Friday, November 23, 2001
Miami Valley Conference
Experience on Trojans' side
1. NORTH COLLEGE HILL
• POLL POINTS: 68 (6 first-place votes from league coaches)
• COACH: Joanna Sears (second season, 18-5; 18-5 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 18-5 (13-3 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G/F Michele Miller; F Amber Flynn.
• OUTLOOK: Experience and quickness at every position are the strengths of a Trojan team expected to dominate in the tough MVC.
Two-year starters Michele Miller and Amber Flynn will provide a major part of the offense with LaTosha and Shamika Johnson running the show from the guard positions.
The Trojans will also be strong defensively but a lack of depth could prove tough to overcome if the starters get in foul trouble.
2. SEVEN HILLS (1)
• POLL POINTS: 62 (1)
• COACH: Todd Benzinger (third season, 24-22; 24-22 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 10-13 (8-8 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Tyler McIlwraith; C Melanie McGraw.
• OUTLOOK: The return of Melanie McGraw, Tyler McIlwraith"Mac Attack' is back and coupled with transfers Tara Herves (Princeton) and Amanda Irwin (Reading), the Stingers are expected to challenge for the league championship.
Junior Tyler McIlwraith, a first team Cincinnati Enquirer All Star last season, is expected to improve on the 19.7 scoring and 8.8 rebound average.
After spending a year in Venezuela, Melanie McGraw (5-foot-10 junior center, rejoins McIlwraith and junior point guard Sarah McHugh to form a trio that may be second to none in Cincinnati.
“Overall size and experience are our strengths,” Benzinger said. “But a lack of playing together is a weakness but this will improve as the season goes on.
3. CINCINNATI HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• POLL POINTS: 57 (1)
• COACH: Tim Southerland (seventh season, 116-20; 116-20 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 19-4 (14-2 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Robyn Shipley; G/F Kristen Humphrey, F Abbe Peters
• OUTLOOK: If there is such a thing at CHCA, this will be a reloading season with coach Tim Southerland expected to start three sophomores and two juniors.
“WE had a great season for being so young last year,” Southerland said. “We won the league for the fifth consecutive time but lost to Wyoming in the sectional final.”
Sophomore Robyn Shipley, one of the best 3-point shooters in Cincinnati as a freshman, will trigger a potent offense that includes transfers Amber James and Temisha Bankston and returning starters Kristen Humphrey and Abbe Peters.
4. LANDMARK CHRISTIAN
• POLL POINTS: 50
• COACH: John Snell (first season)
• LAST YEAR: 16-5 (11-5 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Ashley Oliver; G Amy Sebastian; G Codi Jaeger.
• OUTLOOK: Due to a lack of size, the Golden Eagles will go with a fast-break offense while pressuring the entire length of the floor on defense.
Amy Sebastian and Codi Jaeger are the outside shooting threats with Shannon Gresham and Ashley Oliver expected to control the board and score on the inside.
The Golden Eagles could start slowly while the players adapt to first-year coach John Snell.
5. CINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY
• POLL POINTS: 44
• COACH: Mary Zimmerman (third season, 19-5; 36-11 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 19-5 (14-2 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Ashley Baker; F Palmer Fitzhugh; G Stefanie Reiber.
• OUTLOOK: Although the Indian return four starters, repeating as c-champs in the MVC won't be an easy task.
Balanced scoring will be one of the many strengths with Baker (9.8 ppg), Fitzhugh (9.4 ppg) and Reiber (8.8 ppg) the anticipated leaders.
The Indians are also blessed with good quickness and speed as well as depth with a strong group of juniors and sophomore pushing the starters for playing time.
6. SUMMIT COUNTRY DAY
• POLL POINTS: 36
• COACH: Beth Simmons (first season)
• LAST YEAR: 11-12 (6-10 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Kendelle Lydon; G Carrie Haas.
• OUTLOOK: Senior point guard Carrie Haas is the key player for an uptempo Silver Knight team that will also rely on senior inside players Kendelle Lydon and Dominque Hardy.
However, Summit lacks experience (two returning varsity players) with two freshmen gievn a good chance to earn starting positions. This could be offset by outstanding quickness and the uptempo game.
7. ST. BERNARD
• POLL POINTS: 20
• COACH: Aaron Brose (first season)
• LAST YEAR: 3-18 (3-13 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: C Jennifer Prather; F Chassidy Simos
• OUTLOOK: After using all underclassmen during the 2000-2001 season, the Titans will be a more experienced team with four starters back.
Sophomores Jennifer Prather (6-foot center) and Amy Burkhardt (5-foot-9 foward), must win the inside battle for the Titans to compete in a league loaded with outstanding post players.
The Titans strength in on the perimeter with Elizabeth McPartlin and Chrissy Ellis the major threats along with Ashleigh Hendricks the medium range scoring threat.
8. LOCKLAND
• POLL POINTS: 18
• COACH: Nick Schierloh (second season, 3-17; 3-17 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 3-17 (3-15 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Carla Freeman; C Lindsay Urton
• OUTLOOK: The Panthers strength will be on the inside where Freeman, a 5-foot-8 senior forward, and 6-foot junior center Lindsay Urton and senior (5-10) Ashley Cromer will rule.
If senior guards Tricia Sickinger and Amber Robbins contribute as expected, the Panthers will be an improved team and will post a better record.
9. NEW MIAMI
• POLL POINTS: 10
• COACH: Tim Augustine (first season)
• LAST YEAR: 1-20 (0-16 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F/C Elizabeth Proffitt; F Aubrey Ritchie; G Susan Faulkner.
• OUTLOOK: The Vikings will field an experienced team with six seniors and standout junior Aubrey Ritchie, a 5-foot-11 forward/center.
Twin tower sophomores Krisynthia Johnson (5-11) and Tosha Lay (5-11) gives first-year coach Tim Augustine added height on the inside with guard Susan Faulkner erunning the show at guard.
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Miami Valley Conference
