PREP PREVIEW Girls basketball

Who: Leetonia (18-5) vs. Norwalk St. Paul (19-4).
What: Division IV regional semifinal.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Massillon Perry High School.
At stake: The winner advances to the regional final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday to face the winner of the East Canton (21-3) vs. Bedford Chanel (20-3) semifinal.
Leetonia Coach: Jerry Beltempo (first year).
So far: Leetonia, champion of the Tri-County League, closed the regular season with a 15-5 record. As the No. 2 seed, the Bears won the Liberty district championship by defeating Mathews, 60-25; Sebring, 49-27; and No. 3 seed Southington, 45-21.
Roster: Amanda Adamson (5-9, senior, guard); Andrea Fender (5-11, senior, center); Tiffany Smith (5-10, senior, center); Heather Basich (5-9, junior, forward); Jackie Durham (5-8, junior, guard); Jenna Santini (5-10, junior, center); Bri Duko (5-1, sophomore, guard); Marci Mancuso (5-4, sophomore, guard); Jessica Deville (5-11, freshman, center).
Norwalk St. Paul coach: Mike Wasniak.
So far: Norwalk St. Paul is making its first regional appearance in school history. The Flyers finished the regular season by winning 13 of their final 14 games and are on an 11-game winning streak. St. Paul defeated previously unbeaten New London 59-39 in the district final at Lexington. The Flyers' path to the regional semifinal also has included victories over South Central, 65-27; Wakeman Western Reserve, 67-54; and Buckeye Central, 48-23.
Leaders: The Flyers are led by the Gross sisters -- Emily and Anne -- both are threats at both ends of the floor. Emily averages 16.6 points per game plus 11.1 rebounds per contests, while Anne Gross dishes out 4.6 assists per game and swipes 5.9 steals each time she plays.
Roster: Maria Rospert (5-7 junior); Stephanie Barman (5-6 junior); Anne Gross (5-0 sophomore); Stephanie Ritzenthaler (5-4 senior); Angie Camp (5-9 sophomore); Jordan Centers (6-1 sophomore); Annie Bockrath (5-5 sophomore); Brooke Walcher (5-9 sophomore); Kelly Thurston (5-6 senior); Kim Stoll (5-5 sophomore); Kristen Playko (5-9 sophomore); Nicole Keller (Kristen Leibold (5-7 sophomore); Leah Wilson (5-8 sophomore); and Emily Gross (6-0 senior).
-- George Welker