Friday, November 23, 2001
Cincinnati Hills League
1. MADEIRA
• POLL POINTS: 60 (four first-place votes from league coaches)
• COACH: Dave Schlensker (eighth season, 108-49; 224 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 17-4 (12-2 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Amanda Davis; C Lindsey Barnhart; G Amy Mackris
• OUTLOOK: The bar has been raised at Madeira. The Amazons lost only four games last season, but two losses to Wyoming cost them a Cincinnati Hills League title. Madeira has the talent to not only extend their streak of seven straight winning seasons, but to possibly end Wyoming's vise grip on the CHL crown.
Simply put, Madeira is loaded, not only with experience (five seniors), but also with size (five players 6-foot or taller) and excellent quickness.
CHL player of the year Amanda Davis will anchor a strong Amazon inside offense that will also feature Amy Mackris, a senior point guard who averages more than five assists a game.
One of the best defensive teams in the CHL the past five years, Madeira will rely on a full-court press and aggressive man-to-man defense to challenge for the league title.
2. WYOMING
• POLL POINTS: 52 (3)
• COACH: Deb Gentile (23rd season, 418-101)
• LAST YEAR: 22-4 (13-1 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Laura Verhaeghe (8.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg); G-F Mary Bell (8.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg); G Marla Anderson (8.9 ppg, 3.6 apg).
• OUTLOOK: Wyoming has won 12 straight CHL titles, but coaches made Madeira the preseason favorite this year. The Cowboys, a perennial Division III power, came in one girl over the cutoff this year and will play in Division II. This is the first Wyoming team in years without several six-footers on the roster.
As a result, veteran coach Gentile will adjust to her personnel. The Cowboys will be an uptempo team that utilizes its speed and quickness both on offense and defense.
Guard Marla Anderson returns from a torn ACL and will join Laura Verhaeghe, Mary Bell, Courtney Loper and Kristen McKimm in the starting lineup. Veronica Vance, a transfer from Finneytown, will add depth to a veteran team.
3. MARIEMONT
• POLL POINTS: 49 (1)
• COACH: John Jones (sixth season, 53-54; 53-54 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 18-5 (10-4 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Elizabeth Kauffmann; C Lindsay Hook; F Libby Brown.
• OUTLOOK: Depth will be one of the many strengths for a Warrior team that returns 11 letterwinners from last season's district runner-up team, including Elizabeth Kauffmann, a junior guard who averaged 14.2 points and 6.3 assists last year.
Size and speed are assets. Senior leadership is another strength with eight veterans manning many of the key starting positions including 6-foot-1 Lindsay Hook (7.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg) and 6-2 Libby Brown (8.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg).
Freshmen Ashley McCracken and Hannah Martin could have an immediate impact.
4. INDIAN HILL
• POLL POINTS: 44
• COACH: Jon C. Perry (fifth season, 56-31; 72-31 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 15-7 (9-5 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Erin Schmitt; F Kari Tepe; G Kristen Ellis; G-F Maggie David.
• OUTLOOK: Last season was a big one for Indian Hill, which reached the sectional tournament final for the second straight year, losing to eventual state champion McNicholas. This could be the season that the Braves challenge for the CHL title.
Erin Schmitt, a second-team all-district player last season (13.1 ppg, 3.3 apg), will be joined by Kristen Ellis (9 ppg, 4 rpg). Maggie David (7 ppg) continues a family tradition; her sister Sarah had a 1,000-point career at Indian Hill.
The Braves have excellent size, good speed and a strong offense returning. The team's success will depend on its ability to improve defensively.
5. TAYLOR
• POLL POINTS: 30
• COACH: Dan Pillow (eighth season, 100-57; 100-57 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 8-13 (5-9 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Danielle Poynter; Ashley Gerwin.
• OUTLOOK: Unlike past seasons, the Yellowjackets will be more of a fast-break team. Senior shooting guard Ashley Gerwin (8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.2 spg) will run the show.
On the inside, Danielle Poynter (11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Christy Doll (6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) will share the scoring burden while point guard Adrian Niedhard will run the show.
“Our depth will allow us to be more aggressive on defense,” Pillow said. “But we won't be very big inside and we'll have to make better decisions.”
6. READING
• POLL POINTS: 21
• COACH: Rick Elliott (seventh season, 68-67; 68-67 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 9-12 (5-9 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Megan Murphy; F Cristi Lawson; G Crystal Gee.
• OUTLOOK: Reading is trying to snap a string of four straight losing seasons, but there is reason for optimism. The Blue Devils have improved their win total each of the last two seasons, and bring back six players with varsity experience.
“We're a small team playing in a league with a lot of tall players,” coach Rick Elliott said. “We'll be better defensively. The team chemistry is great.”
Look for junior point guard Crystal Gee to direct the offense with seniors Megan Murphy and senior Cristi Lawson, both in their third year on the varsity, providing the offensive spark.
7. DEER PARK
• POLL POINTS: 17
• COACH: Merideth Conner (second season, 2-19; 2-19 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 2-19 (0-14 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Alyson Miskimens; C Kari Wilson.
• OUTLOOK: Although center Kari Wilson is out until January due to knee surgery, coach Merideth Conner is optimistic the Wildcats will field an improved team.
This confidence is the result of the addition of 5-foot-5 freshman point guard Amanda Ruble, who's able to increase the tempo of the offense. Her addition also allows Alyson Miskimens to move into a shooting forward/guaad position.
“We'll surprise a few people this season,” Conner said.
8. FINNEYTOWN
• POLL POINTS: 13
• COACH: Chuck Renker (second season, 3-18, 3-18 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 3-18 (2-12 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Heather Neyer; F Lindsey Bond; G Rebecca Gardlik.
• OUTLOOK: The Wildcats may be a year away from fielding a team capable of challenging for the CHL title.
Guard Heather Neher, the only senior, will shoulder the leadership role while a group of untested juniors and sophomores mature.
A lack of height puts pressure on Lindsey Bond, a 5-foot-10 junior center, on the inside. Sophomore guard Rebecca Gardlik, junior forward Kim Reisner and freshman forward Rachel Hosmer will be expected to contribute right away.
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Cincinnati Hills League