COLLINS
Coach: Sean Pigman (second year)
Last season: 18-13, lost to Simon Kenton 68-42 in the first round of the Eighth Region Tournament.
Player to watch: Hannah Renfro, a 5-11 power forward who is a three-year starter, is the only senior on the Collins team. “She’s a hard worker,” Pigman said. “She’s the ultimate team player. She’s obviously our senior leader.”
Other players: F Hannah Cleary (5-7 Jr. 0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg), G Olivia Federle (5-6 Fr. 9.2, 2.7 rpg), G Carson Murray (5-6 So., 5.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg), G Jeian Hayes (5-8 So., 5.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg), G Hallie Renfro (5-6 So., 1.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg), C Mary- Clare Megibbon (6-2 So., 0.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg), F Trinity Warfield (6-0 So., 2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).
Outlook: The Titans have just one senior and one junior on their roster. “I only have one girl who is old enough to drive,” Pigman said. “The next two senior nights are going to be pretty lonely. But it bodes well for our future. … We can shoot the ball a lot better this year. We want to develop an inside-outside balance threat on the offensive end.”
NORTH OLDHAM
Coach: Dan Pfaff (sixth year).
Last season: 13-14, lost to Trimble County 70-45 in the first round of the 29th District Tournament.
Player to watch: Ann Thomas-Proctor (8.0 ppg), a 5-4 junior guard who was the primary ballhandler a year ago, will be asked to score more for the Mustangs this season. “She will be asked to do more at the offensive end,” Pfaff said.
Other players: G Sarah Fiorito (5-7 So., 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg), G Caitlyn Chen (5-6 Jr., 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
Outlook: The Mustangs must replace Cat Fiorito, last year’s leading scorer (15.3 ppg) and the school’s second all-time leading scorer who now plays at Wooster College in Ohio. “I know I have a team with a lot of energy,” Pfaff said. “We’re going to be really strong defensively. We’ll get some offense from our (pressure) defense. We’re going to play hard at the offensive and defensive ends.”
OLDHAM COUNTY
Coach: Chris Jefferson (first year)
Last season: 12-18, lost to Owen County 62-46 in first round of the Eighth Region Tournament.
Player to watch: Kylee Neurnberger, a 5-7 senior guard, averaged 13.2 points last season. “She can really get to the rim,” Jefferson said. “She can step out and hit a three-pointer. She really is a multiple-dimensional player for us.”
Other players: G/F Sophia Head (5-7 So., 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg), G Alexis Head (5-7 So., 6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), F Ali Korzeniowski (5-10 Sr., 4.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg), F Madison Clark (5-7 Fr., 6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), G Audrey Gast (5-4, Fr., 2.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg), F Lakynn Goldsmith (5-10 Fr., 1.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Jordan Simpson (5-8 Jr., 1.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg).
Outlook: Jefferson is Oldham County’s third coach in four years and admitted he’s taking it day by day. “We’re trying to install a new system for this kids,” he said. “We’re approaching it on a day-by-day, a game-by-game basis. First of all, we want to have great teammates. We’ve got great kids with good character. We want to enjoy the process. I think the process will drive the results.”
SHELBY COUNTY
Coach: Jason Holland (third season)
Last season: 22-6, lost to Collins 43-39 in first round of the 30th District Tournament.
Player to watch: Zebhy Gray, a 5-6 guard, averaged just a shade under 10 points last year. “She’s got a college basketball body,” Holland said. “She has really improved her shot. She’s really good at getting to the rim. She’s got a bright future. If she was 5-9, she’d get Division I looks. She needs to have a big year for us. She’s a great on-the-ball defender.”
Other players: G Zoey Holland (5-7 So., 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg) F Jenna Jones (5-10, Jr., 3.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), C Amy Conley (6-1 Jr., 7.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) F Alyssa Roberts (5-8 Jr., 3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg).
Outlook: The Rockets don’t a have a lot of size, so Holland said 6-foot-1 Amy Conley must stay on the floor. “She’s one of the top thee (post players) in our region,” he said. After a poor practice Monday, Holland said he stressed to his team they can’t have wasted days. “We have a team in our region (Simon Kenton) that could win the state championship,” he said. “Simon Kenton — they’re absolutely loaded. We can’t have wasted days.”
SOUTH OLDHAM
Coach: Gene Heffington (second year)
Last season: 7-20, lost to Oldham County 65-57 in the first round of the 29th District Tournament.
Player to watch: The Dragons are led by Sydney Herold, a 5-8 combo guard who averaged 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a junior. “Her basketball IQ is outstanding,” Huffington said. “She understand the game so well and she’s very unselfish. She’s a great shooter.”
Other players: F Maggie Smith (5-9 Jr., 7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Lexi Bowden (5-9 Jr., 4.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), G Peyton Herold (5-7 Soph., 4.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg), F Abby Miles (5-10 Soph., 0.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg), G Skylar Sahatjian (5-5 Fr., 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg).
Outlook: The Dragons only won seven games a year ago, but Heffington believes brighter days are on the horizon because of solid depth and better size. Heffington said the Dragons will try to push the ball and play up-tempo. “I think we’ll be really good in transition,” he said. “And, I think we’ll be solid defensively.” Despite playing in a tough district, Heffington said the goal is to advance to the Eighth Region Tournament. “I think we’ll be OK this year,” he said.
SPENCER COUNTY
Coach: Brandy Scott (third year)
Last season: 11-19, lost to Anderson County 58-25 in the first round of the 30th District Tournament.
Players to watch: The Bears return several solid players, including guards Alyssa Howie and Lauren Lambdin. Both were double-digit scorers a year ago. Howie is a 5-6 sophomore and one of four team captains. “She’s very aggressive at both the offensive and defensive ends,” Scott said. Scott said Lambdin can really get the ball to the right spots. “She sees the floor really well,” she said.
Other players: F Audrey Michels (5-8 Jr., 4.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg), C Chelsea Stevens (6-1 Jr., 9.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), F Abby Myers (5-9 Jr., 8.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), G Angela Le (5-6, Sr., 0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg), F/C Haylee Cox (6-2 So., 4.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
Outlook: “I’m really excited,” Scott said. “We’re really meshing together. We have a great attitude.” During the off-season Scott said the team started cross-fit workouts and is in better physical condition. “They’re stronger,” she said. “We’re a lot quicker, and we’ll be fast.” One of Spencer County’s goals is to break a 15-year-plus winless streak against teams in the 30th District. “One of our goals is to be in the district championship game this year,” she said.