BALLARD
- Coach: Carl White (first year).
- Last season: 10-15, lost to Eastern, 58-48, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
- Player to watch: Ebony Reed. The 6-0 senior forward-center is “very athletic and can play multiple positions on the floor,” according to White.
- Other top players: G-F Shania Beason (5-5, So.; 6.1 ppg, 5 rpg); G-F Jada Williams (5-6, So.; 4.7 ppg, 3 rpg); F Hannah Coleman (5-9, Sr.); F-G Sayde Valentine (5-7, So.).
- Outlook: The Bruins suffered heavy graduation losses and also lost sophomore standout Briana Mishler (12.9 ppg), who transferred to Eastern. “We play a very tough schedule with a team that doesn’t have a lot of experience, but our goal is to improve every day and hopefully be prepared by year end to make a run during the postseason,” White says. “Our young kids, especially our sophomores, have quite a bit of talent and it will be this staff’s job to develop that talent into a competitive team.”
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
- Coach: Perry White (first year).
- Last season: 15-14, lost to Eastern 48-46 in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
- Player to watch: Emma Bowman. The 5-10 senior center averaged 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season in earning second team all-region honors.
- Other top players: G Emma Wesley (5-7, Jr.; 12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg); G Summer Conti (5-5, Jr.; 9.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G Camryn White (5-8, Sr.); G Shelby Calhoun (5-9, 8th; 7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Sarah McDonald (5-9, Fr.; 2.3 ppg).
- Outlook: The Centurions don’t have a lot of size, so they’ll look to play fast this season. “We’re young, we’re not real deep, but what we do have is we’ve got a bunch of winners,” White says. “These girls play hard, they proved it over the summer, they can compete with anyone. I think we should be able to compete this year in the region and hopefully have a chance to go to state.”
EASTERN
- Coach: Josh Leslie (fourth year).
- Last season: 19-7, lost to Male, 62-45, in the Seventh Region final.
- Player to watch: Markeia Porter, the 5-9 senior guard, who averaged 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season, can “play every position on the floor,” according to Leslie.
- Other top players: G Shavia Thompson (5-6, Sr.; 12.9 ppg); G/F Natalie Collins (5-10, Jr.; 12.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Daija Stafford (5-4, Jr.; 7 ppg, 2.2 rpg); G Mikayla Kinnard (5-11, Fr.; 4.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg); F Alexis Smith (5-6, So.; 4 ppg, 4.4 rpg); G Briana Mishler (5-7, So.; 12.9 ppg at Ballard); G Bre Anthony (5-5, So.; 3 ppg); G Jamie Goulding (5-8, So.; 3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg); C Devin Beach (5-11, Fr.; 2.1 ppg); G Delaney Holeman (5-6, Sr.).
- Outlook: The Eagles, who surprised some with their run to the region title game last season, return their top eight players from last season and add Mishler to the mix. “I think that made our girls a little more hungry,” Leslie says. “They realize they were one step away from the whole thing. They’ve worked extremely hard in the offseason (and) they’ve worked a ton in the preseason.”
KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY
- Coach: Harry Hayes (fourth year).
- Last season: 11-13, lost to CAL, 61-21, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
- Player to watch: Ellie Domato. The senior guard is the Bearcats’ top returning scorer (4.9 ppg) from last season.
- Other top players: F Olyvia Green (Jr.; 3.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg); F Daria Eisenbrei (Sr.; 4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg); G Sara Smith (Sr; 2.2 ppg).
- Outlook: The Bearcats, the reigning region All ‘A’ champions, look to build off last season’s 11-win campaign.
