District girls basketball preview

INDEPENDENTS

BEAVER LOCAL (II)

Coach: Stephanie Cole, second year

2013-14 record: 4-17

Projected starters: Tannar Dolhun, C, 5-11, Sr.; Hillarie Ketchum, G, 5-3, Sr.; Bobbie Ann Theis, F, 5-9, Jr.; Madison Roberts, G, 5-8, So.; Kierra Tyler, PG, 5-1, Fr.

Other varsity players: Courtney Messenger, G, 5-5, Sr.; Samantha Kendall, F, 5-10, Jr.; Jordan Simpson, G, 5-6, Jr.; Kaylee Horner, G, 5-7, Jr.; Katie Barber, C, 5-10, So.

Outlook: The Beavers are young and inexperienced but Cole likes their quickness and work ethic. They’ll need to avoid turnovers and make high-percentage shots to be successful, she said.

CARDINAL MOONEY (II)

Coach: Erica Wilson, first year

2013-14 record: 10-11

Returning letterwinners: Jaclyn Yankle, 5-10, Sr.; Samantha Ellis, 5-10, Sr.; Jami DiFabio, 5-6, Jr.; Maggie Monahan, 6-1, Jr.; Hannah Welsh, 5-3, Jr.; Renee Santisi, 5-6, Jr.

Other varsity players: Damani Santiago, 5-2, Jr.; Colleen Durkin, 5-7, So.; Taylor Martin, 5-9, So.; Bridget Sweeney, 5-4, So.; Kelly Williams, 5-6, Fr.

Outlook: A three-year letterwinner, Yankle led the Cardinals in scoring (16 points per game) and rebounding last season and broke the school record for free throw shooting percentage (86.2). The Cardinals will look to play fast and focus on defense.

HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN (IV)

Coach: Valerie Mayer, first year

2013-14 record: 5-14

Projected starters: Sarah Keyes, F, 5-7, So.; Avery Pennington, F, 5-7, Jr.; Leah Morelli, G, 5-5, Jr.; Kacey Cusick, G, 5-6, Fr.; Olivia Hostetler, PG, 5-3, Jr.

Other varsity players: Elisabeth Curtis, G, 5-4, Fr.

Outlook: Mayer likes her team’s determination and defense but wants to see them shoot better from the free throw line and the perimeter.

SOUTHINGTON (IV)

Coach: Matt Yoder, second year

2013-14 record: 3-17

Projected starters: Sara Baugher, F, 5-7, Jr.; Alexis Pernice, F, 5-6, Sr.; Emma Baugher, G, 5-6, Fr.; Courtney Warnick, G, 5-2, Jr.; Dominique Petrosky, G, 5-5, Jr.

Other varsity players: Casey Boyles, F, 5-8, Fr.; Haley Scholten, G, 5-0, Fr.; Sabrina Wajtonek, G, 5-3, Fr.

Outlook: The Wildcats are very young, with two freshmen starters and three more freshmen off the bench. Yoder likes his team’s athleticism.

URSULINE (III)

Coach: Sean Durkin, 14 years, 232-98

Last year: 11-10

Projected starters: Simone Comer, G, So.; Gabby Miklandric, G, Jr.; Makaylay Berry, G, Jr.; Janessa Rich, F, Jr.; Angelica Kratzer, F, Jr.

Other varsity players: Megan Ross, G, Jr.; Ciel Vidale, G, So.

Outlook: The top seven players have experience but without a senior on the roster, size and depth are a concern.

WARREN JFK (IV)

Coach: John Condoleon, second year, 4-16

2013-14 record: 4-16

Projected starters: Antonella Lamonica, G, 5-2, So.; Genie Orlosky, G, 5-3, Fr.; Taejah Burney, G/F, 5-5, So.; Alenna Merlo, F, 5-8, Sr.; Liz Kellar, G, 5-5, Sr.

Other varsity players: Shannon Noark, F, 5-7, Sr.; Kyra Lowry, F, 5-11, Sr.; Grace Flajnik, F/G, 5-6, Jr.; Julia Lombardi, F/G, 5-10, So.

Outlook: Led by Lamonica (17.3 points per game), the Eagles look to be more competitive than they were last year. But it’s still a young team, with just two upperclassmen in the starting lineup.

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

BRISTOL (IV)

Coach: John King, first year

2013-14 record: 8-14

Projected starters: Kylie Stoneman, G/F, Sr.; Britany Hickey, F, So.; Kimberly Michaels, G, Sr.; Autumn Miller, G, So.; Hailee Elza, G/F, So.

Other varsity players: Kaylie Rowland, G, So.; Stephanie Hulick, G, Jr.; Ashly Lamosek, G, Jr.; Jasmine Hickey, F, Sr.; Kristina Wolin, F, Sr.; Lydia Johnson, G, So.; Laura Davis, F, So.; Quinci Slone, F, So.

Outlook: Stoneman, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder from last season, could reach 1,000 career points this fall. King likes his team’s attitude but knows he could have some growing pains with so many young players.

MAPLEWOOD (IV)

Coach: Mark Yoder, 17 years, 267-114

2013-14 record: 20-5

Projected starters: Miranda Sloan, PG, 5-4, Sr.; Ryley Urchek, F, 5-8, Sr.; Morgan Hansel, G, 5-4, Sr.; Victoria Karlovic, G, 5-4, Sr.; Miranda Wood, F, 5-6, Sr.

Other varsity players: Stephanie McCartney, C, 6-0, Sr.; Kassandra Scott, G, 5-5, Jr.; Makenzie Even, F, 5-8, So.; Liza Yoder, C, 5-7, Jr.

Outlook: The Rockets return some good offensive threats in Sloan (13.2 points per game), Urchek (8.5 ppg) and Hansel (7.1 ppg). Yoder wants to see them utilize their team speed and look to score in transition.

MATHEWS (IV)

Coach: Joe Bornemiss, second year

2013-14 record: 8-13

Projected starters: Maddie Williams, G, 5-7, Sr.; Bryanna McClurg, G, 5-5, Jr.; Paula Sponsler, G, 5-6, Sr.; Katarina Schubert, G, 5-1, So.; Morgan Williams, G, 5-6, So.

Other varsity players: Paige Sponsler, G, 5-7, So.

Outlook: The Mustangs are young with a small roster, so they’ll need to stay healthy. Bornemiss hopes to finish in the middle of the pack in the league.

NORTHEASTERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE

SALEM (II)

Coach: Roger Zeigler, 13th year, 267-112

2013-14 record: 7-14

Projected starters: Julia Dundon, G, 5-4, Sr.; Tori Jones, F, 5-9, Sr.; Haley Carner, C, 5-8, Sr.; Olivia Stiff, F, 5-7, Jr.; Chloe Cheresne, F, 5-0, So.

Other varsity players: Raegan Meals, F, 5-5, Sr.; Rylie Meals, F, 5-5, Sr.; Leah Menegos, C, 5-9, So.; Allee Davidson, F, 5-8, Fr.; Rylee Lieder, G, 5-4, Jr.; Brittany Zamarelli, G, 5-2, Jr.; Kasey Jamison, G, 5-6, So.; Kylie Quinn, G, 5-8, So.; Katie Moore, G, 5-5, So.; Helene Shultz, C, 5-1, So.

Outlook: Dundon, Jones and Cheresne all scored at least five points per game last season, so the Quakers return a solid core. Zeigler like his team’s attitude and work ethic but he’s worried about its scoring ability and physicality.

WEST BRANCH (II)

Coach: Walt DeShields

2013-14 record: 23-5

Returning starters: Pavin Heath, G, 5-10, Sr.; Melinda Trimmer, PG, 5-7, Sr.; Erica Johnson, F, 5-9, Sr.

Other varsity players: Lea Bock, C, 5-10, Sr.; Kaylee Manning, G, 5-6, Jr.; Emily Menegay, G, 5-8, Jr.; Catie Hahn, C, 5-11, Jr.; Paige Walsh, F, 5-9, Jr.; Mariah Herbert, C, 5-0, Jr.; Brenna Rito, G, 5-4, So.

Outlook: In Trimmer (17.9 points per game, 6.9 assists per game) and Heath (10.8 ppg, 4.4 rebounds per game), the Warriors return their top two scorers from last year’s team, which lost in the regional final and finished second in the conference. Overall, nine letterwinners return.

Note: Badger, Lordstown, Youngstown Christian did not respond to requests for information.