Friday, November 23, 2001
Girls Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet Division
Bulldogs hope to feed off last year
1. ST. URSULA
• POLL POINTS: 55 (five first-place votes in poll of league coaches)
• COACH: Tim Ballinger (sixth season, 12-12; 85-30 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 12-12 (4-6 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Kristen Mahon; F-C Monica Naltner; F Kacee Grogan.
• OUTLOOK: Look past the .500 record: St. Ursula was one of Southwest Ohio's best teams at the end of last season. It wasn't until the postseason tournament that the Bulldogs came together, winning sectional and district championships before losing to eventualy state champion Beavercreek.
Ballinger returns the entire starting lineup and if the confidence and momentum carries over, St. Ursula will be one of the best Division I teams in Cincinnati.
Junior point guard Kristen Mahon will direct the offense, and she has plenty of talent around her. Post player Monica Naltner and forward Kacee Grogan, both juniors, are potential Division I college talents. Guard Amy Schroeder, the only senior starter, is dangerous from the perimeter.
2. SETON
• POLL POINTS: 27 (1)
• COACH: Mark Thompson (second season, 12-10; 12-10 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 12-10 (6-4 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Mary Kelsey; G Julie Robbins.
• OUTLOOK: The outside duo of senior guards Mary Kelsey and Julie Robbins is one of the best in Cincinnati and gives Thompson a solid foundation to build on.
Kelsey comes from a basketball family, including brothers Pat (Elder, Xavier) and Mike (Elder, NKU) and sister Katie (Roger Bacon, NKU). Robbins, an all-district first-team player last year, averaged 16.5 points.
Another senior expected to play a key role is Brittney Hyde. Elise Meyer and Amy Schiller also earned starting positions.
“If we stay healthy, we'll be pretty good,” Thompson said. “Leadership will come from the three seniors and we'll be good offensively, especially in transition.”
3. MOUNT NOTRE DAME
• POLL POINTS: 22
• COACH: Scott Rogers (first season)
• LAST YEAR: 10-11 (3-7 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Mel Thomas; F Ali Rohlfs.
• OUTLOOK: Adapting to first-year coach Scott Rogers may be the most difficult task for a Cougar team that graduated three senior starters and returns sophomores Mel Thomas and Ali Rohlfs.
A first-team Enquirer All-Star, Thomas led MND in about every cataegory including scoring (411 points), rebounding (115) and 3-point field goals (50).
Rohlfs, just a sophomore, also played an important role with a team-high 31 steals, 79 rebounds, and 18 assists.
The success or failure of the Cougars may be determined by how the unproven players step up. MND needs contributions from untested seniors Jaclyn Hughes and Traci Hogan and juniors Emily Holthaus and Jess Cook.
4. MOTHER OF MERCY
• POLL POINTS: 21
• COACH: Mary Jo Huismann (30th season, 20-5; 485-159 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 20-5 (9-1 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Jennifer Winright; F Maria Dehne.
• OUTLOOK: The Bobcats lost three inside players to graduation from a team that reached the regional final before losing to eventual state champion Beavercreek. Still, it would be a mistake taking veteran coach Mary Jo Huismann's team lightly.
Speedy guard Jennifer Winright (7.3 points), the only returning starter, will be the leader from the guard position. Maria Dehne, a 6-foot-1 senior center, the strength in the middle.
As usual, the schedule is unforgiving, with league rivals like Seton, St. Ursula and Mount Notre Dame, and perennial Ohio big-school power Pickerington.
5. URSULINE
• POLL POINTS: 12
• COACH: Dan Brandenberg (first season, 139-84 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 11-9 (6-4 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G/F Maria Walker; F/C Jackie Obert; G Alyssa Howell
• OUTLOOK: Former Hamilton coach Dan Brandenberg comes out of retirement to take over the program, and he inherits a team loaded with depth, height, good outside shooters and a desire to win.
Senior Maria Walker is the top returning player with veterans Jackie Obert and Alyssa Howell also expected to show leadership for a team mostly comprising juniors and sophomores. Brandenberg hopes the team's youthful exuberance helps compensate for a lack of experience.
6. McAULEY
• POLL POINTS: 8
• COACH: Mike Gleason (12th season, 119-124)
• LAST YEAR: 12-10 (2-8 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Amanda Hoffman, F Nicole Koenig, C Julie Rosing
• OUTLOOK: The strength of the team is the returning post starters, 5-11 Nicole Koenig and 5-11 Julie Rosing, who are strong on both ends of the floor.
Guard Amanda Hoffman, a three-year starter, provides leadership, defense and scoring (6.4 ppg last year, most among returning players.
For the Mohawks to make it three straight winning seasons, a number of inexperienced players will have to mature in a hurry. McAuley has seven first-year varsity players.
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Girls Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet Division 
