HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW All-American Conference National Division

GIRARD

Coach: Andrew Saxon (27th year).

2010-11 record: 9-12, 3-5 AAC.

Projected starters: Courtney Kellar (5-7 senior), Bree Bishop (5-8 sophomore), Lindsay Durkin (5-7 junior), Miranda Boyle (5-5 junior), Hailey Spalla (5-4 junior).

Other contributors: Michaela Angelo (5-3 junior), Holly Clark (5-6 sophomore), Valerie Thomas (5-8 sophomore).

Outlook: Indians have no double-figure scorers returning, but all five projected starters averaged between 2-6 ppg. A proven scorer must emerge for Girard to have success.

Schedule: Nov. 25 — at McDonald (W, 52-49); Nov. 28 — Jackson-Milton (L, 45-46); Dec. 1 — at Poland (L, 41-54); Dec. 5 — Austintown Fitch (L, 38-52); Dec. 8 — Hubbard; Dec. 15 — at Newton Falls; Dec. 22 — Liberty; Dec. 29 — at Jefferson Area; Jan. 2 — Mathews; Jan. 5 — Champion; Jan. 7 — at Badger (2:30 p.m.); Jan. 9 — at Niles; Jan. 12 — Lakeview; Jan. 17 — at Warren JFK; Jan. 19 — at LaBrae; Jan. 23 — Brookfield; Jan. 26 — Jefferson; Feb. 2 — at Liberty; Feb. 9 — at Lakeview; Feb. 16 — Campbell Memorial

LAKEVIEW

Coach: Adam Lewis (3rd year, 15-28).

2010-11 record: 10-11, 3-5 AAC.

Projected starters: Abby Dunn (5-5 senior), Ali Gagne (5-10 senior), Becca Mansell (5-9 junior), Jamie Sentner (5-8 senior), Callie Schmidt (6-0 sophomore), Allie Pavlik (5-9 sophomore).

Other contributors: Nikki Bradley (5-8 junior), Savanna Winch (5-9 junior), Lizzy Konitsney (5-9 junior).

Outlook: Start with Gagne, a 20-points per game scorer, and the Bulldogs are optimistic they’ll be contenders in the AAC this season. Sentner and Dunn are also proven scorers, and they’ll be important as Gagne is sure to be double- and triple-teamed.

Schedule: Nov. 28 — at Canfield (L, 36-47); Dec. 5 — Struthers (L, 47-56); Dec. 8 — Beaver Local; Dec. 15 — at Campbell Memoria; Dec. 17 — at Warren Harding; Dec. 22 — Jefferson; Dec. 29 — at Liberty; Jan. 2 — Niles; Jan. 5 — LaBrae; Jan. 12 — at Girard; Jan. 14 — at Conneaut (2:30 p.m.); Jan. 19 — at Champion; Jan. 23 — at Poland; Jan. 26 — Liberty; Jan. 30 — at Fitch; Feb. 2 — at Jefferson; Feb. 6 — Hubbard; Feb. 9 — Girard; Feb. 11 — at Ash. Edgewood (2:30 p.m.); Feb. 16 — Newton Falls.

LIBERTY

Coach: Ron DeJulio (1st year).

2010-11 record: 13-9, 7-1 AAC.

Projected starters: Vakeyla Merriweather (5-7 senior), Kim Staples (5-5 junior), Leah Leshnack (5-5 sophomore), Toni Reese (5-9 junior), Rachel Crum (5-8 sophomore).

Other contributors: Shamara Golden (5-6 junior), Mackenzie Stanley (5-10 sophomore), Kionna McQueen (5-7 sophomore), Naudia Spivey (5-10 sophomore), Mariah McRhell (5-8 senior).

Outlook: DeJulio moves up a seat to replace long-time head coach John Hritz. His transition is made easier by the return of Merriweather, the team’s leading scorer. Reese and Leshnack were letterwinners but not starters, so they’ll essentially be learning the varsity game on the run.

Schedule: Nov. 28 — at Niles (W, 69-63); Dec. 1 — at Howland (L, 25-81); Dec. 5 — at Poland (L, 26-44); Dec. 8 — Struthers; Dec. 12 — Ash. Edgewood; Dec. 15 — Champion; Dec. 19 — at Hubbard; Dec. 22 — at Girard; Dec. 29 — Lakeview; Jan. 5 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 12 — Jefferson Area; Jan. 14 — at Springfield (2:30 p.m.); Jan. 19 — Campbell Memorial; Jan. 23 — Austintown Fitch; Jan. 26 — at Lakeview; Jan 30 — at Champion; Feb. 2 — Girard; Feb. 9 — at Jefferson Area; Feb. 13 — at Struthers; Feb. 16 — at LaBrae

CAMPBELL MEMORIAL

Coach: Mike Szenborn (4th season, 30-33).

2010-11 record: 1-20, 0-8 AAC.

Projected starters: Cara Minnie (5-3 sophomore), Isabel Espada (5-3 sophomore), Brittany Williams (5-3 junior), Amy Jackson (5-7 sophomore), Sheyla Such (5-5 senior).

Other contributors: Morgan Newell (5-5 senior), Joanna Villanueva (5-4 junior), Aries Burley (5-8 junior).

Outlook: Red Devils look to improve behind a young corps of returnees, led by Jackson and Espada, who must become more consistent scorers. Campbell can run, but can they limit their mistakes? That’s going to be important.

Schedule: Nov. 28 — Youngstown Christian (L, 18-42); Dec. 1 — at Struthers (L, 10-57); Dec. 5 — at South Range (L, 22-62); Dec. 10 — at Youngstown Christian; Dec. 15 — Lakeview; Dec. 22 — at LaBrae; Dec. 28-29 — at Brookfield Tournament; Jan. 5 — Jefferson; Jan. 9 — Struthers; Jan. 12 — Newton Falls; Jan. 14 — at Champion; Jan. 19 — at Liberty; Jan. 23 — Niles; Jan. 26 — LaBrae; Feb. 2 — Champion; Feb. 9 — at Newton Falls; Feb. 13 — Poland; Feb. 16 — at Girard.

CHAMPION

Coach: Jeff Thompson (13th season, 147-109; 272-184 overall).

2010-11 record: 17-6, 7-1 AAC.

Projected starters: Lindsay Swipas (5-7 senior), MacKenzie Kiser (6-0 junior), Jordyn Skaggs (5-1 junior), Gabby Lamont (5-5 junior), Heather Sharer (5-4 junior).

Other contributors: Darian Rogers (junior), Maura Jacobs (sophomore), Kelly Robinson (sophomore), Emma Nicholas (sophomore), Danielle Jones (sophomore), Haley McAllister (senior), Brittany White (senior).

Outlook: Flashes expect big things this season, while Kise (10 ppg) and Swipas (8 ppg) a nice duo to build the team around. McAllister is coming off a knee injury and may not be available all season; her return would give the team another proven scorer.

Schedule: Dec. 3 — Hubbard (L, 53-57); Dec. 8 — Canfield; Dec. 12 — Bristol; Dec. 15 — at Liberty; Dec. 19 — Niles; Dec. 22 — Newton Falls; Dec. 26 — Warren JFK; Dec. 29 — at Warren Harding; Jan. 2 — at Maplewood; Jan. 5 — at Girard; Jan. 9 — at Brookfield; Jan. 12 — at LaBrae; Jan. 14 — Campbell Memorial; Jan. 19 — Lakeview; Jan. 23 — at Beaver Local; Jan. 26 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 30 — Liberty; Feb. 2 — at Campbell Memorial; Feb. 9 — LaBrae; Feb. 16 — Jefferson.

LABRAE

Coach: Lisa Aldridge (5th season).

2010-11 record: 12-9, 3-5 AAC.

Projected starters: Ashlee Stubbs (5-8 junior), Somer McCoy (5-8 sophomore), Amanda Richards (5-5 junior), Lindsay Jaros (5-8 sophomore), Maddie Kiser (5-5 sophomore).

Other contributors: Bria Bennett (5-3 senior), Demari Brown (5-8 freshman), Sadie Sutton (5-6 freshman).

Outlook: Vikings will feature Stubbs, who averaged 10 ppg last season, but McCoy is the only other returning scorer (5 ppg). Bench isn’t very deep, so staying out of foul trouble will be important.

Schedule: Nov. 28 — at Brookfield (L, 31-53); Dec. 1 — at Hubbard (L, 52-58); Dec. 5 — Niles (W, 43-42); Dec. 8 — Poland; Dec. 10 — Southington; Dec. 15 — at Jefferson; Dec. 19 — Windham; Dec. 22 — Campbell Memorial; Dec. 29 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 5 —at Lakeview; Jan. 12 — Champion; Jan. 14 — at Garrettsville Garfield; Jan 19 — Girard; Jan. 26 — at Campbell Memorial; Jan. 28 — at Bristol (2:30 p.m.); Feb. 2 — Newton Falls; Feb. 9 — at Champion; Feb. 13 — Mathews; Feb. 16 — Liberty.

NEWTON FALLS

Coach: Mark Baker (7th year, 76-52).

2010-11 record: 18-4, 7-1 AAC.

Projected starters: Rachel Ellis (5-4 senior), Angela Giuliano (5-7 senior), Brooke Barreca (5-11 sophomore), Victoria Workman (5-4 junior), Cassandra Smith (5-6 senior).

Other contributors: Hannah Zelle (5-8 sophomore), Danielle King (5-7 junior), Marissa Toensing (5-5 senior), Alissa Abraham (5-6 sophomore), Courtney Platt (5-1 sophomore), Destinee Hutson (5-6 freshman).

Outlook: Tigers must replace all-stater Destiny Prusky, but Ellis (12 ppg) and Giuliano (10 ppg) are double-figure scorers, and Barreca averaged 8 ppg. Baker is looking for most consistent rebounding, but he likes the hustle. Expect the Tigers to run.

Schedule: Nov. 28 — at Crestview (L, 28-42); Dec. 1 — at Niles (W, 75-23); Dec. 5 — Warren JFK (W, 49-29); Dec. 8 — Fitch; Dec. 12 — at Windham; Dec. 15 — Girard; Dec. 19 — at Brookfield; Dec. 22 — at Champion; Dec. 27 — Southeast; Dec. 29 — LaBrae; Jan. 5 — Liberty; Jan. 12 — at Campbell Memorial; Jan. 19 — at Jefferson; Jan. 23 — Struthers; Jan. 26 — Champion; Jan. 30 — Brookfield; Feb. 2 — at LaBrae; Feb. 4 — at Springfield; Feb. 9 — Campbell Memorial; Feb. 16 — at Lakeview.

Staff reports