Friday, November 23, 2001
Girls Greater Cincinnati League Gray Division
Cavaliers, Rockets will battle for first
1. PURCELL MARIAN (5) 25
• POLL POINTS: 25 (five first-place votes in poll of league coaches)
• COACH: Mike Peddicord (second season, 18-6; 18-6 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 18-6 (6-2 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Keri Finnell; G Saundra Hale, C Patti White.
• OUTLOOK: The junior trio of Keri Finnell, Patti White and Saundra Hale gives coach Mike Peddicord a solid foundation to build on.
The Cavaliers also have depth at every position with Melisha Reese, Andrea White, Shannon Simpson, Laura Schuckman and Latoya Mason all with varsity experience.
Look for Purcell Marian to push the ball up the floor with Finnell and Hale shwoing the way with White, a 6-foot-2 junior center, dominating in the middle.
2. McNICHOLAS
• POLL POINTS: 19
• COACH: Rob Heise (third season, 50-24 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 22-6 (7-1 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: C Lynn Oberschmidt (10.5 ppg, 4 rpg) F Betsey Clark (7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg); F Kim Breving (8.6 ppg, 5 rpg).
• OUTLOOK: Although the defending Division II state champion Rockets return three starters, replacing point guard Kendra Hornschemeier will be a difficult task.
The Rockets will be strong and tall on the inside with Kim Breving (5-foot-11), Lynn Oberschmidt (5-foot-10) and Betsey Clark (5-foot-9) but inexperiened at the guard positions.
Over all, McNicholas returns six letter winners. If Lauren Branson, Sarah Bauer and Brittany Thomas come through, along with several players from a JV team that went 17-3, the Rockets could challenge again.
3. BADIN
• POLL POINTS: 15
• COACH: Dan Purcell (seventh season, 122-34, 196-88 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 16-9 (4-4 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F G Megan Collins (3.6 ppg); Elise Beckett (3.8 ppg).
• OUTLOOK: On paper, it appears that the Rams don't have enough talent to compete in the Girls Greater Cincinnati League Gray Division against such powers as McNicholas and Purcell Marian.
However, coach Dan Purcell has the reputation of getting the most out of the players will build the team accordingly. It would be a mistake to sell the Rams short.
The top returning players are seniors Elise Beckett (3.8 points) and Megan Collins (3.6 points) with Purcell forced to go with a group of talented sophomores and juniors to fill the voids created by graduation.
4. KETTERING ALTER
• POLL POINTS: 9
• COACH: Christine Hart (8th season)
• LAST YEAR: 14-9 (1-7 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: F Jenn Storer; G Megan Thompson.
• OUTLOOK: The Knights will field a young team with sophomores Ali Hausfeld and Melanie Cargle earning starting positions.
This duo will be joined by seniors Jenn storer and Karen Davis, along with junior Megan Thompson.
“We have good experience with Jenn and Megan,” Alter coach Christine Hart said. “We'll be pretty big with four giels six foot or better or we can go with a quick and athletic lineup.”
The successes of the volleyball and soccer teams could prove tough to overcome during early season game. “We're just now trying to find ourselves,” Hart said.
5. ROGER BACON
• POLL POINTS: 5
• COACH: Mark Kling (first season, 38-33; 148-87 overall)
• LAST YEAR: 11-13, 2-6 league)
• KEY PLAYERS: G Michelle Kelly (8 ppg, 5 spg); F Tasha Byrd (6 ppg).
• OUTLOOK: The Spartans return only one starter (Michelle Kelly) but coach Mark Kling, Roger Bacon's coach from 1995-98, has five seniors to build the team around.
Besides Kelly, Brittany Holden, Frannie Knecht and Tasha Byrd have varsity experience and are expected to play key roles.
Kling cites speed, a good work ethic, senior leadership and outstanding chemistry as strengths but pointed to the lack of size and an unproven inside game as weaknesses.
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
Girls Greater Cincinnati League Gray Division