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Perhaps nobody was more excited than Falcons senior Jen Peters.
Without much experienced help in the backcourt last season, the All-County guard struggled through constant double teams, becoming a focal point of opposing defenses as her team slid to a sub-.500 record.
These days, however, No. 12 Winters Mill is back to being one of the hottest teams in the metro area, thanks in large part to the additions of Cooke and Neville.
"It's opened a lot up," Peters said. "After Jordan tore her ACL last year, we lost a lot. Gaining Cassie and getting Jordan back really helped us out."
Heading into this weekend's play, the three guards each were averaging 12-13 points per game for the 12-0 Falcons, who have been able to play a much more up-tempo style than a year ago.
They've also found numerous ways to win, hanging a 64-point loss on North Harford and 31-point loss on South Carroll earlier in the season, while also showing the resilience to pull out tight games in defeating Middletown, Walkersville and Francis Scott Key by a combined seven points.
While Peters' scoring numbers have dropped slightly from a year ago, the senior would gladly trade a couple points for wins.
"She had a lot put on her last year," Falcons coach Bernie Koontz said. "I think she's been helped this year having a couple people around to help her offensively. Some of our kids, like [forward] Missy [Rankin] and Jen, had to assume a lot of leadership early as juniors. Now they're continuing to do that, but having Cassie around and Jordan back has definitely helped them."
The additions also affected players like sophomore guard Mackenzie Cyr, who was forced by circumstance to start as a freshman. Now, with a season of varsity playing time behind her, she fills a key reserve role. She, along with teammates like senior Kelley LaPorta, junior Amy Bare, a newcomer to the program, and junior Kristen Byrne, who spent much of last season injured, has given Koontz far more options off the bench.
"It's definitely helped," Koontz said. "Last year, we didn't have quite as much depth. Now, we're kind of back to where we were two or three years ago. We have people coming off the bench who are capable of keeping the flow of play going."
It was in 2005 when Winters Mill posted its best season in school history, finishing 20-6 and advancing to the Class 2A state semifinals. Koontz isn't quite ready to make comparisons to that team, but so far, the evidence is pointing in the same direction.
At the very least, players realize just how far this team has come from last season.
"We're just more athletic and have a lot more talent this year than we did last year," Peters said.
Virginia Tech-bound
Pole vault standout Jess Huber will lead a handful of top competitors from the North Carroll indoor track team into next weekend's Virginia Tech Invitational, a prestigious annual meet featuring some of the region's elite track athletes.
Other participants from the Panthers include junior sprinter Alexis Hurd (55, 300), junior sprinter Katie Crumbaugh (500), freshman high jumper Amber Melville, and on the boys side, sophomore sprinter Chris Langowski (500).
Huber, a senior, may stand the best chance to medal. At last week's Monocacy Valley Athletic League meet, she vaulted 10 feet, 9 inches, just 3 inches shy of the top seed at the Virginia Tech meet.
"She's confident she's going to be doing 11 feet before the year is over," North Carroll coach Jim MacDonald said. "We wouldn't be surprised if she came out finishing toward the top."
The meet will take place just 10 days before North Carroll's regional meet -- something MacDonald hopes will give his athletes a leg up heading into the remainder of the postseason.
"For some of our really high-achieving kids, it just gives them a chance to get in some great competition before the regional meet," MacDonald said.
Franklin commits
South Carroll girls basketball standout Kelsey Franklin has committed to McDaniel College, where she plans to continue her career as a member of the Green Terror.
Entering this weekend's play, the two-time first-team All-County guard was averaging 14.2 points and six rebounds per game.
"She's definitely ready for the college level," Cavaliers coach Liz Shannon said. "She's improved in her ball-handling, her defense is excellent -- she can guard any of the top players in the area -- and she's always shot well. But, most importantly, she works hard at everything she does."
Franklin has been a key cog on a team that has improved substantially from a year ago. South Carroll was 8-4 entering this weekend's play, a year after finishing 10-12.
Shannon attributes the improvement to player maturity.
"The three sophomores I had my first year are now seniors, so they've had a lot of varsity experience," Shannon said of Franklin, guard Brigid McTavish and forward Abby Eisold. "A lot of kids don't play three years on varsity."
Wrestling rankings
Five wrestlers from South Carroll are listed in the latest Maryland State Wrestling Association rankings.
They are: 103-pound freshman Chris Wampler (honorable mention), 119-pound senior Cam Hobin (second), 125-pound junior Rion Reiter (honorable mention), 160-pound senior Zac Stavish (fourth) and 171-pound senior Tyler Mullen (second).
Other ranked county wrestlers include Westminster 103-pound junior Brian Lillehaug (honorable mention), North Carroll 130-pound junior Jeremy Seipp (honorable mention) and North Carroll 215-pound senior Jason Thomen (second).
To submit news and story ideas about Carroll County high school athletics, contact Rich Scherr at CarrollSports@comcast.net
