BALLARD
- Coach: Carl White (second year).
- Last season: 6-19, lost to CAL, 74-25, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
- Player to watch: Shania Beason. The 5-6 junior guard averaged eight points, four rebounds and three steals per game despite a knee injury that forced her to miss much of last season. “(She) is a player capable of doing a lot of good things for us on the court, we just need her to get healthy,” White says.
- Other top players: F Jada Williams (5-7, Jr.; 4 ppg, 2 rpg); G Cameryn Austin (5-4, So.; 4 ppg); F-C Khaylah Brewer (Jr.); F-G Sayde Valentine (5-7, Jr.).
- Outlook: “We are a young team, but we have some athletes, some talent and we are setting some goals for the program,” White says. “I like our team, especially our depth. I am very hopeful that we will see a vast improvement on last season’s record. A lot of the young ladies are learning to play basketball the way we want them to play. First focusing on improving on defense, learning to take care of the ball and trusting everyone on the floor will do their job to the best of their abilities.”
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
- Coach: Perry White (second year).
- Last season: 18-12, lost to Male, 80-49, in the first round of the Seventh Region Tournament.
- Player to watch: Emma Wesley. The 5-7 senior guard averaged a team-high 19 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on her way to earning first-team all-region honors last season. “She’s a warrior when she gets on the floor,” White says. “She’s very aggressive when she’s attacking the basket, she can go right or left. I think she’s underestimated on her defense.”
- Other top players: G Summer Conti (5-5, Sr.; 7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg); G Shelby Calhoun (5-9, Fr.; 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg); F Sarah McDonald (5-9, So.; 4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg); G Samantha Karst (So.; 3.8 ppg); F Mia Beam (Fr.).
- Outlook: Wesley and Conti, who White calls “the glue” of the Centurions, will lead a deceptively experienced squad. “On paper we look young, but two of our freshmen (Calhoun and Beam) and our two sophomores (McDonald and Hailey Ice) have played up on varsity the past two seasons,” White says. “That experience will help them in adjusting to more prominent roles this season.” Freshman Olivia Lawson and 5-11 senior Emma Frank, a transfer from Assumption who adds some much-needed height, will also play valuable roles, according to White.
EASTERN
- Coach: Josh Leslie (fifth year).
- Last season: 21-7, lost to Manual, 68-37, in the Seventh Region semifinals.
- Player to watch: Mikayla Kinnard. The 6-0 sophomore guard can do it all. She averaged 10 points and 6.1 rebounds on her way to earning first-team all-region honors last season.
- Other top players: G/F Natalie Collins (5-10, Sr.; 6.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg); G Briana Mishler (5-7, Jr.; 11.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); C Devin Beach (5-11, So., 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg); G Breanna Anthony (5-5, Jr., 2.8 ppg); G Kiara Pearl (5-9, So., 5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
- Outlook: Led by Kinnard and Collins, who has signed with Alabama A&M, the Eagles – region runners-up in 2015 – should be in contention again. One thing Eastern should be able to do, very well according to Leslie, is shoot the ball. Leslie is extremely happy with the cohesiveness of his squad. “I’d rather have this group than any other group,” he says.
KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY
- Coach: Nick Lepera (first year).
- Last season: 13-15, lost to Eastern, 69-13, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
- Player to watch: Olyvia Green. The 5-10 senior forward averaged 11 points per game in earning second-team all-region honors last season.
- Other top players: G Kierra Scott (5-10, Sr.; 6 ppg); F Tia Dowling (5-11, Sr.; 4 ppg); G Meghana Manchikalapudi (5-8, So.).
- Outlook: The Bearcats, the region’s reigning All ‘A’ champions, look to build off last season’s 13-win campaign. Lepera says he has a “strong group of seniors leading a young team with potential.”