Girls basketball preview: Fairborn

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 06:00 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

FAIRBORN

Coach: Steve Hannaford, 3rd season

2008-09 record: 14-8 (3-5 Greater Western Ohio Conference)

Returning starters

Jaymee Veney, Jr. C, 6-1

Brianna Breeding, Jr. F, 5-8

Brooklyn Pumroy, Soph. G, 5-6

Notable

Hannaford said he has already lost a couple of key players to knee injuries in preseason practices, although he declined to name the players, saying he wasn’t sure if he was legally allowed to do so. Fairborn’s strength starts with its ball-handling, including that of Veney, one of the most respected centers in the conference who was second in the league last season with 9.5 rebounds per game. Still, adjusting to injuries takes time, so Hannaford and the Skyhawks will rely on some newcomers sooner than they expected. “They all know they have to do a little extra and pick up some slack,” he said.

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Girls basketball preview: Fairmont

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 03:00 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

FAIRMONT

Coach: Tim Cogan, 10th season

2008-09 record: 22-4 (9-1 Greater Western Ohio Conference)

Returning starters

Cassie Sant, Sr. C, 6-2

Holly Carey, Sr. G, 5-10

Notable

How’s this for a tough schedule: Three of the Firebirds losses last season came against Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, which went on to win the Division I state championship. Those losses came by scores of 67-29 in Game 2, 54-40 in 10 and 52-35 in Game 26, so the tough losses were spread throughout the season. Fairmont also lost to Beavercreek, just 35-32. “We are a young team,” Cogan said. Sant, who will play for the University of Dayton next season, averaged 13.6 points and 8 rebounds per game last season, while Carey made 43.1 percent of her 3-point attempts.

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Girls basketball preview: Stebbins

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 12:00 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

STEBBINS

Coach: Suzanne Loudner, first season

2008-09 record: 5-16 (4-12 Central Buckeye Conference)

Returning starters

Ja’Monica Orton, Sr. C/F/G, 6-1

Autumn Johnson, Sr. G, 5-5

Luvenia Davis, Sr. F, 5-7

Stephanie Eldred, Jr. F, 5-9

Notable

Stebbins’ fate begins with Orton, who will join the University of Mississippi basketball team next season. She’s one of six seniors who has been playing with the group since sixth grade, which builds comfort. “She can make passes you don’t think are possible,” said Loudner, who is moving up to head coach after five years as an assistant. She can also play any position on the floor. So how does Loudner choose? “It’s a matter of who needs a breather,” she said. Orton has developed strong moves in the post, some that seem to come naturally. With that kind of player and four starters returning, many expect Stebbins to improve on last season’s record.

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Girls basketball preview: Piqua

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 09:00 AM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

PIQUA

Coach: David Myers, 2nd season

2008-09 record: 3-18 (1-7 Greater Western Ohio Conference)

Returning starters

Alexis Clay, Jr. G, 5-4

Beth Caldwell, Sr. G, 5-8

Kami Baker, Sr. G, 5-6

Lauryn Fair, Sr. F, 5-9

Whitney Bailey, Sr. C, 5-10

Notable

Caldwell led the varsity squad of six players by averaging 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, and the Indians spent the summer improving. Getting together for close to 50 summer-league games, the team was able to win a good number of those to gain confidence heading into this season, Myer said. “These girls just have to learn how to win,” Myers said. “They feel like they can be competitive.” Piqua won two of its final five games to send it off into the team-building summer, and Caldwell continues to serve as a leader on the floor.

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Girls basketball preview: Northmont

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 07:30 AM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

NORTHMONT

Coach: Matt Adams, 4th season

2008-09 record: 8-13 (2-8 Greater Western Ohio Conference)

Returning starters

Kelley Johnson, Sr. C, 5-10

Krista Knapke, Soph. G, 5-11

Tatiana Miller, Jr. G, 5-8

Sydney Copeland, Sr. G, 5-4

Courtney Sweet, Soph. G, 5-7

Notable

The initial scouting report on the Thunderbolts is simple. “Everyone knows we like to run, get up and down the court, I like to call it controlled chaos,” Adams said. Knapke, a second-team all-conference pick last season as a freshman, is moving from the inside to a guard position to provide some versatility on the perimeter. She can also help control the Northmont offense that doesn’t call many plays but tries to get the basket as quickly as possible. Helping with that athleticism will be Ashtyn Payne, a sophomore guard who is also a skilled long jumper for the track team.

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Girls basketball preview: Valley View

By Greg Billing | Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:27 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

VALLEY VIEW

Coach: Steve Dickson, seventh season

Returning starters

Katelyn Koble, Sr., C, 5-9

Marissa Herlinger, So., C, 6-0

Brooke Lewis, So., F, 5-10

Notable

Three returning starters look to build on last season’s 7-15 record overall and reverse a 3-9 finish in the SWBL Southwestern Division. The Spartans will count on Koble and Herlinger to play strong in the post with point production and rebounds. Valley View finished at the bottom of the SWBL Southwestern Division in both scoring and rebounding last season. Senior forward Breanna Puckett and senior guard Sarah Tipton will also be counted on for stability.

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Girls basketball preview: Dixie

By Greg Billing | Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:17 PM

This is another in a series of capsules previewing area high school basketball for the 2009-10 season:

DIXIE

Coach: Anya Johnsman, first season

Returning starters: None

Notable

All five starters graduated from the Greyhounds’ team that finished 7-14 overall and 7-5 in the SWBL Buckeye Division last season, including the division’s top rebounder and fourth-best scorer in Kayla Bertke. Johnsman inherits a roster that includes three seniors and five sophomores who have “a willingness to learn and a desire to play.” Focus on fundamentals (Dixie averaged 21 turnovers per game last season) will be key as the team builds varsity experience.

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