The Scribe
11-26-2007, 01:27 AM
BGP Second Region Girls' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Once again, the Colonels are favored to win the Second Region. Which one remains to be seen.
Christian County and Henderson County have combined to win the last seven region titles and all indications point to the streak continuing this year.
Madisonville and a young but talented Caldwell County squad are poised to play the role of spoilers.
1. Henderson County (21-8) – The northern Colonels are the preseason favorite to win their fourth straight region title, which would be a first for the Second Region.
Jeff Haile’s squad returns four starters from last year’s team that lost to eventual state champion Lexington Christian in the first round of the Sweet 16.
Senior guard Rinesha Soaper led Henderson in scoring (19.1 ppg.), assists (3.1), and steals (3.2) a year ago.
She’ll be joined in the backcourt by junior Olivia Fruit (4.6 ppg.).
The Lady Colonels have a solid frontcourt, led by 5-10 junior Whitney Bingemer (12.8 ppg., 5.1 rpg.) and 6-0 junior Alyse Poindexter (12.2 ppg., 9.4 rpg.). Bingemer showed she could step outside and drain the long shot, hitting 33 three-pointers last year.
2. Christian County (27-5) – The southern Colonels have a new coach as former player and boys’ assistant coach Anthony Hickey takes over for Donnie Dillard, who won three region titles and 240 games in 11 seasons before taking an administrative job in Louisville.
Hickey inherits two of the best players in the region in Rikiah Gatlin and Shana McCombs.
Gatlin, a 6-1 senior, averaged 19.9 points and nine rebounds last year and has committed to Miami, Fla. to play basketball.
McCombs, a 5-6 senior, averaged six points and 10 assists last year and has committed to Kentucky State.
Juniors Denishia Mumford (8.8 ppg., 4 rpg) and Shatera Lewis also provide the Lady Colonels with quickness and offensive productivity.
Hickey said he expects to use an extensive rotation for his pressure defense.
3. Madisonville (13-15) – Marty Cline’s Lady Maroons were a streaky club that improved as the season progressed, losing to Henderson County by 14 points in the region semifinals.
Senior forward Tierra Jackson (10.4 ppg.) and sophomore Tayla Foster (10.4 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) headline a talented group of players looking to win Madisonville’s first region title in 25 years.
Guards Lindi Tedder and Heidi Clayton also return for Madisonville, who will showcase their team at tournaments at Pleasure Ridge Park and East Carter.
4. Caldwell County (17-9) – The Lady Tigers won 17 games with a starting lineup that featured a senior and three freshmen.
Josh Barnett left for the Paducah Tilghman job, and Stephanie Crick takes over a program that only has one senior and no juniors.
Six-footer Jade Robinson is the lone senior, while guards Jayme Jackson and Savannah Pepper and forward Emily Meeks are returning starters.
5. Livingston Central (18-13) – Head coach Kris Simmons is hoping this senior class that has been playing together seemingly forever can win the school’s first district title in over 20 years.
Lauren Whetstone and Kayla Schull provide a nice inside-outside combo, while junior guards Mariah Owen and Laken Woodward will allow Simmons to play pressure defense.
6. Lyon County (19-11) – The Lady Lyons lost their point guard and inside player to graduation but still have enough firepower to three-peat as Fifth District champs.
Seniors Hayley Parrent and Abbey McLeod will handle most of the scoring and could get a boost from fellow senior Erin Mussato, who missed last year because of an injury.
Head coach Malissa Thomas has a bevy of younger players ready to fight for playing time.
Second Region Players to Watch
1. Rinesha Soaper – Henderson County
2. Rikiah Gatlin – Christian County
3. Whitney Bingemer – Henderson County
4. Shana McCombs – Christian County
5. Alyse Poindexter – Henderson County
6. Kari Jo Harris – Hopkins County Central
7. Kayla Schull – Livingston Central
8. Tayla Foster – Madisonville
9. Tierra Jackson – Madisonville
10. Denishia Mumford – Christian County
11. Chelsea Mills – Dawson Springs
12. Jayme Jackson – Caldwell County
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Once again, the Colonels are favored to win the Second Region. Which one remains to be seen.
Christian County and Henderson County have combined to win the last seven region titles and all indications point to the streak continuing this year.
Madisonville and a young but talented Caldwell County squad are poised to play the role of spoilers.
1. Henderson County (21-8) – The northern Colonels are the preseason favorite to win their fourth straight region title, which would be a first for the Second Region.
Jeff Haile’s squad returns four starters from last year’s team that lost to eventual state champion Lexington Christian in the first round of the Sweet 16.
Senior guard Rinesha Soaper led Henderson in scoring (19.1 ppg.), assists (3.1), and steals (3.2) a year ago.
She’ll be joined in the backcourt by junior Olivia Fruit (4.6 ppg.).
The Lady Colonels have a solid frontcourt, led by 5-10 junior Whitney Bingemer (12.8 ppg., 5.1 rpg.) and 6-0 junior Alyse Poindexter (12.2 ppg., 9.4 rpg.). Bingemer showed she could step outside and drain the long shot, hitting 33 three-pointers last year.
2. Christian County (27-5) – The southern Colonels have a new coach as former player and boys’ assistant coach Anthony Hickey takes over for Donnie Dillard, who won three region titles and 240 games in 11 seasons before taking an administrative job in Louisville.
Hickey inherits two of the best players in the region in Rikiah Gatlin and Shana McCombs.
Gatlin, a 6-1 senior, averaged 19.9 points and nine rebounds last year and has committed to Miami, Fla. to play basketball.
McCombs, a 5-6 senior, averaged six points and 10 assists last year and has committed to Kentucky State.
Juniors Denishia Mumford (8.8 ppg., 4 rpg) and Shatera Lewis also provide the Lady Colonels with quickness and offensive productivity.
Hickey said he expects to use an extensive rotation for his pressure defense.
3. Madisonville (13-15) – Marty Cline’s Lady Maroons were a streaky club that improved as the season progressed, losing to Henderson County by 14 points in the region semifinals.
Senior forward Tierra Jackson (10.4 ppg.) and sophomore Tayla Foster (10.4 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) headline a talented group of players looking to win Madisonville’s first region title in 25 years.
Guards Lindi Tedder and Heidi Clayton also return for Madisonville, who will showcase their team at tournaments at Pleasure Ridge Park and East Carter.
4. Caldwell County (17-9) – The Lady Tigers won 17 games with a starting lineup that featured a senior and three freshmen.
Josh Barnett left for the Paducah Tilghman job, and Stephanie Crick takes over a program that only has one senior and no juniors.
Six-footer Jade Robinson is the lone senior, while guards Jayme Jackson and Savannah Pepper and forward Emily Meeks are returning starters.
5. Livingston Central (18-13) – Head coach Kris Simmons is hoping this senior class that has been playing together seemingly forever can win the school’s first district title in over 20 years.
Lauren Whetstone and Kayla Schull provide a nice inside-outside combo, while junior guards Mariah Owen and Laken Woodward will allow Simmons to play pressure defense.
6. Lyon County (19-11) – The Lady Lyons lost their point guard and inside player to graduation but still have enough firepower to three-peat as Fifth District champs.
Seniors Hayley Parrent and Abbey McLeod will handle most of the scoring and could get a boost from fellow senior Erin Mussato, who missed last year because of an injury.
Head coach Malissa Thomas has a bevy of younger players ready to fight for playing time.
Second Region Players to Watch
1. Rinesha Soaper – Henderson County
2. Rikiah Gatlin – Christian County
3. Whitney Bingemer – Henderson County
4. Shana McCombs – Christian County
5. Alyse Poindexter – Henderson County
6. Kari Jo Harris – Hopkins County Central
7. Kayla Schull – Livingston Central
8. Tayla Foster – Madisonville
9. Tierra Jackson – Madisonville
10. Denishia Mumford – Christian County
11. Chelsea Mills – Dawson Springs
12. Jayme Jackson – Caldwell County