The Scribe
11-26-2007, 03:23 AM
BGP 8th Region Girls' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
The Eighth Region girls’ basketball race has been Shelby County High School’s own little playground in recent years.
The Lady Rockets have dominated the competition and claimed each of the past two regional titles. And while Shelby County does have perhaps the best player in the region, the team will be in for a battle this winter.
Shelby County will be joined at the top of the heap of the regional race by a number of teams, including Simon Kenton, South Oldham and Anderson County.
Oldham County and Walton-Verona will also be solid, while a number of other schools in the much-improved region will be able to spring the upset.
Here’s a closer look:
SIMON KENTON – The Lady Pioneers only lost three games all of last season, including a regional semifinal loss to Shelby County, and returns a good nucleus.
Veteran guards Chelsea Tolliver and Laura Conley are among a number of key returning players, including twin forwards Caitlyn and Lindsey Figgins.
Coach Jeff Stowers also has 6-foot Kayla Smith, who could be a huge factor in the post for the Lady Pioneers this season.
SHELBY COUNTY – The Lady Rockets – under coach Sally Zimmerman – still have to figure into the mix behind the play of Marshall signee Raechele Gray.
The 5-foot-5 guard averaged 14 points, six assists and five steals a game as a junior. The Lady Rockets graduated three starters but are expecting key contributions from Karissa Nicholson and Jennica Garrity among others.
The Lady Rockets have won 14 straight 30th District titles.
SOUTH OLDHAM – Lauren Jones is one of the top players in the state and the rest of the cast from a 19-11 team is also returning for the Lady Dragons.
The 5-9 Jones, who signed with Austin Peay, averaged 21 points a game last season and was one of top three-point and free-throw shooters in the state.
And Jones has plenty of help, including Ally Byrd, Amber Conniff, Meg McMullen and Jordan McGuffin.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Coach Tony Kays returns six of their top eight players off a team that won 21 games a year ago.
Senior Courtney Milam averaged 18 points a game as a junior, while senior guard Christy Gemmwell is another key returning player.
OLDHAM COUNTY – In his third season with the Lady Colonels, Jaime Dumstorf should again have one of the most improved teams in the region.
Oldham County went 16-13 last season and returns key players Lindsay Melton and Tara Huckvale. The latter is a 6-3 center, while Melton is a 6-2 forward.
The duo is one of the best inside punches in the region, while junior guard Audri Beaudrie will have the job of feeding the post.
WALTON-VERONA – Several other teams are perhaps as good as Walton-Verona, but senior forward Lauren Hargett gives the Lady Bearcats the nod. The 5-11 Hargett is athletic and can run the floor.
Eighth Region Players to Watch
1. Lauren Jones, South Oldham
The 5-9 Jones has signed with Austin Peay and can score in a variety of ways. She averaged 21 points last season and is the top three-point threat in the area.
2. Raechele Gray, Shelby County
The speedy 5-5 guard can dominate the game in a number of way, including scoring after hitting for 14.4 points last season.
3. Courtney Milam, Anderson County
The 5-10 post player is as solid as they come. She averaged 18 points and nine rebounds as a junior and has improved a ton over the summer.
4. Lindsay Melton, Oldham County
The 6-2 senior is not only a force in the paint – she averaged 16.5 points and 9.1 rebounds last season – but she can also step out and hit the three-pointer.
5. Chelsea Tolliver, Simon Kenton
The 5-5 guard is the top junior in the region and runs the show for the Lady Pioneers. She’s great at penetrating a zone, but can also hit from outside.
6. Lauren Conley, Simon Kenton
She will make up a solid 5-5 backcourt with Tolliver again this season. Conley is the Lady Pioneers leader and she’s the team’s defensive stopper.
7. Amber Girdy, Carroll County
She’s only a 5-4 senior but led the Lady Panthers in nearly ever statistical category as a junior and will need a repeat performance.
8. Lauren Hargett, Walton-Verona
The 5-11 senior is one of the more athletic interior players in the region.
9. Tara Huckvale, Oldham County
Along with Melton, gives the Lady Colonels one of the best one-two punches in the middle in the Louisville area.
10. Emily Crutcher, North Oldham
The 5-6 senior has been one of the team’s top players for five years and is now a senior and ready for another breakout season.
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
The Eighth Region girls’ basketball race has been Shelby County High School’s own little playground in recent years.
The Lady Rockets have dominated the competition and claimed each of the past two regional titles. And while Shelby County does have perhaps the best player in the region, the team will be in for a battle this winter.
Shelby County will be joined at the top of the heap of the regional race by a number of teams, including Simon Kenton, South Oldham and Anderson County.
Oldham County and Walton-Verona will also be solid, while a number of other schools in the much-improved region will be able to spring the upset.
Here’s a closer look:
SIMON KENTON – The Lady Pioneers only lost three games all of last season, including a regional semifinal loss to Shelby County, and returns a good nucleus.
Veteran guards Chelsea Tolliver and Laura Conley are among a number of key returning players, including twin forwards Caitlyn and Lindsey Figgins.
Coach Jeff Stowers also has 6-foot Kayla Smith, who could be a huge factor in the post for the Lady Pioneers this season.
SHELBY COUNTY – The Lady Rockets – under coach Sally Zimmerman – still have to figure into the mix behind the play of Marshall signee Raechele Gray.
The 5-foot-5 guard averaged 14 points, six assists and five steals a game as a junior. The Lady Rockets graduated three starters but are expecting key contributions from Karissa Nicholson and Jennica Garrity among others.
The Lady Rockets have won 14 straight 30th District titles.
SOUTH OLDHAM – Lauren Jones is one of the top players in the state and the rest of the cast from a 19-11 team is also returning for the Lady Dragons.
The 5-9 Jones, who signed with Austin Peay, averaged 21 points a game last season and was one of top three-point and free-throw shooters in the state.
And Jones has plenty of help, including Ally Byrd, Amber Conniff, Meg McMullen and Jordan McGuffin.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Coach Tony Kays returns six of their top eight players off a team that won 21 games a year ago.
Senior Courtney Milam averaged 18 points a game as a junior, while senior guard Christy Gemmwell is another key returning player.
OLDHAM COUNTY – In his third season with the Lady Colonels, Jaime Dumstorf should again have one of the most improved teams in the region.
Oldham County went 16-13 last season and returns key players Lindsay Melton and Tara Huckvale. The latter is a 6-3 center, while Melton is a 6-2 forward.
The duo is one of the best inside punches in the region, while junior guard Audri Beaudrie will have the job of feeding the post.
WALTON-VERONA – Several other teams are perhaps as good as Walton-Verona, but senior forward Lauren Hargett gives the Lady Bearcats the nod. The 5-11 Hargett is athletic and can run the floor.
Eighth Region Players to Watch
1. Lauren Jones, South Oldham
The 5-9 Jones has signed with Austin Peay and can score in a variety of ways. She averaged 21 points last season and is the top three-point threat in the area.
2. Raechele Gray, Shelby County
The speedy 5-5 guard can dominate the game in a number of way, including scoring after hitting for 14.4 points last season.
3. Courtney Milam, Anderson County
The 5-10 post player is as solid as they come. She averaged 18 points and nine rebounds as a junior and has improved a ton over the summer.
4. Lindsay Melton, Oldham County
The 6-2 senior is not only a force in the paint – she averaged 16.5 points and 9.1 rebounds last season – but she can also step out and hit the three-pointer.
5. Chelsea Tolliver, Simon Kenton
The 5-5 guard is the top junior in the region and runs the show for the Lady Pioneers. She’s great at penetrating a zone, but can also hit from outside.
6. Lauren Conley, Simon Kenton
She will make up a solid 5-5 backcourt with Tolliver again this season. Conley is the Lady Pioneers leader and she’s the team’s defensive stopper.
7. Amber Girdy, Carroll County
She’s only a 5-4 senior but led the Lady Panthers in nearly ever statistical category as a junior and will need a repeat performance.
8. Lauren Hargett, Walton-Verona
The 5-11 senior is one of the more athletic interior players in the region.
9. Tara Huckvale, Oldham County
Along with Melton, gives the Lady Colonels one of the best one-two punches in the middle in the Louisville area.
10. Emily Crutcher, North Oldham
The 5-6 senior has been one of the team’s top players for five years and is now a senior and ready for another breakout season.