The Scribe
11-26-2007, 03:10 AM
BGP 6th Region Girls' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Typically, in the Louisville-area the Seventh Region gets all the accolades as one of the toughest regions in the state of Kentucky.
And for the most part, that assessment has been right on.
But this year, even the rugged Seventh Region will have to take a backseat in the state’s largest city to their rivals from the Sixth Region.
With three teams ranked in the preseason top 20 and several others that need consideration, the Sixth Region is one of the state’s toughest this winter.
Iroquois returns four standout juniors from last year’s team that won a third consecutive Sixth Region title, so the Lady Raiders are primed to try and four-peat.
But there’s plenty of competition. Butler has one of the state’s top players in Tia Gibbs, while Fairdale also returns a lot of talent including All-Stater Ciera Ricketts.
Bullitt East, North Bullitt, Presentation Pleasure Ridge Park and Holy Cross figure to be other teams that have a shot to spring an upset.
1. Iroquois Lady Raiders – Coach Al Northington has built the program from a laughingstock, among the state’s worst programs, to elite status in less then 10 years.
Two years ago, the Lady Raiders made it to the state semifinals and last season the squad lost in the state championship game to Lexington Christian.
Northington has four key players back to try and take another step this season, including All-American junior Adia Mathies (15.9 ppg, 107. rpg).
She’s joined in the lineup again by her sister, Asia Mathies (10.6 ppg) and Kayla Hickman (11.6 ppg).
Stafonia Taylor is another key piece to the puzzle back for the Lady Raiders.
2. Butler Bearettes – The Bearettes have a new coach – Eddy Wilson – but he takes over a program with one of the state’s top candidates for Miss Basketball.
Senior guard Tia Gibbs (20.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg) has started on the Butler varsity team since she was in the eighth grade and has signed with Vanderbilt University.
But Gibbs isn’t alone. Junior Tiara Hopper is another All-Region performer, while Brittany Harris and Whitney Reid are other key returning players.
3. Fairdale Lady Bulldogs – Coach Larry Bruner has one of the state’s most veteran players in Ceira Ricketts, who will be starting her sixth season in the varsity lineup at the school.
Ricketts, who has signed with Arkansas, averaged over 20 points a game for the third time last season and will eclipse the 3,000-point mark this season.
Seniors Nicole Mills and Brittany Wieber are returning players for Bruner, who will need to get some consistency from several youngsters.
4. Bullitt East Lady Chargers – In the school’s third season in the Sixth Region, there’s renewed hope for a regional title with a solid cast returning.
Coach Chris Stallings’ bunch will be led by Austin Peay signee Whitney Hanley. The 5-9 guard averaged over 18 points a game again last season.
Seniors Kelly Harrod and Leah Wright, along with several sophomores will be vital to the success for the Lady Chargers.
5. Presentation Toppers – The Toppers are always solid and typically in six years under David Jackson have been in most games – even losses.
And that shouldn’t change, despite losing four key seniors last season.
Senior guard Emily Conklin is one of the regions best in the backcourt.
6. North Bullitt Lady Eagles – Coach Bill Robinette is in his ninth season at the school and has perhaps his most experience back this season.
The Lady Eagles return every player from last year’s 18-10 squad, including senior guard Erin Keith (9.6 ppg). Other top seniors are Amber Thompson, Katie Hardy and Krista Pierce.
Sixth Region Players to Watch
1. Tia Gibbs, Butler
The 5-foot-9 Vanderbilt signee is a top candidate for Miss Basketball, has started since the eighth grade and averaged 20.8 points last season.
2. Ceira Ricketts, Fairdale
The 5-9 Ricketts will be starting for the sixth season in the Bulldogs lineup, has more then 2,500 career points and has signed with Arkansas.
3. Adia Mathies, Iroquois
The physical, 5-9 junior has already helped her school to three regional titles and averaged 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds as a junior. She’s already being recruited by a number of major Division I schools, including Connecticut.
4. Whitney Hanley, Bullitt East
The solid 5-9 guard would be the top player in several other regions and still will be an All-Region performer. She has signed with Austin Peay.
5. Jersharra Willis, PRP
The 5-5 senior guard averaged 18 points as a junior and is one of the most underrated players in the solid region. She’s quick as lighting and PRP’s best player.
6. Asia Mathies, Iroquois
This Mathies – who is 5-5 – has also been a mainstay in the Lady Raiders success. She doesn’t look like it, but it tough taking it to the basket and rebounding. She averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior.
7. Elizabeth Schuler, Holy Cross
A very athletic 5-10 post player for the Cougars, Schuler has signed to play volleyball at Morehead State. She averaged 15 points as a junior.
8. Tiara Hopper, Butler
Hooper played one season at Iroquois and has been a star the past two seasons at Butler. A 5-10 junior, Hopper averaged 10.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore.
9. Erin Keith, North Bullitt
A solid all-around player at just 5-6, Keith averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game as a junior. She’ll lead a veteran North Bullitt squad.
10. Channell Baker, Doss
She’s only 5-6 and a sophomore but Baker made a huge splash last season. She averaged 12 points a game and made the All-Region second team as a freshman.
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Typically, in the Louisville-area the Seventh Region gets all the accolades as one of the toughest regions in the state of Kentucky.
And for the most part, that assessment has been right on.
But this year, even the rugged Seventh Region will have to take a backseat in the state’s largest city to their rivals from the Sixth Region.
With three teams ranked in the preseason top 20 and several others that need consideration, the Sixth Region is one of the state’s toughest this winter.
Iroquois returns four standout juniors from last year’s team that won a third consecutive Sixth Region title, so the Lady Raiders are primed to try and four-peat.
But there’s plenty of competition. Butler has one of the state’s top players in Tia Gibbs, while Fairdale also returns a lot of talent including All-Stater Ciera Ricketts.
Bullitt East, North Bullitt, Presentation Pleasure Ridge Park and Holy Cross figure to be other teams that have a shot to spring an upset.
1. Iroquois Lady Raiders – Coach Al Northington has built the program from a laughingstock, among the state’s worst programs, to elite status in less then 10 years.
Two years ago, the Lady Raiders made it to the state semifinals and last season the squad lost in the state championship game to Lexington Christian.
Northington has four key players back to try and take another step this season, including All-American junior Adia Mathies (15.9 ppg, 107. rpg).
She’s joined in the lineup again by her sister, Asia Mathies (10.6 ppg) and Kayla Hickman (11.6 ppg).
Stafonia Taylor is another key piece to the puzzle back for the Lady Raiders.
2. Butler Bearettes – The Bearettes have a new coach – Eddy Wilson – but he takes over a program with one of the state’s top candidates for Miss Basketball.
Senior guard Tia Gibbs (20.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg) has started on the Butler varsity team since she was in the eighth grade and has signed with Vanderbilt University.
But Gibbs isn’t alone. Junior Tiara Hopper is another All-Region performer, while Brittany Harris and Whitney Reid are other key returning players.
3. Fairdale Lady Bulldogs – Coach Larry Bruner has one of the state’s most veteran players in Ceira Ricketts, who will be starting her sixth season in the varsity lineup at the school.
Ricketts, who has signed with Arkansas, averaged over 20 points a game for the third time last season and will eclipse the 3,000-point mark this season.
Seniors Nicole Mills and Brittany Wieber are returning players for Bruner, who will need to get some consistency from several youngsters.
4. Bullitt East Lady Chargers – In the school’s third season in the Sixth Region, there’s renewed hope for a regional title with a solid cast returning.
Coach Chris Stallings’ bunch will be led by Austin Peay signee Whitney Hanley. The 5-9 guard averaged over 18 points a game again last season.
Seniors Kelly Harrod and Leah Wright, along with several sophomores will be vital to the success for the Lady Chargers.
5. Presentation Toppers – The Toppers are always solid and typically in six years under David Jackson have been in most games – even losses.
And that shouldn’t change, despite losing four key seniors last season.
Senior guard Emily Conklin is one of the regions best in the backcourt.
6. North Bullitt Lady Eagles – Coach Bill Robinette is in his ninth season at the school and has perhaps his most experience back this season.
The Lady Eagles return every player from last year’s 18-10 squad, including senior guard Erin Keith (9.6 ppg). Other top seniors are Amber Thompson, Katie Hardy and Krista Pierce.
Sixth Region Players to Watch
1. Tia Gibbs, Butler
The 5-foot-9 Vanderbilt signee is a top candidate for Miss Basketball, has started since the eighth grade and averaged 20.8 points last season.
2. Ceira Ricketts, Fairdale
The 5-9 Ricketts will be starting for the sixth season in the Bulldogs lineup, has more then 2,500 career points and has signed with Arkansas.
3. Adia Mathies, Iroquois
The physical, 5-9 junior has already helped her school to three regional titles and averaged 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds as a junior. She’s already being recruited by a number of major Division I schools, including Connecticut.
4. Whitney Hanley, Bullitt East
The solid 5-9 guard would be the top player in several other regions and still will be an All-Region performer. She has signed with Austin Peay.
5. Jersharra Willis, PRP
The 5-5 senior guard averaged 18 points as a junior and is one of the most underrated players in the solid region. She’s quick as lighting and PRP’s best player.
6. Asia Mathies, Iroquois
This Mathies – who is 5-5 – has also been a mainstay in the Lady Raiders success. She doesn’t look like it, but it tough taking it to the basket and rebounding. She averaged 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior.
7. Elizabeth Schuler, Holy Cross
A very athletic 5-10 post player for the Cougars, Schuler has signed to play volleyball at Morehead State. She averaged 15 points as a junior.
8. Tiara Hopper, Butler
Hooper played one season at Iroquois and has been a star the past two seasons at Butler. A 5-10 junior, Hopper averaged 10.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore.
9. Erin Keith, North Bullitt
A solid all-around player at just 5-6, Keith averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game as a junior. She’ll lead a veteran North Bullitt squad.
10. Channell Baker, Doss
She’s only 5-6 and a sophomore but Baker made a huge splash last season. She averaged 12 points a game and made the All-Region second team as a freshman.