Howard County girls basketball features competitive balance as a new season starts

2013-14 record: 13-6 county, 17-7 overall (3A East regional finalist)

Coach: Julia Reynold, third season

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: G/F Margaret Tatum

Top players: Seniors Kalere Caldwell (PF), Sage Mayhew (SF) and Chelsea Mitchell* (SG); junior Megan Hart (F); sophomores Ryan Jones (PG) and Francesca Vanegas (PG).

Gameplan: Playing most of their games on the road is a daunting task, but the Raiders are well-equipped for the challenge with nine returning players, led by returning starters Mitchell, Mayhew and Caldwell.

As freshmen last year, Vanegas and Jones developed into more-than-capable game managing point guards.

Mayhew is capable of playing any position on the court, according to Reynold, and Hart gives the Raiders another solid forward.

As if that weren't enough, six-foot freshman Kelly Simons will complement Caldwell on the post.

"It was a pleasant surprise" when Simons came out for tryouts, Reynold said. "We're really excited. The girls have been working very hard."

Key number: 625. Combined points scored by the trio of Mitchell (283), Caldwell (173) and Mayhew (169) last winter.

2013-14 record: 16-3, 18-6

Coach: Bobby Macheel

Returning starters: 2

Key losses: F Brittany Anderson^, G Sara Downing, G Sammie Albornoz, F Mary Anderson, G Alicia Hsieh

Top players: Seniors Jordan Burk (G), Kimmy Eads (F) and Anna Mitchell* (F); junior Ally Driscoll (G); freshman Kelly Simmons (F).

Gameplan: Mitchell, who averaged 12.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game last winter, is one of the county's most well-rounded and effective players. Burk and Eads also bring height and experience to the court, but the Eagles will have to overcome the loss of five key-contributors, including second-team all-county selection Brittany Anderson (11.3 ppg, 43 three-pointers).

Macheel is expecting good things from newcomers Driscoll and Simmons.

"We graduated 5 seniors who either started or were in our top 7 last year, so there are a lot of new faces on the team," he said. "A big challenge for us this year will be finding team chemistry both on and off the court, but we are lucky enough to have some great senior leadership. I am looking forward to seeing how we come together as a team."

Key number: 8. Consecutive wins by the Eagles between Dec. 27 and Jan. 29 last winter.

2013-14 record: 7-12, 8-15

Coach: Chris Beil, second season

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: PG Ally Forejt, G Olivia Nowlin, F Lauren Wright

Top players: Juniors Chelsea Henggeler (C) and Miranda Mattis (G); sophomores Grace Butera (F), Bernice Hanlon (F) and Julia Wolfrey (F); freshman Jess Foster (PG).

Gameplan: The Gladiators lost a strong trio of seniors, but return several tall, talented underclassmen, led by Wolfrey, who collected 119 rebounds and blocked 21 shots last year as a freshman.

Beil said that Wolfrey should be an effective scorer this season as well.

"She has gotten stronger and faster," he said. "She worked on her shot and will be a force from anywhere on the court."

Butera earned a call-up from JV last season and contributed immediately. Henggeler, who is 6-foot-1, is quick enough to defend opposing guards. Mattis is one of the Gladiators' best defenders and can also score from beyond the three-point arc.

Beil says that Foster, who has been playing basketball all of her life, could be the key to Glenelg's puzzle as a floor-leader and play-starter who can also hit threes and play lock-down defense. Hanlon is a versatile forward who Beil is expecting big things from in her first varsity campaign.

"It's not how we start, it's how we finish," Beil said. "We are very young and it will take some time to gel. This team has no seniors, so we could potentially have the same team back for the next two to three years ... We have talent all around and it's just a matter of time (until) we put it all together."

Key number: 552. Combined points scored last winter by the senior trio of Forejt , Nowlin and Wright.

2013-14 record: 1-18, 3-21

Coach: Raymona Reid

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: PG Keyauna Griffin, F/C Elizabeth Frekot

Top players: Senior Jameelah Wallace (F/C); juniors Shawnice King (SF), Alexis Stratton-Bratcher (F/G) and Lauryn Terry (C).

Gameplan: After going winless in 2012-2013, the Golden Bears took a step forward last winter with three wins. They'll try to take the next step this season, with Wallace (8.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg) and King (9.8 ppg) leading the way. Terry will also be a force in the paint, having blocked 82 shots and collected 174 rebounds last season.

Wallace is recovering from a torn ACL, but is slowly making her way back onto the court. Stratton-Bratcher will help fill the void left by Wallace early on, and should still be one of Hammond's top players after the senior returns.

"We're going to start off pretty slow but I do think that this is a crew that will pull it together toward the end, so I think we're going to be strong in the second half of our season," Reid said.

Key number: 265. Rebounds by Wallace last season, the most in the county.

2013-14 record: 17-2, 21-3 (county champion)

Coach: Scott Robinson, fourth season

Returning starters: 2

Key losses: C Sydney Biniak*, G Emma Hoesman, G Anne Kinsey

Top players: Seniors Jayda Gilmoreˆ (G), Catherine Sims (F) and Natalie Talley (G); junior Berit Batterton (C); sophomore Emileigh Scott (F).

Gameplan: There's no way to gloss over the fact that defending champion Howard graduated a significant amount of production, led by first-team all-county selection Sydney Biniak (9.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.7 apg). The Lions are still in good shape, though, with scoring leader Gilmore (10.7 ppg) back to lead the offense. Gilmore has committed to play at Division II American International College in Massachusetts next year.

Batterton, who averaged 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season, should help fill the void left by Biniak.

Talley has recently been cleared to return to the court after a knee injury. Sims is a three-sport athlete who will play lacrosse at UMBC next year.

"We graduated three key seniors who were three-year starters," Robinson said. "The girls have worked really hard in the offseason, and in our practices. I am looking forward to coaching them."

Key number: 13. Consecutive wins by Howard to start the season last year, before back-to-back losses to Centennial and River Hill in mid-January.

2013-14 record: 5-14, 7-16

Coach: Kelli Cofield

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: PG Imani Sanders^, G Katelyn Peterson, F Gillian Engelbrecht

Top players: Seniors Erin Engelbrecht (F), Jeily Mata (G) and Alana Ratliff (G); sophomore Jaya Green (F); freshman Kiana Williams (PG).

Gameplan: Cofield is excited about her team's chances to be in the mix with the county's top teams. She is also eager to see Williams, her freshman guard, in action.

"She has ball-handling ability like this county hasn't seen in a long time," Cofield said. "She'll be exciting to watch."

Green, who missed five games last year with a concussion, is back and should help fill the void left by Sanders (10.7 ppg) and Gillian Engelbrecht (7.8 rpg). Erin Engelbrecht, Mata and Ratliff are also expected to contribute as starters.

"This is the deepest team we've had in a long time. We can sub at any position," Cofield said. "On any given nightwe could start seven or eight" different players.

Key number: 16. Wins by the Lightning JV team last winter.

2013-14 record: 3-16, 4-18

Coach: Caitlin Bay, second season

Returning starters: 2

Key losses: G Marissa Davey, G Amanda Miller, F Jenna Bergquist, F Kali Taylor, F Jenna Kerr

Top players: Senior Joan Condron (PF); junior Carly Miller (F); sophomores Caroline Blalock (G) and Sarah Blalock (F).

Gameplan: Graduating five top players from a four-win team doesn't seem like the best way to start a season, but Bay is optimistic.

"We are a young team with a very bright future," she said.

Miller, who has committed to play lacrosse at UMBC next year, and Caroline Blalock, who may be the team's fastest player, are the Mustangs' two returning starters. Condron and Sarah Blalock will be leaned on to play strong defense and fill the production in the paint left by graduation.

Several underclassmen — sophomore Bri Held and freshman Emy Nelson — should also get a chance to contribute this winter.

"Bri has shown to be solid at the point position and we are expecting her to play a huge part in running our offense," Bay said. "Emy has great court sense and game awareness. We are looking for her to add a spark both offensively and defensively."

Key number: 30. Three-pointers made by senior guard Marissa Davey last winter, tied for fourth in the league.

2013-14 record: 15-4, 18-6

Coach: Anthony Bell

Returning starters: 4

Key losses: G Tianna Wallpher

Top players: Seniors Nia Crump* (G/F), Meghan Doherty (G) and Megan Konigˆ (G/F); junior Gabrielle Green (C); sophomore Shane Devine (F).

Gameplan: The Vikings should present serious matchup problems for opponents all season long. Crump (8.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.1 spg) and Konig (9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 apg. 3.5 spg) contribute all over the court, while Green (8.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 68 blocked shots) can be dominant in the paint.

"Defense and intensity will be the key to our success," Bell said.

Devine, a transfer from NDP, and freshman Erin Demek might also help the Vikings' cause this season.

Key number: 4. Straight seasons that Doherty has been a starter for the Vikings. She has committed to play lacrosse for the University of Maryland next year.

2013-14 record: 5-14, 8-16

Coach: Christina Hewitt, second season

Returning starters: 2

Key losses: G Karigan Awkward*, G Lauren Thompson

Top players: Seniors Samantha Davis (F), Tori Diggs (PG) and Vanessa Mallory (F); junior Theda Jackson (G).

Gameplan: The Scorpions return a formidable weapon in four-year player Diggs, who drained a county-best 53 three-pointers on her way to 11.7 points per game.

Awkward, whose 16.7 points per game were second-best in the county, will certainly be missed, but Hewitt is counting on Davis and Mallory — who are both entering their fourth season on varsity — to produce in the paint.

"We have experienced players, but I have new roles for them," Hewitt said. Diggs "has been working very hard."

Key number: 50. Number of assists collected by Diggs last year, for 2.1 per game.

2013-14 record: 14-5, 15-6

Coach: Kyle Sullivan, seventh season

Returning starters: 1

Key losses: F Zelor Massaquoi*, G Tara Thompson, G Keri Rager, F Blair Bonner

Top players: Senior Alexis Bartley (G); juniors Mary Dudzinski (F) and Danaysha Turner (G); sophomore Haley Tiller (G).

Gameplan: There's no doubt that Massaquoi's shoes will be hard to fill. The Player of the Year, who is now playing for Grand Canyon University, led the league in scoring (21.1 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 ppg) last season.

Thompson and Rager were key ball handlers, but Sullivan and the Gators are excited to start a new chapter.

"While last year our team's make-up allowed for a strong inside presence, we will look to be very different this season, taking advantage of speed and athleticism," Sullivan said. "Defense for us, as always, will dictate a lot of our success offensively, and ball movement will be more important than ever."

Turner, last year's lone returning starter, will serve that philosophy well. She averaged 7.2 points and 2.7 assists per game last season, and knocked down 27 three-pointers.

Dudzinski, who is the Gators tallest regular at 5-foot-10, should play a major role down low, while Tiller and four-year player Bartley will complement Turner at the guard position.

Bartley's younger sister, freshman Cece, brings good speed and defensive energy to the varsity, and sophomore Kayla Wilson — a postseason JV call-up last year — should be a reliable scorer this winter.

Key number: 443. Points scored by Massaquoi last year, 42 more than any other player in the league.

2013-14 record: 11-8, 14-9

Coach: Teresa Waters

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: F Jenna Collins*, G Julia Collins^

Top players: Senior Chelsea Buchiane (G/F); juniors Jess Hopkins (PG) and Sydney Poindexter (F/C).

Gameplan: The downside to having star twins on your team is that when you lose one to graduation, you lose both. The Collins sisters, and their 689 combined points, 428 combined rebounds, 156 combined steals and 106 combined assists, have moved onto college, and the Hawks will have to get that production from elsewhere.

Hopkins, who averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 steals and 2.6 assists per game last winter, will have an increased role this year, and six-foot tall Poindexter (4.5 rpg) will be relied upon to control the boards.

"We will compete in the league even though we are considerably inexperienced," said Waters, the county's longest tenured coach. "The key to success is 'team first'."

Key number: 5. Trips to the state final four for River Hill since 2005. The Hawks won their only state championship in 2006, and finished as finalists in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

2013-14 record: 7-12, 9-14

Coach: Bob Cranford, second season

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: F/C Lindsey Williams^, PG Grayson Corbett

Top players: Senior Alyssa Bialek (G); juniors Brynn Drury (SF) and Rachel Lazrisˆ (G); sophomore Ka'mari Robinson (SF).

Gameplan: After Wilde Lake's turnaround season last winter, Cranford and the Wildecats are eager to continue the upward trend.

Lazris, who averaged 16.6 points per game last year, most among all returners, may be just the player to lead Wilde Lake into the upper echelon.

"She's lights out," Cranford said.

Lazris also averaged a league-best 7.0 assists per game, and she'll be surrounded by several other talented scorers in Bialek, Drury and Robinson, who transferred over from Glenelg Country.

Key number: 142. League-best blocks by Williams last season. She also scored 13.2 points per game.

2013-14 record: 6-10 IAAM C, 6-11 overall

Coach: Kevin Ryan, first season

Returning starters: 2

Key losses: G Courtney Hayes, G Christina VanWingerden

Top players: Senior Alexus Richards (F); sophomores Sydney Carnoch (PG) and Amanda Pickett (G/F).

Gameplan: First-year coach Ryan is excited to have a handful of players who could make an impact throughout the conference this season.

Carnoch, the team captain, will be relied upon to run the offense and play relentless defense.

Pickett is the Yellowjackets' most versatile player.

"She has power forward skills and can handle the ball like a point guard," Ryan said. "Amanda has 'in the gym range' and controls the offensive and defensive boards."

Richards gives the team veteran presence at the forward position, while Daniel D'Ascenzo and Kara Davis should also be on the watch list.

"We are a young team that's learning what it takes to compete at the varsity level," Ryan said.

Key number: 190. Points scored in 17 games by Hayes, who has graduated, last season.

2013-14 record: 9-7 IAAM C, 10-8

Coach: Ed Conroy, third season

Returning starters: 3

Key losses: F Mallory Pappas, F Ka'mari Robinson

Top players: Seniors Sabrina DeLeonibus (G) and Deja Hursey (PF); junior Alayna Newsome (F); sophomores Kathleen DeLeonibus (G) and Kat Seitz (G).

Gameplan: Sabrina DeLeonibus (10.9 ppg) is the Dragons' senior leader and one of the top guards in the IAAM C Conference. Only 5-foot-3, DeLeonibus earned All-Star honors in the 17U division at the Nike US Junior Nationals. She'll share the backcourt with younger sister Kathleen this winter.

Fellow senior Hursey (8.9 ppg) will help lead the team in the paint at both ends of the court with her athleticism.

Newsome is the Dragons' only other upperclassman, with six sophomores expected to contribute.

"They represent the future of our program, and I look forward to being able to develop all six of these girls over the next three seasons," Conroy said.

Conroy expects Catholic and Indian Creek to be the teams to beat in the C Conference.

"I hope and expect to be competing with the best teams all season and into the playoffs," he said. "The great thing about a young team is that they are willing to completely buy into a system without having to break bad habits or overcome old tendencies. These girls have a non-stop motor on defense that sparks our offense with easy transition layups. We are smaller than every team in the league, but we try to make up for it with speed and execution."

Key number: 17. Points scored by Sabrina DeLeonibus in a season-opening, 47-29, loss to B-Conference opponent Maryvale. Hursey added 13 rebounds and six points.

* 2014 First-team all-county selection

ˆ 2014 Second-team all-county selection