Friday, November 23, 2001
Mid-Miami League North Division
Panthers hope for another crown
1. SPRINGBORO
• POLL POINTS: 30 (five first-place votes from coaches voting in league poll)
• COACH: Rick Creager (20th season, 309-116)
• LAST YEAR: 21-2 (13-0, 1st, MML North)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Lindsay Wight, C Becky Ballard
• OUTLOOK: Four returning starters, three of whom are on pace to each reach the 1,000 career-point level this season, have the Panthers well-equipped to defend their MML North Division and Enquirer Division II-IV coaches poll championships.
Wight, a 5-11 senior who's bound for Ohio University, was named third-team all-state last season and is the top returning scorer after averaging 15 points per game. Wight, 6-foot senior guard Kelsey Sullivan (Miami of Ohio) and Ballard, a 5-11 senior, all should reach four figures in scoring this year after averaging in double figures last year. Nicole Wright, a 6-3 senior headed for Ashland, is the fourth returning starter.
The Panthers are strong along the front line, but Creager is concerned about their depth and lack of backcourt experience after Sullivan.
2. DAYTON CARROLL
• POLL POINTS: 24
• COACH: LaVonna Wilcox (third season, 21-21)
• LAST YEAR: 12-9 (10-3 MML)
• KEY PLAYERS: F-G Katie Streck, G Meghan McGloin
• OUTLOOK: Streck, a sophomore, and McGloin, the junior point guard, are two of four returning starters, but Wilcox is concerned about experience. The Patriots have just two seniors -- 3-point sharpshooters Kristin Giner and Jessica Stickel -- on the roster.
“We do not have experience off the bench,” Wilcox said. “This year, we're looking for the bench to play more, because they're looking like they can play, and we're looking to push the ball up court. Our tallest girl is 5-11. We're short and quick.”
That tallest girl is sophomore Lyndsey Herbig, a transfer from Chaminade-Julienne. Herbig is one of two transfers who should give Carroll a boost. The other is 5-10 Sabrina Naves, who played last season at Vandalia Butler.
3. MIAMISBURG
• POLL POINTS: 17
• COACH: Ron Russo (seventh season, record N/A; 204-131 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 11-10
• KEY PLAYERS: F Erin Arnett; F Lauren Campbell
• OUTLOOK: The Vikings will go as far as veteran forwards Arnett ( 9 points, 7 rebounds) and Campbell (7 points, 8 rebounds) can take them.
For Miamisburg to extend its streak of winning seasons to 11, it will need its sophomore guards to mature quickly. The schedule, which includes non-league games against Centerville, Chaminade-Julienne and Vandalia Butler, won't help.
4. LEBANON
• POLL POINTS: 11
• COACH: Tom Hoverman (21st season, 268-162)
• LAST YEAR: 6-15 (4-10 FAVC Cardinal)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Stephanie LeVan, C Katie Shaw
• OUTLOOK: The 2000-2001 Warriors had a losing record in the regular season for the first time since 1987. Six letterwinners -- three of them starters -- return, which means Lebanon could have an impact on its new league (they move back to the MML from the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Cardinal Division).
The 5-foot-10 LeVan averaged eight rebounds per game as a junior. The 5-8 Shaw, who's also a senior, is Lebanon's top returning scorer after averaging 8.7 points per game last year. Senior guard Ashley Ball led the Warriors in assists last season.
“We have good team speed, with quickness at the forward and guard spots,” said Hoverman, who also likes his depth. The Warriors can go at least eight deep.
5. FAIRBORN
• POLL POINTS: 10
• COACH: Todd Shuttleworth (second season, 2-19).
• LAST YEAR: 2-19 (0-14)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Laura Ratcliffe, F Shannon McLaughlin
• OUTLOOK: The Skyhawks struggled while playing four freshmen for most of last season. Second-year coach Todd Shuttleworth is hoping the experience pays off as Fairborn moves into a new league.
The freshmen should be helped by the experience of three-year starter Laura Ratcliffe, a 5-9 senior forward, and two-year starter Shannon McLaughlin, a 5-7 senior forward. The Skyhawks also are hoping that 6-foot sophomore Danielle Dukes develops quickly in her first season on the varsity.
“We're a lot better because we're a year older,” Shuttleworth said.
6. DAYTON STEBBINS
• POLL POINTS: 6
• COACH: DENNIS WAHLE (second season, 4-16)
• LAST YEAR: 4-16 (1-12 MML)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Chris Compston, C Krista Bentrup
• OUTLOOK: Wahle expects to see a much-improved Indians team, but whether that will show up in wins while negotiating through a tough MML is difficult to say.
Senior Chris Compston, last year's top scorer (7.3) and rebounder (7.4) as a forward, will move to point guard this season. Stebbins also is counting on contributions from 5-9 junior center Krista Bentrup, 5-5 junior guard Katie Newhouse and 5-6 senior forward Erin Linaberry.
“We play in the very difficult North Division of the MML, and we're expected to finish at the bottom,” Wahle said. “However, we will be a much improved team over last year. The system is starting to take root, and we expect to see more offensive production this year.”
Sports Stories
Kitna's support remains steady
Bengals want one for the road
St. X's Hurley settles into role
Coffman in unfamiliar territory
Paintsville to test NewCath in semis
NewCath vs. Paintsville preview
UC women in soccer Sweet 16
Huggins-Spoonhour friendship endures
No. 5 Missouri sees itself in Xavier
Mid-Miami League North Division
