the team. 5-9 So. guard Sachi Howard and 5-9 Sr. guard Jessica Wilson can shoot the ball.
5-9 Sr. guard Regan Grimes is a very aggressive physical guard. 6-0 Jr. forward Krissie Giles is strong and athletic and provides needed height.
7. Franklin County (22-10): Coach Joey Thacker’s rapidly improving Lady Flyers return a lot of talent to challenge the always tough 11th Region.
5-6 Sr. guard Kathryn Clark led the team in scoring with an 11 ppg average. 5-6 Sr. guard Meagan Downs is a three year starter who averaged 8 ppg last season. 5-8 Jr. forward Shelby O’Nan is back from an ACL injury that sidelined her last year. 5-3 Jr. point guard Ashley Decker averaged 7 ppg last season.
Other players expected to contribute include 6-0 Sr. center Kehla Baker, 5-8 Jr. Finnja Ramcke, and 5-10 So. Chelsea Craig. The Lady Flyers also have some very impressive underclassmen including 5-9 Fr. Emily Hampton, 5-10 Fr. Chelsea Rivers, 5-7 Fr. Lacinda Hack, and 5-9 8th grader Ashli Mayes.
The Lady Flyers also have other players including 5-7 Jr. Madelyn Brown and 5-7 So. Andrea Howard capable of logging quality minutes.
8. Madison Central (18-11): Coach Guy Gandolfo’s Lady Indians only graduated one senior and return a lot of talent from last year’s squad. 5-4 Sr. Mia Adams, 5-6 Jr. Lyndsay Jones, and 5-7 Jr. Markita Wilson will compete for playing time.
The Lady Indians have a talented group of sophomores returning in 5-6 Christina Ciolek, 5-6 Briana Johnson, 5-11 Kaity Busch, 5-5 Iesha Farris, and 5-10 Brislyn Sizemore.
Madison Central had a good season last year with a very young team and further improvement will depend on continued development of the sophomore class.
9. Woodford County (15-15): Veteran coach Jay Lucas’ Lady Yellowjackets finished 15-15 last season and return three starters. The three are 6-2 Sr. Kelsey Swan, 5-7 Jr. Ariana McWilliams, and 5-7 Jr. Nicole Carter.
The coaching staff expects big things from their incoming freshman class including 5-6 Taylor Kelly and 5-9 Alyssa Lucas. The Woodford County program has won 56 straight district games spanning seven years and has won seven straight 41st District Championships.
The Lady Yellowjackets will continue to press, shoot threes, and play an uptempo style of basketball.
10. Madison Southern (14-14): Coach Brian Cunigan’s Lady Eagles captured the 44th District Championship last season, the first in school history. The key returnees for Madison Southern are Nikki Jeck, Alicia Sizemore, and Brittany Calhoun. 5-4 Sr. Nikki Jeck averaged 16.4 ppg and 7.2 assists per game. Jeck already holds the school record for assists and will be the points leader sometime in mid-season this year.
5-4 Sr. guard Alicia Sizemore averaged 7.7 ppg and 5-8 Jr. forward Brittany Calhoun averaged 5.6 ppg.
11. Bryan Station (7-23): Coach Karra Jackson takes over as coach of the Lady Defenders and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the job. Coach Jackson has one senior returning and a group of underclassmen expected to contribute.
Several players are expected to log quality minutes including 5-10 Sr. Ciera Jackson, 5-6 Jr. India Burdette, 5-9 So. Nealy Williams, 5-8 So. Mikayla Mosby, 5-10 So. Alesha Prince, 5-4 So. Whitney Blackwell, and 5-2 Fr. Carrington Caise.
The Lady Defenders have other players expected to contribute. Coach Jackson realizes she is in a rebuilding situation but believes the talent is there to get it done.
12. Berea (17-14): Coach Jerry Bingham’s Lady Pirates start the season with the loss of a key player. 5-11 Jr. Elizabeth Horn has had two knee surgeries since April and will be out for the season. Horn has led Berea in scoring and rebounding the last three seasons and has 1290 career points and 1031 career rebounds.
Returning starters include 5-11 Sr. forward Chelsea Atwater (11.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg), 5-8 Jr. point guard Brittany Harris (10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), and 5-9 So. guard Brooke Hazelwood (5.1 ppg). The other expected starters are 5-10 Jr. forward Chelsea Saylor and 5-9 Jr. guard Haley Webb (6.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg).
Other players working for playing time include 5-11 8th grader Sophia Shearer, 5-6 Fr. guard Rachel Wilder, and 5-8 8th grader Taylor Winstead. The Lady Pirates will play a good half court defense, have a core group with experience, but will have to depend on a young group of players to provide depth. Berea must depend on a group effort to replace Horn’s points and rebounds.
13. Tates Creek (7-22): Coach Justin Cheatham’s Lady Commodores return the majority of their varsity experience from last season’s team.
Tates Creek has only one senior this season, 5-6 Marquis Axtell, who has the ability to score both inside and out. 5-5 Jr. Kyleigh Kreyenbuhl is a hard working guard. Coach Cheatham is excited about the potential of two athletic sophs, 5-8 Lizza Jonas, and 5-11 Jasmine Franklin.
Tates Creek had a good summer and is expected to be improved this season.
14. Sayre (17-8): Coach Scott Sutton’s Lady Spartans will be inexperienced this year as they graduated three seniors who had started for four years.
6-3 Sr. center Samantha Bowie will be the only senior on the squad. Bowie, the daughter of former UK player Sam Bowie, averaged 11 ppg, 7 rpg, and blocked 90 shots last season. 5-7 So. Anne MacNeil is the other returning starter. MacNeil is very athletic and plays excellent defense.
5-6 Jr. Karly Mitchell can shoot the mid-range shot and 5-6 Jr. Charlotte Cornett is a good defender. 5-7 So. Channel Minnifield is very athletic and is expected to contribute. The Lady Spartans graduated a lot of offense and must find other scoring options this season.
15. Western Hills (8-19): Coach Kevin Radford’s Lady Wolverines graduated a lot of size in 6-0 inside players Jessica Frye and Alyson Williams. However, Coach Radford has a lot of players returning who gained a lot of experience.
5-6 Sr. April Lancaster and 5-7 Jr. Tara Arnold are returning guards who should provide scoring punch. 5-9 Meagan Walker, 5-6 Jr. Kayla Mills, and 5-5 Jr. Kayla Smith also logged quality minutes. Although it will be difficult to replace their two post players (Frye and Williams), they have some solid players returning and several young players gained valuable experience last season.
16. Model (3-22): Coach Steven Minter’s Lady Patriots graduated Kathryn Engle and Lauren Heath but several underclassmen gained valuable experience last season.
5-8 seniors Kristina Ritter and Chelsey Weaver will provide needed experience for a young team. Coach Minter has a talented group of sophs including 5-7 guard Shelby McNeely, 5-6 guard Shelby Schneid, 5-7 guard Olivia Pennington, 5-7 guard Emily Lowe, and 5-9 center Deanna Johnson.
Coach Minter is impressed with the work ethic displayed in practice and believes the Lady Patriots have the talent and scoring potential to be improved this season
17. Frankfort (0-25): Coach Candi Roten graduated three seniors 5-9 Ashleigh Boone, 5-7 Danielle Butler, and 5-6 Najee Brown.
The Lady Panthers will be young this season but should be bolstered by the return of 6-2 Sr. Dana Green, who missed several games last season with a knee injury. Several sophs should help this season including 5-5 point guard Shanice Brown, 5-8 Tessa Barnes, 5-8 Laken Reed, and 5-7 Mattie Hutcherson.
Coach Roten is impressed with the work ethic of her young players and expects to surprise some people this season.
11th Region Players to Watch
1. Natalie Novosel (Lexington Catholic) 5-11 Sr. multi-talented performer
2. Gwen Rucker (Henry Clay) 6-2 Sr. force on both ends of the court
3. Anna Martin (Lexington Christian Academy) 5-9 Jr. versatile scorer
4. Chantelle Pressley (Paul Dunbar) 6-1 Sr. athletic insider
5. Kayla Moses (Scott County) 5-4 Sr. high energy performer
6. Courtney Clifton (Lexington Christian Academy) 5-9 Jr. scorer
7. Briana Green (Lexington Catholic) 5-9 Sr. smooth performer
8. Pilar Walker (Paul Dunbar) 5-7 Sr. athletic scorer
9. Clara Mitchell (Lexington Christian Academy) 6-0 Jr. strong in paint
10a. Madisen Webb (Scott County) 5-10 So. strong, versatile
10b. Nikki Jeck (Madison Southern) 5-4 Sr. understands PG position
Observations
The majority of the coaches in the 11th Region responded to my request for information, and the consensus was as usual that the region should be very competitive this season. I believe that four teams in the region could be ranked in the top 10-15 teams in the state. Lexington Christian Academy won the region and state championship last season and will be very good again this season. However, there are contenders capable of dethroning them in the region.
It was extremely difficult to rank the teams. Several teams have talented squads, and, as usual, the champion will probably be the one who achieves team chemistry, remains injury free, and peaks down the stretch. It is also interesting to watch teams in the rebuilding process and observe their improvement over the season.
It was even more difficult to submit a list of the top players. Other players that have to be considered include Chelsey Johnson and Ebony Rowe (Paul Dunbar), Brittany Coles and Raven Price (Henry Clay), Sarah Beth Barnette (Lexington Christian Academy), Katie Aldrich and Que’ Christian (Lafayette), Samantha Bowie (Sayre) and Kathryn Clark (Franklin County).
Titles and won/lost records are decided on the basketball courts and not in previews. This year is another season and there are contenders who could peak at the right time and make the trip to Bowling Green. Whoever captures the 11th Region crown will also probably be one of the strong favorites for the state title.
BY RON HARRISON
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
The 11th Region should be extremely competitive this season with several challengers poised to challenge defending region and state champion Lexington Christian Academy for their crown.
The region consists of 17 teams divided into four districts (41st, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th). The 41st District consists of Frankfort, Franklin County, Western Hills, and Woodford County. The 42nd District consists of Bryan Station, Henry Clay, Sayre, and Scott County. The 43rd District consists of Lafayette, Lexington Catholic, Lexington Christian Academy, Paul L. Dunbar, and Tates Creek. The 44th District consists of Berea, Madison Central, Madison Southern, and Model.
The information included in this preview comes from coaches as well as personal observations from last season and over the summer.
1. Lexington Christian Academy (34-3): The Lady Eagles had a magical season last year as they won the All “A” Classic and the state championship. LCA graduated a key component to their team in Emily London who averaged 19.4 ppg.
Coach Jason Seamands returns four starters and a lot of talent to defend their crown. 5-9 Jr. Anna Martin averaged 14.8 ppg has the ability to get to the basket as well as score off her long-range jump shot. 5-9 Jr. Courtney Clifton (13 ppg) handles the ball well and scores from anywhere on the floor.
6-0 Jr. Clara Mitchell (9.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) rebounds, defends, and is hard to handle in the paint. 6-1 So. Sarah Beth Barnette (8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) scores come from mid-range to long-range jump shot, excellent potential. 5-7 Sr. guard Hilary Thornton is another key returnee.
Top newcomers include 5-11 Fr. forward Kelli Rhinehart and 5-6 Fr. guard Rachel Cox. The Lady Eagles will fact tough competition in the 11th Region this season but they have the talent and experience to repeat.
2. Paul L. Dunbar (20-7): Coach Michael Sowers’ Lady Bulldogs went 22-0 this summer, won the State High School AAU Championship, and have the talent returning to not only challenge for the regional crown but for state honors as well.
Dunbar has size, talent, athleticism, and the ability to score. They have a very talented senior class including 5-7 guard Cameron Howard, 5-5 guard Megan LaRue, 5-7 guard Chelsey Johnson, 5-7 guard Pilar Walker, and 6-1 center Chantelle Pressley. 6-0 So. forward Ebony Rowe is an athletic frontliner with excellent skills.
Other players expected to contribute include 5-2 Jr. Lauren Mitchell, 5-3 Jr. Ashley Lucas, 5-3 Jr. Erin Lucas, 5-4 So. Kristi McIntosh, 5-8 So. Courtney Haney, 6-2 Fr. Shomari Kendrick, and 5-4 Fr. Christin Haney.
3. Lexington Catholic (30-4): Coach Jeff Hans’ Lady Knights graduated two talented players but return an excellent nucleus capable of capturing the crown. 5-11 Sr. guard Natalie Novosel is a leading candidate for Miss Basketball and has committed to Notre Dame. Novosel averaged 17.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and recorded 126 steals and 104 assists.
5-9 Sr. Briana Green averaged 12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and added 187 assists and 98 steals. 5-9 Jr. Maggie Wilson averaged 10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 91 assists.
Other players expected to be key contributors are 5-11 Jr. Shaneque McGhee, 5-9 Jr. Danielle Corbett, 5-11 Sr. Meagan Donnelly, 6-0 Sr. Lauren Conrad, and 5-8 So. Anna Gayle Scott. Conrad missed last year with an injury and is expected to provide help in the paint this season. Novosel gives the Lady Knights a weapon that is virtually unstoppable when she takes the ball to the basket.
4. Henry Clay (18-12): Coach Scott Cromwell’s Lady Blue Devils have the size and returning talent to be a contender again this season. 6-2 Sr. Gwen Rucker (13.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) has committed to Louisville and is a force in the paint at both ends of the court.
5-11 Jr. Brittany Coles (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg) has the ability to record a double-double (scoring and rebounding) every night. Other key performers include 5-6 Sr. Raven Price (9.5 ppg), 5-5 Sr. Demetria Nichols (6.7 ppg), and 5-6 Sr. Hanna Blankenship (6.3 ppg). 6-2 Jr. Annalee Abell is also a talented inside player.
Henry Clay returns seven of their top nine players.
5. Lafayette (18-9): Coach Allison Tate Denton’s Lady Generals have the talent and experience to make a lot of noise in the 11th Region race this season. 6-3 Sr. center Que’ Christian is a defensive presence in the paint. 6-0 Sr. Katie Aldrich has good post moves and is an excellent rebounder.
5-9 Sr. Corin Dunn is a great leader and a good rebounder. 5-10 Sr. Kennae Demus is very athletic, rebounds well, and has the ability to create her shot. 5-5 Jr. Maya Hanatini has rapidly improved and is a good defender.
5-7 So. Lisa Hack has an excellent three point shot. 5-6 So. Ali Ross works extremely hard and has a great shooting form. 6-0 Jr. Jessica Walker and 6-0 So. Morgan Walker add size, and 5-5 Jr. Amber Gamboa and 5-2 So. Jameka Gillespie add depth.
Coach Denton has several freshmen and eighth graders waiting in the wings.
6. Scott County (25-4): Coach Steve Helton’s Lady Cardinals graduated five seniors including Miss Basketball Rebecca Gray and Holly Milburn.
Scott County has good talent, albeit some of it young. The Lady Cardinals will rapidly improve throughout the year and the young players will be expected to “grow up” during the season. 5-4 Sr. guard Kayla Moses (15 ppg) is a strong, athletic guard who can shoot the three pointer.
5-10 So. guard Madisen Webb (10 ppg, 6 rpg) is a very strong physical player who can play all five positions. Other key returning members: 5-9 Fr. guard Kristen Stainback has downtown range on her jump shot. 5-8 Fr. forward Alex McKenzie is strong and athletic. 5-9 Fr. forward Tanner Tevis is the best overall athlete on the team. 5-9 So. guard Sachi Howard and 5-9 Sr. guard Jessica Wilson can shoot the ball.
5-9 Sr. guard Regan Grimes is a very aggressive physical guard. 6-0 Jr. forward Krissie Giles is strong and athletic and provides needed height.
7. Franklin County (22-10): Coach Joey Thacker’s rapidly improving Lady Flyers return a lot of talent to challenge the always tough 11th Region.
5-6 Sr. guard Kathryn Clark led the team in scoring with an 11 ppg average. 5-6 Sr. guard Meagan Downs is a three year starter who averaged 8 ppg last season. 5-8 Jr. forward Shelby O’Nan is back from an ACL injury that sidelined her last year. 5-3 Jr. point guard Ashley Decker averaged 7 ppg last season.
Other players expected to contribute include 6-0 Sr. center Kehla Baker, 5-8 Jr. Finnja Ramcke, and 5-10 So. Chelsea Craig. The Lady Flyers also have some very impressive underclassmen including 5-9 Fr. Emily Hampton, 5-10 Fr. Chelsea Rivers, 5-7 Fr. Lacinda Hack, and 5-9 8th grader Ashli Mayes.
The Lady Flyers also have other players including 5-7 Jr. Madelyn Brown and 5-7 So. Andrea Howard capable of logging quality minutes.
8. Madison Central (18-11): Coach Guy Gandolfo’s Lady Indians only graduated one senior and return a lot of talent from last year’s squad. 5-4 Sr. Mia Adams, 5-6 Jr. Lyndsay Jones, and 5-7 Jr. Markita Wilson will compete for playing time.
The Lady Indians have a talented group of sophomores returning in 5-6 Christina Ciolek, 5-6 Briana Johnson, 5-11 Kaity Busch, 5-5 Iesha Farris, and 5-10 Brislyn Sizemore.
Madison Central had a good season last year with a very young team and further improvement will depend on continued development of the sophomore class.
9. Woodford County (15-15): Veteran coach Jay Lucas’ Lady Yellowjackets finished 15-15 last season and return three starters. The three are 6-2 Sr. Kelsey Swan, 5-7 Jr. Ariana McWilliams, and 5-7 Jr. Nicole Carter.
The coaching staff expects big things from their incoming freshman class including 5-6 Taylor Kelly and 5-9 Alyssa Lucas. The Woodford County program has won 56 straight district games spanning seven years and has won seven straight 41st District Championships.
The Lady Yellowjackets will continue to press, shoot threes, and play an uptempo style of basketball.
10. Madison Southern (14-14): Coach Brian Cunigan’s Lady Eagles captured the 44th District Championship last season, the first in school history. The key returnees for Madison Southern are Nikki Jeck, Alicia Sizemore, and Brittany Calhoun. 5-4 Sr. Nikki Jeck averaged 16.4 ppg and 7.2 assists per game. Jeck already holds the school record for assists and will be the points leader sometime in mid-season this year.
5-4 Sr. guard Alicia Sizemore averaged 7.7 ppg and 5-8 Jr. forward Brittany Calhoun averaged 5.6 ppg.
11. Bryan Station (7-23): Coach Karra Jackson takes over as coach of the Lady Defenders and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the job. Coach Jackson has one senior returning and a group of underclassmen expected to contribute.
Several players are expected to log quality minutes including 5-10 Sr. Ciera Jackson, 5-6 Jr. India Burdette, 5-9 So. Nealy Williams, 5-8 So. Mikayla Mosby, 5-10 So. Alesha Prince, 5-4 So. Whitney Blackwell, and 5-2 Fr. Carrington Caise.
The Lady Defenders have other players expected to contribute. Coach Jackson realizes she is in a rebuilding situation but believes the talent is there to get it done.
12. Berea (17-14): Coach Jerry Bingham’s Lady Pirates start the season with the loss of a key player. 5-11 Jr. Elizabeth Horn has had two knee surgeries since April and will be out for the season. Horn has led Berea in scoring and rebounding the last three seasons and has 1290 career points and 1031 career rebounds.
Returning starters include 5-11 Sr. forward Chelsea Atwater (11.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg), 5-8 Jr. point guard Brittany Harris (10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), and 5-9 So. guard Brooke Hazelwood (5.1 ppg). The other expected starters are 5-10 Jr. forward Chelsea Saylor and 5-9 Jr. guard Haley Webb (6.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg).
Other players working for playing time include 5-11 8th grader Sophia Shearer, 5-6 Fr. guard Rachel Wilder, and 5-8 8th grader Taylor Winstead. The Lady Pirates will play a good half court defense, have a core group with experience, but will have to depend on a young group of players to provide depth. Berea must depend on a group effort to replace Horn’s points and rebounds.
13. Tates Creek (7-22): Coach Justin Cheatham’s Lady Commodores return the majority of their varsity experience from last season’s team.
Tates Creek has only one senior this season, 5-6 Marquis Axtell, who has the ability to score both inside and out. 5-5 Jr. Kyleigh Kreyenbuhl is a hard working guard. Coach Cheatham is excited about the potential of two athletic sophs, 5-8 Lizza Jonas, and 5-11 Jasmine Franklin.
Tates Creek had a good summer and is expected to be improved this season.
14. Sayre (17-8): Coach Scott Sutton’s Lady Spartans will be inexperienced this year as they graduated three seniors who had started for four years.
6-3 Sr. center Samantha Bowie will be the only senior on the squad. Bowie, the daughter of former UK player Sam Bowie, averaged 11 ppg, 7 rpg, and blocked 90 shots last season. 5-7 So. Anne MacNeil is the other returning starter. MacNeil is very athletic and plays excellent defense.
5-6 Jr. Karly Mitchell can shoot the mid-range shot and 5-6 Jr. Charlotte Cornett is a good defender. 5-7 So. Channel Minnifield is very athletic and is expected to contribute. The Lady Spartans graduated a lot of offense and must find other scoring options this season.
15. Western Hills (8-19): Coach Kevin Radford’s Lady Wolverines graduated a lot of size in 6-0 inside players Jessica Frye and Alyson Williams. However, Coach Radford has a lot of players returning who gained a lot of experience.
5-6 Sr. April Lancaster and 5-7 Jr. Tara Arnold are returning guards who should provide scoring punch. 5-9 Meagan Walker, 5-6 Jr. Kayla Mills, and 5-5 Jr. Kayla Smith also logged quality minutes. Although it will be difficult to replace their two post players (Frye and Williams), they have some solid players returning and several young players gained valuable experience last season.
16. Model (3-22): Coach Steven Minter’s Lady Patriots graduated Kathryn Engle and Lauren Heath but several underclassmen gained valuable experience last season.
5-8 seniors Kristina Ritter and Chelsey Weaver will provide needed experience for a young team. Coach Minter has a talented group of sophs including 5-7 guard Shelby McNeely, 5-6 guard Shelby Schneid, 5-7 guard Olivia Pennington, 5-7 guard Emily Lowe, and 5-9 center Deanna Johnson.
Coach Minter is impressed with the work ethic displayed in practice and believes the Lady Patriots have the talent and scoring potential to be improved this season
17. Frankfort (0-25): Coach Candi Roten graduated three seniors 5-9 Ashleigh Boone, 5-7 Danielle Butler, and 5-6 Najee Brown.
The Lady Panthers will be young this season but should be bolstered by the return of 6-2 Sr. Dana Green, who missed several games last season with a knee injury. Several sophs should help this season including 5-5 point guard Shanice Brown, 5-8 Tessa Barnes, 5-8 Laken Reed, and 5-7 Mattie Hutcherson.
Coach Roten is impressed with the work ethic of her young players and expects to surprise some people this season.
11th Region Players to Watch
1. Natalie Novosel (Lexington Catholic) 5-11 Sr. multi-talented performer
2. Gwen Rucker (Henry Clay) 6-2 Sr. force on both ends of the court
3. Anna Martin (Lexington Christian Academy) 5-9 Jr. versatile scorer
4. Chantelle Pressley (Paul Dunbar) 6-1 Sr. athletic insider
5. Kayla Moses (Scott County) 5-4 Sr. high energy performer
6. Courtney Clifton (Lexington Christian Academy) 5-9 Jr. scorer
7. Briana Green (Lexington Catholic) 5-9 Sr. smooth performer
8. Pilar Walker (Paul Dunbar) 5-7 Sr. athletic scorer
9. Clara Mitchell (Lexington Christian Academy) 6-0 Jr. strong in paint
10a. Madisen Webb (Scott County) 5-10 So. strong, versatile
10b. Nikki Jeck (Madison Southern) 5-4 Sr. understands PG position
Observations
The majority of the coaches in the 11th Region responded to my request for information, and the consensus was as usual that the region should be very competitive this season. I believe that four teams in the region could be ranked in the top 10-15 teams in the state. Lexington Christian Academy won the region and state championship last season and will be very good again this season. However, there are contenders capable of dethroning them in the region.
It was extremely difficult to rank the teams. Several teams have talented squads, and, as usual, the champion will probably be the one who achieves team chemistry, remains injury free, and peaks down the stretch. It is also interesting to watch teams in the rebuilding process and observe their improvement over the season.
It was even more difficult to submit a list of the top players. Other players that have to be considered include Chelsey Johnson and Ebony Rowe (Paul Dunbar), Brittany Coles and Raven Price (Henry Clay), Sarah Beth Barnette (Lexington Christian Academy), Katie Aldrich and Que’ Christian (Lafayette), Samantha Bowie (Sayre) and Kathryn Clark (Franklin County).
Titles and won/lost records are decided on the basketball courts and not in previews. This year is another season and there are contenders who could peak at the right time and make the trip to Bowling Green. Whoever captures the 11th Region crown will also probably be one of the strong favorites for the state title.