Atholton Raiders
1993-94 record: 6-16. Coach: Paul Eckert.
Top players: Lea Nichols, 5-4, Jr., G; Aisha Walcott, 5-6, Jr., G; Dana Strickland, 5-7, Jr., F; Sara Pierson, 5-6, Fr., G; Caitlin Bair, 5-7, Fr., F; Linda Mihelcic, 6-1, So., F; Katie Young, 5-9, So., F.
Outlook: Even though the Raiders won just two county league games last season, they barely missed the Class 2A regional playoffs. "Our trouble is we just get smothered with athleticism when we go into the county," said Eckert, whose team finished .500 against non-league competition last year. "We can compete outside of the county, but the talent in the county is so strong. We probably have more talent from top to bottom than we did last year, but I don't know that our starting five is a whole lot better because of our youth." While the Raiders do have more depth, they also have more inexperience. Without a senior, the Raiders' returning nucleus is the junior trio of Nichols, Walcott and Strickland; Mihelcic played some on the varsity last season. However, Nichols is out for at least a month with a leg fracture. Both freshmen show plenty of promise and Pierson could see a lot of time while Nichols is out. Young moves up from junior varsity and should give the Raiders a lift in the post, where they have the most inexperience. While the Raiders don't appear ready to move up in the county standings, they could meet their goal of making the regional playoffs if they add another win or two.
Centennial Eagles
1993-94 record: 2-20. Coach: Dave Greenberg.
Top players: Michelle Brown, 5-7, Sr., G; Kisha Jordan, 5-10, Sr., F; Meredith Price, 5-11, S., F; Amanda Brewer, 5-9, So., G; Gina Dinisio, 5-6, Jr., G; Kathleen O'Connor, 5-10, Fr., F; Michelle Kincaid, 5-4, Fr., G.
Outlook: After 16 years and six state titles at Mount Hebron, Greenberg moves across town to boost the ailing Eagles. Last year, the Eagles finished last without a win in the Howard County league. "They realize just because there's new people running the show, they're not going to start winning games," said Greenberg. "We'd like to reach a point where when people leave our gym or we leave theirs, they know we were in the game. We want them to be able to say, 'Those kids really played hard and they're not bad.' But it's going to be tough to win a lot." The Eagles are young with just two seniors and seven underclassmen, but they got a boost from the arrival of Jordan, a transfer student from Virginia. A good player with plenty of scoring potential, Jordan has signed early with James Madison. The Eagles do have athletes: most are volleyball and soccer players with plenty of ability, but not much basketball experience. "We're really having to do so much teaching, which I enjoy, but it's going to be a tough haul," said Greenberg. "The kids' attitude is the best thing going for us, because they really want to do well and work hard."
Glenelg Gladiators
1993-94 record: 17-7. Coach: Randy Wallenhorst.
Top players: Kim Brown, 5-8, Sr., G; Jill Younce, 5-10, Jr., G; Lauren Brown, 5-7, So., G; Carrie Brown, 5-9, Sr., G; Gracia Walker, 5-10, Sr., F; Suzy Mundy, 5-8, Sr., F; Michelle Miller, 5-9, Jr., F.
Outlook: After the Gladiators fell to Hammond in their Class 2A regional final last season, Wallenhorst had high hopes for another top 20 team this year. But his hopes were --ed when 5-10 sophomore forward Camey Brian (10 points, 10 rebounds) tore her anterior cruciate ligament during fall soccer. Brian, a powerful inside player, is out for the season. Also, the graduation of center Trish Kilroy and swing player Christina Flowers has all but wiped out the inside game and should drop the Gladiators from the area's elite. Still, that doesn't mean Glenelg, which finished the year at No. 16, will sink much further in the county than last season's third place. If they can adjust to a more guard-oriented offense led by strong returning starters Kim Brown and Younce, they could remain in the top half of the county league. Carrie Brown and Walker also return. The Gladiators still have speed and outside shooting. As they did last year, they will run and press and try not to get caught in a half-court game. "We just have to play harder than the teams we're playing against," said Wallenhorst, last season's county Coach of the Year. "The key is not comparing this year to last, because we're a different team. We have to find the right chemistry and make it work."
Glenelg Country Dragons
1993-94 record: 5-7. Coach: Barb Brummett.
Top players: Robin Zimmerly, 5-8, Sr., G; Allison Hoke, 5-4, Sr., G; Sonia Fernandez-Martin, 5-7, F/G; Lindsay Lehman, 5-3, So., G; Jordana Woodford, 5-10, So., F; Akosua Kankam, 5-4, So., G.
Outlook: The Dragons lost three starters from last season's squad that fell to Beth Tfiloh in the opening round of the Association of Independent Schools B Division tournament, but Brummett still expects improvement. One of the reasons is the spark provided by the hockey team that finished 11-3-1 and went to the AIS championship game. "I think that whole attitude carries over," said Brummett. "Now, they're used to winning. They have the attitude of winning and they know what needs to be done. They've already made it a habit." Both returning starters, Zimmerly and Hoke, were top players on the hockey team and Brummett expects them to provide the same leadership for this young team. The addition of exchange student Fernandez-Martin has added some aggressiveness to the defense. Finishing 1-1 in a preseason tournament, the Dragons showed more aggressiveness in their man-to-man defense as well as more confidence on offense. "Our shooting has improved," said Brummett. "Last year, they just didn't want to take shots. Some were freshmen and they were a little timid. Now they have a little more confidence."
Hammond Golden Bears
1993-94 record: 24-1. Coach: Joe Russo.
Top players: Tiki Nicholson, 5-7, Sr., G; Tameka Harrison, 5-9, Sr., F/G; Kellye Townsend, 6-0, Jr., F; Rene Hines, 6-1; So., F; Sharon Riggs, 5-6, Sr., G; Brandy Peaker, 5-6, Jr., G; Katie McCartney, 5-10, Jr., F.
Outlook: Not only did the Bears cap off last season with their second state Class 2A title in three years, but they also beat Western to earn The Sun's No. 1 ranking and swept league competition to win their first Howard County championship. "What we did last year is something everybody's real proud of," said the eighth-year coach, "but there's no thought of repeating what we did. The girls feel it's going to be very new for everybody. [Four of] the girls were playing together for three years and all of a sudden, the two main cogs, the senior leadership is gone, so they have to find their identity as a team." Gone are All-Metro co-Player of the Year Kacy Williams and All-Metro second-teamer Sonia Keiner. With them went not only leadership but speed, quickness and outside shooting. But the Bears bring back four top players -- All-Metro first-teamer Nicholson, All-County second-teamers Harrison and Townsend and sixth man Hines. Although the Bears have a bit less speed and quickness this year, they have more height. Russo still is deciding whether to go with a smaller, quicker team or a taller, slower group. No matter which he chooses, don't look for the Bears to fall from the top of the Howard County league. Outside the county, however, the Bears face a killer schedule that includes Western, Lake Clifton, St. Frances, Old Mill and Garfield, Va. "If we come out of that with more wins than losses, we'll be happy," said Russo.
Howard Lions
1993-94 record: 16-11. Coach: Craig O'Connell.
Top players: Mona Jackson, 5-9, Sr., F; Rebecca Powell, 5-6, Sr., G; Megan Boehm, 5-11, Sr., C; Chanelle Carter, 5-10, So., F; Katie Kile, 5-10, Sr., F; Yamika Blackston, 5-11, Jr., F.
Outlook: With two games left in the regular season a year ago, the Lions expected their season to end within a week. Instead, they emerged from a 9-11 record and the sixth seed in their region to make a run to the state Class 3A title. They won seven straight games and capped it with a 47-41 win over DuVal for their first state championship. Some of that excitement should carry over to this season, especially with four starters back. The Lions graduated only leading scorer Emily Moore. "Emily was the heart and soul of our team," said O'Connell, whose squad finished with the No. 6 ranking. "The question mark is who is going to be that leader on the floor. Now it looks like Mona will be." Jackson, who averaged 17.5 points in the state playoffs, and Powell, Boehm and Blackston give the Lions a solid foundation. Carter, sidelined with a broken foot last season between Christmas and the regional playoffs, should emerge as a force inside. The Lions also need Kile back in the lineup, but she is out for at least a couple of weeks -- and maybe the rest of the season -- with a back injury. A little uncertainty could keep the Lions off balance early, but that is nothing new to O'Connell. "It always takes us a while to jell," said The Sun's All-Metro Coach of the Year. "We always play in this funk in December, but we always do well in the regionals."