2013Hooparama1

 Varsity games will be two twenty minute halves with the clock stopping while the Junior Varsity games will be one 30 minute game with running time.

Above information supplied by Rick Bolus.

Team Capsules

North Bullitt (Region 6) – Coach Amber Courtney’s Lady Eagles finished 20-12 last season and are expected to be very competitive in the region again this year.  North Bullitt is expected to be led by 5-6 Sr. Savannah Morrison and 5-5 So. Katie Downey.

Caverna (Region 5) – Coach Cornelius Faulkner’s Lady Colonels finished 16-15 last season.  Caverna will be led by 5-9 So. Madison Faulkner who averaged 16 ppg and 8 rpg last season and 5-7 Jr. PG Ciara Waggoner who averaged 14 ppg.  Other players expected to have key roles include 5-8 Fr. Kiara Kirk, 5-8 So. Shanda Bradley, 5-6 Sr. Nicole Bradley, 5-5 So. Giuliana Petrucci, and 5-9 Fr. Staysha Edwards.  Caverna is a young team with only one senior and one junior on the roster.

Spencer County (Region 8) – Coach David Marion’s Lady Bears finished 10-20 last season.  Spencer County will be led by 5-10 Sr. Mackenzie Myers who averaged 15 ppg and 10 rpg last season and needs five points to become the all time girls leading scorer at Spencer County.  5-10 Sr. Krysten Barlow is a versatile performer who is expected to increase her scoring this season.  5-8 Sr. Kaylan Nigh is a quick, athletic player who could make a big impact this season.  Alyssa Howie is a 7^th grader who could start at point guard.  Kris Downs is a solid performer with excellent potential.

Presentation (Region 7) – Coach David Jackson’s Toppers finished 7-20 last season.  5-10 Jr. Alex Hibbs is the top rebounder and inside scoring threat.  5-6 Sr. guard Aliyah Johnson is a three point shooter and a good ball handler.  Jr. Allie Harris will be asked to play on the wing and had an excellent summer.  The injury bug has hit Presentation as Jr. PG Tracey Lindsey and forwards Emily Schroeder, Lauren Koenig, and Amelia Kolb will miss the scrimmage.  Other players who will be competing for playing time include Lindsay Reynolds, Dara Jackson, and Kylie Kassebaum.

Meade County (Region 3) – Coach Josh Hurt’s Lady Waves finished 23-10 last season and are expected to compete for the region title this season.  6-2 Jr. guard Morgan Turner can play any position, passes well, and can shoot the three pointer.  Turner averaged 16.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg last season.  5-7 Sr. Raley Johnson averaged 14.6 ppg and is an excellent long range bomber and a great hard-nosed defender.  Johnson is also a deadly free throw shooter.  5-7 Jr. PG Addi Lynch handles the ball well and is an excellent shooter with range.  5-2 Sr. Katelyn Cucino is a three year starter and a lock down defender on the perimeter.  Other key players include 6-1 So. Karissa Reader, 5-4 So. Katie Wilson, and 5-7 Jr. Kelsey Sutton.

Eastern (Region 7) – Coach Josh Leslie’s Lady Eagles finished 17-10 last season.  Eastern has a potent 1-2 scoring punch in 5-9 Sr. Madison Raque and 5-8 Sr. Jade Spaulding.  Raque averaged 16.6 ppg and is an excellent scorer both from long range and getting to the basket.  Spaulding averaged 15.6 ppg is also capable of putting up big numbers.

Anderson County (Region 8) – Coach Tony Kays Lady Bearcats finished 34-2 last season and should be one of the top contenders for state supremacy this season.  They will be led by the dynamic duo of 5-11 Sr. guard Makenzie Cann and 5-10 Sr. Eriel McKee both who are four year starters.  Cann is a deadly outside shooter and an excellent passer and McKee is virtually unstoppable in the open court.  5-5 Sr. Destiny Stewart is a savvy point guard and a three year starter.  5-9 Sr. guard Alex Avritt is a solid defender and 5-7 Sr. guard Jessica Rice is a solid contributor.  Other players expected to contribute include 5-2 Jr. Corrin Robinson and 5-7 So. Kaci Currens who has good range on her shot.  Anderson County has some tough competition in their own region but make no mistake this team should be focused and if they compensate for the graduation loss of 6-1 center Kali Whiteside they should be extremely difficult to beat.

Bullitt East (Region 6) – Coach Chris Stallings Lady Chargers finished 24-8 last season and should contend for the regional title this season.  The Lady Chargers have an excellent mix of players returning including their starting backcourt 5-4 Sr. Emily Fryman a very capable floor leader and 5-7 Sr. Taylor Blain.  5-7 Fr. Lindsey Duvall is the leading returning scorer and has a very high upside.  They also have depth in the backcourt in 5-7 Sr. Kaleigh Sharpe and 5-4 Fr. Alyssa Peak.  5-9 Sr. Courtney Pfister, 5-9 Sr. MacKenzie Bass, and 5-10 Fr. Raegan Williams will provide inside strength.

Clay County (Region 13) – Coach James Burchell’s Lady Tigers finished 26-6 last season and will have a different look this season as they graduated two excellent inside players.  5-5 Jr. PG Ajaycia Cotton is quick, an excellent ball handler, and is greatly improved.  5-8 So. TaLaura Mathis is healthy this season and is a deadly three point shooter who is also putting the ball on the floor now.  5-10 Sr. Sara Robinson averaged 7.8 ppg and 5 rpg last season, runs the floor well and is a good shooter.  5-10 Jr. Kelli Roberts handles the ball well and gets to the rim.  6-0 Jr. Courtney Woods is an excellent rebounder and defender.  There are several young players expected to contribute including 5-6 6^th grader Kaylee Mathis, 5-5 So. Kashia Jackson, 5-5 Fr. Whitney Sizemore, 6-0 Fr. Kennedy Hicks, and 5-10 Fr. Kayleigh Hicks.

Breckinridge County (Region 3) – Coach Jonathan Bennett’s Lady Tigers finished 6-22 last season but returns four starters and 90% of their scoring from last season.  5-10 Sr. Jenna Thornhill averaged 10 ppg and 6 rpg last season and had an excellent summer.  5-6 Sr. Elizabeth Hinton is a hard worker and defensive stopper and will always be assigned the other team’s top offensive threat.  5-6 Jr. Emma Payne will be a key players on both offense and defense.  5-2 Fr. PG Lily Grimes averaged 10 ppg last season and will continue to provide stability and leadership.  5-10 So. Mary Hinton will also provide inside strength.  The Lady Tigers will have good team depth as Coach Bennett intends to play 10-12 players at the varsity level.

Owensboro Catholic (Region 3) – Coach Michael Robertson’s Lady Aces finished 25-8 last season and should contend for the regional title despite the graduation of All-American guard Becca Greenwell.  5-9 Sr. Kaylyn Pearson averaged 14 ppg and 9 rpg last season.  5-9 Sr. Haley Garvin has recovered from numerous injuries last season and is greatly improved.  5-9 Jr. Destiny Howard has excellent potential and could be a force inside this season.  5-6 So. Mikayla Berry is expected to increase her scoring this season.

Sacred Heart Academy (Region 7) – Coach Donna Moir’s Valkyries finished 23-9 last season and, if they stay healthy could be a special team this season.  5-6 Sr. guard Raven Merriweather returns from an ACL injury suffered last season and is a versatile scorer who also rebounds well from the guard position.  5-9 Sr. DaiJia Ruffin averaged 14 ppg and 10 rpg last season and can post up as well as attacking off the dribble from the perimeter.  5-6 Sr. Vanessa Baisas is also recovering from injuries suffered last season and is an excellent outside shooter.  5-4 Jr. Ashley Johnson is a quick ball handler who finishes at the rim.  5-4 Jr. Gretchen Samsel handles the ball well and has excellent range on her shot.  5-7 Jr. Meghan Randal and 5-11 So. Maggie Colley are excellent defenders.  5-10 So. Lydia Taylor can score inside and rebound.  Sacred Heart is long on talent but lack height.  However they present defensive match-up problems for their opponents.

Allen County-Scottsville (Region 4) – Coach Brad Bonds Lady Patriots finished 27-5 last season and are expected to contend for the regional title this season.  The Lady Patriots will be led by 5-11 Jr. Morgan Rich.  5-9 So. guard Savannah Gregory’s aggressiveness and energy and 6-1 Jr. Holly Robinson’s ability to play inside or out creates match-up problems for opponents.

Mercy Academy (Region 6) – The Jaguars finished 20-11 last season and Keith Baisch takes over as head coach this season.  The Jaguars have graduated a ton of talent over the last four years with eight girls playing college basketball this season and have no seniors on this year’s roster.  Tradition never graduates and there is still a lot of talent in the program.  The early part of the season will be searching for the scorers and developing player rotations.  6-0 Jr. Malerie Martin will be counted on to provide inside scoring.  Success will depend on the Jaguars rebounding, playing solid defense, and communicating on the floor.  Coach Baisch was one of the major contributors over the years as Coach Evans’ top assistant and Mercy should continue to excel.

Prephoops Note: Please understand this preview is a work in progress and nothing is set in concrete on the internet.  I will be adding info as it becomes available, making corrections and adding info probably up to the day of the event.  This event is for the players and the coaches to help prepare them for the upcoming season and some teams will appear to be in mid season form while others will be experimenting with young players and player rotations while other will be merely polishing skills already learned.