ADAMS CENTRAL
Coach: Sam Beer, 6th season (32-70)
Last year's record: 7-13
Returning starters/regulars
Bess Fiechter, Sr., 3.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Olivia Macklin, 5-5, Sr., guard, 6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Mary Fox, 5-4, Sr., guard, 1.4 ppg
Katie Carroll, Jr., 2.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Briona Case, Jr., 2.7 ppg, 2 rpg
Key newcomers:
Megan Salway, 5-8, So., forward
Abby Busse, 5-4, Jr., guard
Sarah Fiechter, 5-5, So., guard
Coach Beer says:
What do you need to succeed?
To take care of the basketball and improve our field-goal percentage from past few seasons.
What concerns you the most?
Being able to take advantage of scoring opportunities. I believe our defense can give us opportunities to win, but can our offense score enough to win?
Team goals for this season?
Finish top half of ACAC, get to sectional finals and have a chance to win.
Overall assessment of the team?
We have a mix of returning experience and inexperience. We lost over 60 percent of our scoring
and over 50 percent of our rebounding. We are expecting both returners and newcomers to step up and more than fill that void. They have the potential to do it and we've seen it in offseason workouts and in the preseason, but it must be translated and executed in actual game settings. We are definitely going to be a work in progress, could see some challenges until we figure out our identity and get each one fulfilling her role.
BLUFFTON
Coach: Karl Grau, 1st season
Last year's record: 6-14
Returning starters/ regulars
Gina Eisenhut, 5-11, Sr., center, 17.7 ppg, 12.1 rpg
Marissa Castano, 5-8, Sr., forward, 9.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Makalah Tullis, 5-7, Sr., guard, 2.7 ppg
Sierra Steffen, 5-10, Jr., forward
Key newcomers
Lauren Stauffer, So.
Lauren Brinneman, So.
Connelly Mettler, So.
Hannah Mock, Jr.
Coach Grau says:
What do you need to succeed?
Defend, take care of the ball and communicate with each other.
What concerns you the most?
Learning a new system and getting solid point guard play.
Team goals for this season?
Work hard to be competitive and establish a positive culture for the program.
Overall assessment of the team?
The Tigers have worked hard to improve but will have to find replacement(s) for Erin McKinley at point guard (out for season with torn ACL).
GARRETT
Coach: Bob Lapodot, 2nd season (13-7)
Last year's record: 13-7
Returning starters/regulars
Becca Olivers, 5-6, Sr., guard, 3 ppg, 3 rpg
Emma Riedley, 6-0, Sr., center, 1 ppg, 1 rpg
Brandi Dawson, 5-7, Jr., forward, 15 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg
Katlin Wisel, 5-4, Jr., guard, 2 ppg, 2 apg
Alaina Creager, 5-7, Jr., guard, 2 ppg, 2 apg
Rachel Stafford, 5-7, Jr., forward
Emily Somers, 5-5, So., guard
Britmarie Yarian, 5-6, So., guard
Key newcomers
Bailey Sutton, 5-8, So., forward
Taylor Smith, 6-1, Fr., center
Rachel DePew, 5-4, Fr., guard
Coach Lapadot says:
What do you need to succeed?
We need to grow up quickly. Brandi and Kaitlin will have to carry the scoring load until the rest of the kids find their way. We also need to be a full-court defensive team and force turnovers.
What concerns you the most?
Scoring the basketball. We have kids who aren't afraid of the moment or the shot, it's just a matter of knocking the shots down. Rebounding will also be key since we will play four guards a lot of the time.
Team goals for this season?
Our goals will remain the same as always. We want to compete for the conference and conference tournament championships and then be playing our best basketball at sectional time.
Overall assessment of the team?
We will be a deep team and a quick team. We have a lot of athletes that can run and jump. We need to execute offensively and get the ball to the right people at the right times.
HERITAGE
Coach: John Beckman, 3rd season (15-27)
Last year's record: 13-9
Returning starters/regulars
Miriah Bradtmueller, 5-8, Sr., forward, 7.6 ppg, 5 rpg
Kendall Knapke, 5-10, So., forward, 6 ppg, 6 rpg
Hannah Beckman, 5-5, So., guard, 5.6 ppg, 2.3 apg
Katie Saalfrank, 5-8, Sr., forward, 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Jackie Niemeyer, Sr., guard
Key newcomers
McKenzie Brown, Jr.
Katlyn Biberstine, Sr., guard
Coach Beckman says:
What do you need to succeed?
Our top five players give us a lot of hope going into the season so if we develop some of the newcomers we hope to match or exceed last season's results.
What concerns you the most?
My biggest concern going into this season is beyond our first five will we have the depth we had last year? We will be looking at kids on the bench with little or no varsity playing experience. Depending on how fast they develop to playing at this level and doing it on a consistent basis will determine how we go.
Overall assessment of the team?
We are excited to get going and evaluate areas we need to improve on and hopefully experience success along the way.
LEO
Coach: Carrie Shappell, 8th year (94-65)
Last year's record: 19-5 Returning starters/regulars
Keanna Gary, 6-1, Sr., center, 11.7 ppg, 10 rpg
Taylor Seiss, 5-6, Sr., guard, 10 ppg
Toby Carman, 5-8, Jr., forward
Tia Lindsey, 5-6, Jr., forward, 2.7 ppg
Jenna Beer, 5-6, So., guard, 5 ppg, 1.7 apg
Key newcomers
Haley Bowers, 5-9, Sr., forward
Millie Adams, 5-6, So., guard
Coach Shappell says:
What do you need to succeed?
We will need to focus on rebuilding by developing leadership and team chemistry. What concerns you the most?
We will have some young kids that need to fill in some role positions this year. I am excited to see how they grow into their roles this year, though.
Team goals for this season?
We would like to win conference, conference tournament, and make a run in the state tournament.
Overall assessment of the team?
While we lost quite a few seniors, our returners are excited to get back on the court and work hard to continue to tradition. We are looking forward to a fun year!
SOUTH ADAMS
Coach: Brett Freeman, 1st season
Last year's record: 3-18
Returning starters/regulars
Alli Amstutz, 5-7, Jr., forward, 3 ppg, 2.4 spg
Dzejna Ahmetovic, 6-0, Jr., center, 12.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg
Kristen Muselman, 5-6, Sr., guard, 2.5 ppg, 2 apg
Lauren Smith, 5-5, So., guard, 5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Sharon Balsiger, 5-10, So., forward, 2.6 ppg, 49 rpg
Mackenzie Jennings, 5-7, So., forward
Key newcomers
Alyssa Bluhm, 5-9, Jr., forward
Maddie Morgan, 5-6, Fr., guard
Keirstyn Grimm, 5-5, Fr., guard
Coach Freeman says:
What do you need to succeed?
This season the girls will need to work hard and continue to develop their skills. It will take some time for the girls to fully understand and develop under the system. The sooner they can grasp the system, success will follow.
What concerns you the most?
Numbers are low this season which means the bench will be a little shorter. Girls will need to be in good shape and disciplined in all aspects of the game.
Team goals for this season?
This season our main focus is to get better every day. If we approach each day with that mentality, good things will happen. Some key areas we'd like to change is to crack the win column in the ACAC. It has been three years since South Adams has won a conference game. That must change, and I believe it will.
Overall assessment of the team?
We have size and athleticism on this team. There is a lot of potential for this to be a strong group. We will just work hard to get our skills and mindsets to a higher level.
SOUTHERN WELLS
Coach: John Fouts, 15th season (190-115)
Last year's record: 18-7
Returning starters/regulars
Carissa Carter, 5-8, Jr., forward, 6.8 ppg
Brittney Morton, 5-5, Sr., guard, 2.8 ppg
Sam Rhodes, 5-6, Sr., guard, 6.2 ppg
Ashton Prible, 5-8, Jr., forward, 2.4 ppg
Key newcomers
Lela Knowles, 5-4, So., guard
Tylar Sanford, 5-5, Sr., guard
Savanah Deakyne, 5-7, So., forward
Catie Horton, 5-9, Jr., forward
The News-Sentinel says:
What do you need to succeed?
Somebody has to step up to replace the 32 points per game that graduated stars Mallory Preston, Morgan Perry and Sadie Herr scored.
What concerns you the most?
There's not much height anywhere on the roster with only one player, junior Hilary Paxson, measuring at least 5-10.
Team goals for the season?
The Raiders have won six sectional titles in a row in Class 1A and haven't had a losing record since 2001-02. Neither streak should end this season.
WOODLAN
Coach: Tonya Burns-Cohrs, 26th season (207-291)
Last year's record: 13-9
Returning starters/regulars
sLauren Ehle, 5-5, Sr., guard, 14 ppg.
Jaryn Malfait, 5-9, Sr., forward/center, 5.23 ppg
Haley Hostetler, 5-6, Jr., guard, 8.55 ppg
Burgundy Price, 5-6, Jr., guard/forward, 10.6 ppg
Brooke Gerbers, 5-6, Jr., guard, 6.90 ppg.
Key newcomers
Morgan Franklin, 5-3, Jr., guard
Tori Bontrager, 6-2, Jr., center
Jazmine Williams, 6-0, So., center
Coach Burns-Cohrs says:
What do you need to succeed?
With a strong core of returning players, the Warriors need to improve on the defensive end, continue to improve upon our shooting behind the arc and cut the turnovers down. In addition, we need significant contribution from our bench.
What concerns you the most?
Last year we were overlooked and surprised a lot of teams. This year we are not going to be overlooked. The team needs to understand this and go into every game focused.
Team goals for this season?
Improvement in all areas!
Overall assessment of the team?
Great group of hardworking individuals that hate to lose.
