Girls’ Basketball Outlook

Posted: December 5, 2015
By ROBERT STOCKS
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — With three teams returning at least one player who ranked in the top 15 in scoring last year, most area girls’ basketball teams aren’t lacking when it comes to go-to players.

Millbrook, who went 19-7 overall, 8-0 in Northwestern District play a season ago, is the only team with multiple players who fit the aforementioned description.

The Pioneers return three players — senior Lauren Reed and sophomores Maddie Green and Erika Reed — ranked in the top 15. Lauren Reed (18.3) returns as the area’s leading scorer, Green (11.0) ranked 12th and Erika Reed (10.5) ranked 14th, giving Millbrook plenty of scoring options.

And those three all finished with double figures in Millbrook’s season opener but sophomore Haile McDonald — who scored a game-high 19 points — led the way in the Pioneers’ 77-55 victory over Woodgrove on Tuesday night.

Pioneers second-year coach Kevin Barr has put together a competitive schedule that includes defending Group 4A champion Monacan (away, Dec. 12, 4:30 p.m.) and Group 3A state runner-up Broadway (at home on Dec. 11 and away on Dec. 19) that will test his team. He liked that his players shared the ball so well in the opener against the Wolverines.

“We had four girls in double figures — and at the end of the game where kids could’ve padded their stats — they passed the ball to get other people to score,” Barr said. “We have five or six kids who can score at will. It’s a matter of finding the hot hand and Haile had the hot hand and we kept getting the ball to her in the post.”

With Lauren Reed, Green and Erika Reed returning, the Pioneers possess plenty of perimeter scoring options who can also slash to the basket and they also have two solid post players in Amari Anthony and McDonald.

Millbrook only lost Mia VanderToorn to graduation but the Pioneers must fill three other spots after Joneisha Cain transferred to Handley and both Tymber Minnick and Kelli White transferred to Sherando.

With defending conference champ Loudoun County no longer in the new Conference 21A, the Pioneers’ main competition might come from their city and county foes. Three other area Group 4A teams — James Wood (17), Sherando (14) and Handley (14) — won at least 14 games a season ago and should be competitive again.

“There’s a lot of good players for each team so it’s not going to be an easy road to get where teams want to be,” Barr said. “It’s going to be an interesting season. I don’t think any team is going to run away with it. I think [teams] are always gunning for us just because of the success we’ve had over the years. But we just need to concentrate on what we do and focus on what we do in practice and carrying it over to the games.

“The girls will come out and match other team’s intensity. Practice can be a drag sometimes so when they get out on the court I know they’ll be ready to play.”

James Wood, coming off a 17-7 (4-4 Northwestern District) season, lost five players to graduation, including four starters, but still returns senior point guard Keiana Brooks (15.3 points, an area-best 5.8 assists and 5.4 steals).

The Colonels opened the season with a 59-42 win over Warren County on Wednesday and then defeated Clarke County 61-36 in their home opener on Thursday night.

“It’s hard losing four of five starters,” said James Wood third-year coach Krista Crites. “But the younger players are stepping up and contributing. I don’t look at it as a rebuilding year.”

Handley, who went 14-7 last year, returns seniors Angelica Robinson (16.8 points, an area-best 11.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks) and Alysandra Worrell (14.1 points). Add in Cain, who can knock down shots from 3-point range, and the Judges should be much improved as they join Conference 21A — which now includes Millbrook, James Wood, Sherando, Woodgrove and Harrisonburg — after being a member of Conference 23 last season.

“I think it will be very competitive,” said Handley second-year coach Randi Jones of the district and conference competition. “All teams have strong returning players and the potential to finish first. We are a very experienced team with six seniors and are working hard to finish on top.”

In addition to James Wood, Sherando and Clarke County had the most roster turnover.

The Warriors also lost four starters to graduation, including Heidi Brown (18.3 points, 2.4 blocks — who now plays for Virginia Tech), Jess Hakel (13.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.8 steals), Erin Magalis (3.3 assists) and Audra Sites.

Sherando third-year coach Mike Marsh said the local rivalry games should be interesting.

“We know that every team we play will be solid,” said Marsh, whose team is off to a 2-0 start. “James Wood is returning good kids, Millbrook is returning all five starters and Handley has some good kids. Right now, Millbrook is the reigning district champ with five returning starters so you’d expect them to be favorites. I think everybody has them in their sights — not just us. But it’s a long time before we see [Millbrook] and we just want to get better as a team.”

Clarke County (1-1) must replace five players, including Sydney Chrane (15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.1 assists) and Anna Blue Catlett (15.4 points, 2.7 steals, who are both at Division II Harding University this season), from last year’s team that went 28-2 (16-0 Bull Run District) and won the regional championship before falling in the Group 2A state semifinals to Floyd County 63-47.

Eagles third-year coach Regina Downing said it will take some time for this year’s team to develop.

“I feel like we’ll be back in the mix once conference time comes around,” Downing said. “Defensively, we’re going to be pretty tough. We’re quicker and we can get after you on the perimeter. The kids are tough. They’re young, but they’re working hard and they get after one another in practice.”

Here’s a glance at the area teams:

Millbrook

Coach: Kevin Barr, second year

Last year: 19-7, 8-0 Northwestern District, Conference 21 runner-up, lost to Charlottesville 4A North Region quarterfinals.

Key losses: Mia VanderToorn, Tymber Minnick, Kelli White and Joneisha Cain.

Top returning players: Lauren Reed, Sr. G/F; Erika Reed, Soph. G/F; Maddie Green, Soph. G; Haile McDonald, Soph. Post; Amari Anthony, Soph. Post; Emily Teese Sr. Post; Lily Treiber Jr. Post.

Top newcomers: Carrington Nordin, Soph. G; Lexi Kier, Soph. F

Barr’s outlook: “We lost a couple people and added a couple people but the expectations are the same. We have good ball handling and we’re a pretty well-rounded team. The more we play the better we’ll get playing together. I look at other teams we match up pretty well with anybody.”

Next game: Tuesday, at Spotswood, 7:30 p.m.

Handley

Coach: Randi Jones, second year

Last year: 14-7 (3-5 Northwestern)

Key losses: Miriah Smith.

Top returning players: Angelica Robinson, Sr. F; Alysandra Worrell, Sr. G; Madi Woodson, Sr. F; Taneisha Walker, Jr. G.

Top newcomers: Joneisha Cain, Sr. G (transfer from Millbrook); Jontaysia Cain, Soph. F (transfer from Millbrook); Chloe Putnam, Fr. F.

Jones’ outlook: “We have the ability to put points on the board but it will come down to execution and applying defensive pressure. We have several offensive go-to players. With the addition of [Joneisha] Cain, we have another threat from long range.”

Next game: Tonight, vs. Harrisonburg, 6 p.m.

Sherando

Coach: Mike Marsh, third year

Last year: 14-10 (5-3 Northwestern District)

Key losses: Heidi Brown, Jess Hakel, Erin Magalis and Audra Sites.

Top returning players: Davina Lane, Jr. G; Madison Leckie, Sr. G; Kathryn Robertson, Soph. G; Allison Combs, Sr. C; Becca Travis, Jr. G-F; Kali Kremer, Sr. F; Madison Clark, Sr. F.

Top newcomers: Kelli White, Jr. G (transfer from Millbrook); Tymber Minnick, Jr. F (transfer from Millbrook); Ali Goff, Jr. PG (transfer from Eastern View); Amber Garrrett, Soph. G; Abigail Henderson, Jr. C.

Marsh’s outlook: “We’re very athletic across the board we have a lot of kids who can play at a lot of positions. We lost 87 percent of our offense and a good chunk of rebounding. We have a lot to replace but they’ve done a good job working on trying to do that.

“We’re just trying to develop the whole team. We’re trying combinations and some don’t work and some do — so it’s a learning process for everybody. There’s a learning curve there. Everybody needs to understand what we want to accomplish. We’ve started well but we have to continue to get better.”

Next game: Tuesday, vs. Washington (W.Va.), 6 p.m.

James Wood

Coach: Krista Crites, third year

Last year: 17-7 (4-4 Northwestern), lost to Millbrook in the conference tournament semifinals.

Key losses: Dani Rizzari, Kaitlyn Crane, Emily Woods-Hulse, Morgan Duncan and Sarah Johnson.

Top returning players: Keiana Brooks, Sr. PG; Hannah Arnold, Jr. G-F; Amanda Christian, Jr. G; Randi Pusey, Jr. G; Grace Greene, Sr. G-F.

Top newcomers: Amber Wooldridge, Soph. G; Karmen Grimes, Sr. C-F; Hannah Burke, Jr. F; Brittany Haney, Soph. G; Cassidy Sparrow, Soph. F; Dy’Avean Sloane, Jr. G.

Outlook: “Our biggest strength is our youth but it’s also our biggest weakness. We’re young but we’re working hard and working well together and they bring a lot of energy. Our defense is our strength. Our defense leads to our offense and that’s what happened [in the season-opening win over Warren County].”

Next game: Tuesday, at Woodgrove, 7:15 p.m.

Clarke County

Coach: Regina Downing, third year

Last year: 28-2, 16-0 Bull Run District, Bull Run District Tournament champion, 2A East Region champion and Group 2A state semifinalist.

Key losses: Sydney Chrane, Anna Blue Catlett, Allie Hicks, Kenzie Kibler and Kolby Parrott.

Top returning players: Hannah Ravenscroft, Sr. G; Jade Payton, Jr. G; Emily Wenzel, Soph G-F, Megan Hicks, Soph. G; Morgan Withers Jr. G.

Top newcomers: Jayla Stephenson, Jr. G; Allegra Eyles Sr. F, Cami Sowers, Fr. F-C, Rachel Oliver, Fr. F-C, Heather See, Fr. G-F.

Outlook: “We’re young and I’ve got two returning players that’s hurt right now in Megan and Emily. It will be a slow start for us. We’re young but I think we’ll be extremely good on the defensive end by mid-season. To replace that senior [class], they knew what I wanted, so we’re learning where our scoring is going to come from. Once we get where our scoring comes from, we’ll be right there.”

Next game: Tuesday, vs. Luray, 7:30 p.m.

— Contact Robert Stocks at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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