Girls' basketball preview: State champion Millbrook a target for district teams

But all four are gone now and each is on a college roster this winter.

With the “Fantastic Four” having graduated (taking their 62.1 points per game with them), will the Pioneers still be the team to beat in the Class 4 Northwestern District?

Coach Erick Green Sr. and his team believe so.

“They’re excited,” Green said after his team opened the season with a 71-18 win over Warren County on Tuesday. “It’s a great group of girls and I think it’s going to be another exciting year. The legacy continues for Millbrook basketball as long as we stay healthy, hungry and humble.”

But with the Pioneers’ loss of such outstanding talent, some district coaches feel the district is up for grabs.

“It’s going to be one of those now in the district where the team that shows up to play is going to be the team that comes down with the victory,” James Wood coach Krista Crites said. “I feel like there’s no dominant team. I think there’s a lot of teams that have a lot of talent and a lot of youth. … I think it’s anybody’s district at this point.”

“Obviously I expect them to be very competitive and a team to beat,” Handley coach Randi Jones said. “But the intimidation and fear that teams have had of Millbrook for the last 10 years because they have been loaded is not as intimidating. I expect still them to be good, but to go into a season knowing they don’t have the returners like they’ve had in the past is a huge confidence boost for everyone in the district.”

Others say, Millbrook is still the favorite.

“Until you defeat the king, the king is still the king,” Sherando coach Mike Marsh said. “They have a couple of players back from a squad that was very successful, so they’ve learned how to be successful. Until someone is able to to take them out or take over, they are still the ones in charge.”

Regardless of just how vulnerable the Pioneers are, they will be every team’s target.

“We know that,” said Green, who is now 57-2 with the Pioneers. “Everybody wants to beat Millbrook. The girls understand that. That was the first thing we talked about when we got together was that, ‘Hey, no matter what team we are, people are going to say we’re down and this is the year to get Millbrook.’ The girls love to hear that because they come out trying to show everybody, ‘Look, we’re not going to lay down. We’re going to fight. We’re going to stand up and you’re not going to walk over us.”

The Pioneers do return junior forward Ali Hauck, who was among the area’s top rebounders (8.2 per game). Hauck’s play was huge in the title run after McDonald went down late in the season with a knee injury.

Seniors Jalyn Abernathy and Hailey Paige each played significant minutes in the Pioneers’ 53-46 win over Lake Taylor in the state title game. Emily Magee, who saw minutes last season, is a three-point threat.

From there, it will be a lot of new faces in the Millbrook lineup. Forward Cianna Harrison is a transfer from Martinsburg (W.Va.). Freshman guard Avery O’Roke joined Harrison in the starting lineup in the opener. Green expects several younger players to contribute.

“Emily Magee has done a great job working on her shooting,” Green said. “Ali just dominates the post area. Jalyn is our defensive presence and applies the pressure on the outside. Our freshman guard Avery is quick, fast and is a pure point guard. She runs the offense. Hailey Paige is another outstanding athlete and controls the boards with Ali. And we picked up Cianna Harrison and she knows how to play the game and she gets after it. I’m excited with this group. I really am.”

James Wood (17-7 last season) returns several experienced players, including the area’s top scorer Makayla Firebaugh. The junior did it all for the Colonels, leading the team with 19.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.8 assists per game. Firebaugh shot 46 percent from the floor and 72 percent from the line.

“Makayla Firebaugh is one of a kind,” Crites said. “She gets better each year. I’ve given her things I’ve wanted her to work on each year and she improves each time. She is much better defensively this year. She is a lot stronger and more of a vocal leader. She has found more ways to score. … She has improved on her range of shots. She’s definitely ready to play some basketball.”

Crites expects some newcomers to make impacts, but she knows she can rely on point guard Jenny Kerns and guard Brenna Prunty.

“Jenny is playing the best that I have seen her play in three years,” Crites said. “She’s stealing the ball well. She’s seeing the floor a lot better and she’s starting to score more. Brenna defensively, she is still exactly where she needs to be and she’s starting to score more.”

Sherando has many holes to fill in its lineup with the graduation of four starters. The Warriors (14-10 last season) do return leading scorer Ashton Clark (9.8), but have only three others who saw significant action last season. Marsh said newcomers Gabrielle and Carmela Valentinetti have shown promise and junior Abbie Dodson, who missed all of last season with an injury, returns to the varsity.

“We’re really young,” Marsh said. “This is one of the youngest teams, when it comes to inexperience, that I’ve ever coached. We’re learning fast, but we have a long way to go. … It’s finding that team chemistry when you have so many new pieces to put together that’s going to take a little time to do that.”

Handley will look to build on a remarkable turnaround last season. Coming off a 2-19 campaign, the Judges went 12-11.

Handley returns its top three scorers — forward Taylor Beard (9.8), guard McKenzie Joliffe (9.7) and guard Neysha Washington (9.1). The Judges also have back top rebounders Beard (8.8) and center Kiah McFarlane (8.0).

“It helps a ton,” said Jones of having back those four players. “Last year, any win we got was like, ‘Oh my gosh we got a win’ because the year before we only had two. Being able to return four starters who have experience winning … and now that they tasted it there’s a higher expectation because they know what we’re capable of. Now there’s a new confidence and hunger as we start the season.”

Liberty (17-7, 9-3) was runner-up in the district last season, while Fauquier (2-19, 2-10) and Kettle Run (2-17, 1-11) were at the bottom of the standings.

Clarke County struggled at 8-17 last season and lost top scorer Megan Hicks (12.5) to graduation.

Coach Regina Downing says the Eagles will look for defense and balanced scoring as they try to tackle a “loaded” Bull Run District with George Mason, Central and Strasburg seen as favorites. Sara Murray (7) and Raegan Owens (6) led Clarke County in scoring in a season-opening loss against Broadway.

“I think that we are quick and put a lot of emphasis on defense,” she said. “Our goal is to really be a good defensive team this year. … We have several young ladies that can lead us in scoring. I expect each young lady’s scoring average to be within tenths of a point. I really expect our scoring to be balanced.”

Millbrook

Coach: Erick Green Sr., third season

Last year: 28-0 overall, 12-0 Class 4 Northwestern District. Class 4 state champion, Region 4 C champion, Class 4 Northwestern District regular-season and tournament champion.

Key losses: Amari Anthony, Maddie Green, Haile McDonald, Erika Reed, Lexi Kier

Top returning players: Ali Hauck, Jr., forward/center; Jalyn Abernathy, Sr., guard; Hailey Paige, Sr., forward; Emily Magee, Jr., guard

Key newcomers: Cianna Harrison, Jr., forward; Avery O’Roke, Fr., guard; Vanessa Cooper, Jr., guard; Jenna McClung, Fr., guard;

Green’s outlook: “I don’t want to sound cocky, but the girls will tell you that I only expect one thing and that’s a state championship. I didn’t come to Millbrook to finish in second place. Our goal is to win the state championship.”

Next game: vs. Woodgrove, Tuesday

James Wood

Coach: Krista Crites, sixth season

Last year: 17-7 overall, 7-5 Class 4 Northwestern District

Key losses: Amber Wooldridge, Donyell Sloane, Brittany Haney, Savannah Swanner, Ellie Salvatore

Top returning players: Makayla Firebaugh, Jr. guard; Brenna Prunty, Jr. guard, Jenny Kerns, Jr., point guard; Stephanie Smith, Jr., forward; Sue Carter, Jr., guard/forward; Emma VanHorn, Sr., guard; Kora Hall, Sr., center/forward

Top newcomers: Brooklyn Crate, So., guard; Jenna Burkhamer, So., forward; Olivia Miller, So., guard; Berkeley Frank, Jr., guard

Crites’ outlook: “I think we’re going to be right there in the mix if we play ball. I think we are going to do as well as we want to do. If we go in with the mindset and play the way we know how to play, then we are going to be a difficult opponent. If we go in and don’t do the things we need to do and don’t care of the basketball, then it’s going to be a long night.”

Next game: at Strasburg, Friday