The Scribe
11-26-2007, 02:23 AM
BGP First Region Girls' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
1. Calloway County: The Lady Lakers won the regional title a year earlier than expected, with 6-2 junior Kayla Cunnigham back after she emerged as a big-time scorer late last season.
Cunningham leads an athletic front line of 6-footers that includes senior Rachel Adams in the post and mega-athletic freshman Averee Fields, who can play all five positions.
Samantha Butts takes over at the point, with Shelby Webb and Meghan Starks able to provide some perimeter shooting.
2. Marshall County: Jessica Holder is a versatile 6-2 junior forward that is more comfortable facing the basket and can score from the outside. This year, she has to carry the load for a Marshall squad that’s low on numbers and experience.
Point guard Jordan Gilland is slidelined with a bad back, paving the way for freshman Margaret Thomas to take over. Ashley Smith is a solid inside player and Marshall needs Karra Fisk to become a reliable scorer after sitting out last season.
3. Graves County: High-scoring guard Brittany Young is back after serving a year-long suspension, but her return triggered a revolt against coach Jeff Stokes that took away nearly every other player in the program with varsity experience.
Guard Kayla Hopkins saw some time as a reserve last year, but the rest of the roster consists of freshmen and sophomores.
4. Paducah Tilghman: New coach Josh Barnett inherited four returning all-region players, but it appears two of them won’t suit up for the Lady Tornado.
Guard Ali Watson, the first player off the bench for Tilghman’s final four team in 2005, had ankle surgery in the fall and will miss the entire season.
Point guard Bionca Hill was dismissed from the team in the final week of preseason practice. Another key player moved away.
Jarobia Hill is an athletic forward that can score, and Natalie Shumpert will see some time at the point and is Tilghman’s best 3-point threat.
Sophomore Brandy Allen is an athletic forward that will be asked to step into a key role.
5. Community Christian: The Lady Warriors were hurt by a move to the Fourth District, where they will have to battle with Calloway County and Marshall County, but they could be the regional representative in the All A Classic state tournament.
Forward Maggie Fort is a dependable scorer and rebounder, and guards Catherine Freeman and Laura Evers are solid veterans.
Their challengers are aplenty. Fulton County has forward Ellie Goodman and had one of the region’s athletic clubs, but point guard Sharika Smith — a standout track and field athlete — is reportedly not playing, although it appears the door is still open for her return.
St. Mary has some young talent, but guard Jessica Scheer — a key player on two All A Classic state tournament teams — may have torn her ACL for the second time in a year.
Murray has a talented forward in Stacey McClure, Mayfield can light up the perimeter with guards Sarah Clark and Jaclyn McCuiston and Hickman County has a good inside scorer and rebounder in center Paige Barclay.
First Region Players to Watch
1. Jessica Holder, Marshall County: Versatile junior has to carry much more of the scoring load for a young Marshall squad.
2. Kayla Cunningham, Calloway County: The Lady Lakers’ go-to player causes matchup problems with her ability to play the wing.
3. Brittany Young, Graves County: No one questions her talent, but she won’t have a whole lot in the way of experienced help.
4. Averee Fields, Calloway County: Took the region by storm in the postseason as an eighth grader and is already one the region’s most talented and versatile players.
5. Jarobia Hill, Paducah Tilghman: Athletic inside scorer and rebounder, her job just got tougher as the Lady Tornado’s roster takes some hits.
6. Natalie Shumpert, Paducah Tilghman: Capable ballhandler and shooter, will be asked to score much more with two proven stars no longer on the team.
7. Rachel Adams, Calloway County: Athletic enough to win the state high-jump championship as a sophomore, she’s a solid post player.
8. Paige Barclay, Hickman County: Should average a double-double, and she’s only a sophomore.
9. Samantha Butts, Calloway County: Her transition from shooting guard to the point is a key to Calloway’s chances of a potential Sweet 16 splash.
10. Maggie Fort, Community Christian: Dependable scorer and rebounder leads a CCA club hungry to leave its mark on the region.
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
1. Calloway County: The Lady Lakers won the regional title a year earlier than expected, with 6-2 junior Kayla Cunnigham back after she emerged as a big-time scorer late last season.
Cunningham leads an athletic front line of 6-footers that includes senior Rachel Adams in the post and mega-athletic freshman Averee Fields, who can play all five positions.
Samantha Butts takes over at the point, with Shelby Webb and Meghan Starks able to provide some perimeter shooting.
2. Marshall County: Jessica Holder is a versatile 6-2 junior forward that is more comfortable facing the basket and can score from the outside. This year, she has to carry the load for a Marshall squad that’s low on numbers and experience.
Point guard Jordan Gilland is slidelined with a bad back, paving the way for freshman Margaret Thomas to take over. Ashley Smith is a solid inside player and Marshall needs Karra Fisk to become a reliable scorer after sitting out last season.
3. Graves County: High-scoring guard Brittany Young is back after serving a year-long suspension, but her return triggered a revolt against coach Jeff Stokes that took away nearly every other player in the program with varsity experience.
Guard Kayla Hopkins saw some time as a reserve last year, but the rest of the roster consists of freshmen and sophomores.
4. Paducah Tilghman: New coach Josh Barnett inherited four returning all-region players, but it appears two of them won’t suit up for the Lady Tornado.
Guard Ali Watson, the first player off the bench for Tilghman’s final four team in 2005, had ankle surgery in the fall and will miss the entire season.
Point guard Bionca Hill was dismissed from the team in the final week of preseason practice. Another key player moved away.
Jarobia Hill is an athletic forward that can score, and Natalie Shumpert will see some time at the point and is Tilghman’s best 3-point threat.
Sophomore Brandy Allen is an athletic forward that will be asked to step into a key role.
5. Community Christian: The Lady Warriors were hurt by a move to the Fourth District, where they will have to battle with Calloway County and Marshall County, but they could be the regional representative in the All A Classic state tournament.
Forward Maggie Fort is a dependable scorer and rebounder, and guards Catherine Freeman and Laura Evers are solid veterans.
Their challengers are aplenty. Fulton County has forward Ellie Goodman and had one of the region’s athletic clubs, but point guard Sharika Smith — a standout track and field athlete — is reportedly not playing, although it appears the door is still open for her return.
St. Mary has some young talent, but guard Jessica Scheer — a key player on two All A Classic state tournament teams — may have torn her ACL for the second time in a year.
Murray has a talented forward in Stacey McClure, Mayfield can light up the perimeter with guards Sarah Clark and Jaclyn McCuiston and Hickman County has a good inside scorer and rebounder in center Paige Barclay.
First Region Players to Watch
1. Jessica Holder, Marshall County: Versatile junior has to carry much more of the scoring load for a young Marshall squad.
2. Kayla Cunningham, Calloway County: The Lady Lakers’ go-to player causes matchup problems with her ability to play the wing.
3. Brittany Young, Graves County: No one questions her talent, but she won’t have a whole lot in the way of experienced help.
4. Averee Fields, Calloway County: Took the region by storm in the postseason as an eighth grader and is already one the region’s most talented and versatile players.
5. Jarobia Hill, Paducah Tilghman: Athletic inside scorer and rebounder, her job just got tougher as the Lady Tornado’s roster takes some hits.
6. Natalie Shumpert, Paducah Tilghman: Capable ballhandler and shooter, will be asked to score much more with two proven stars no longer on the team.
7. Rachel Adams, Calloway County: Athletic enough to win the state high-jump championship as a sophomore, she’s a solid post player.
8. Paige Barclay, Hickman County: Should average a double-double, and she’s only a sophomore.
9. Samantha Butts, Calloway County: Her transition from shooting guard to the point is a key to Calloway’s chances of a potential Sweet 16 splash.
10. Maggie Fort, Community Christian: Dependable scorer and rebounder leads a CCA club hungry to leave its mark on the region.