Butler
Coach: Mark Sanders, ninth season (158-71)
2017-18 Record: 18-10, 10-4 Southwestern 4A
Starting Five:
• Michaela Lane, 6-1 junior wing (13 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2 blocks)
• Michaela Dixon, 5-10 senior wing (5.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals)
• Payton Sutton, 5-6 junior guard (8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 4.7 steals)
• Renee Kennedy, 5-7 senior guard (9.2 points, 2.0 rebounds)
• Ashlynn Dotson, 5-6 junior guard
Rotation Players: Micahla Funderburk , 5-10 junior guard
Points in the paint:
• The lack of depth and experience could hurt the Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs return experience at several key positions on the court.
• Butler lost 58-38 to state semifinalist Mallard Creek in the second round of playoffs last season.
• Lane scored 28 points and had 24 rebounds in one game last season.
Charlotte Christian
Coach: Tony Busby, first season
2017-18 Record: 3-23, 1-9 in CISAA
Starting Five:
• Kate Walker, 6-0 senior forward (13.4 rebounds, 10.8 points, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks)
• Lindsay Noonan, 5-7 junior forward (6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals)
• Emma Coles, 5-4 junior guard (3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists)
• Megan Igbinadolor, 5-8 senior forward (4.0 rebounds, 1.7 points, 1.7 steals)
• Anna Coles, 5-5 sophomore guard
Rotation Players: Brennan Long, 5-6 sophomore forward (1.4 rebounds, 1.0 point); Rachel Noonan, freshman center; Ansley Allison, 5-7 sophomore forward; Jordan Montgomery 5-8 sophomore forward; McKenzie Reed, 5-11 sophomore center; Kaylee Andrievk, 5-3 sophomore guard; Malayna Eudy, 5-4 senior guard
Points in the Paint:
• The Knights had seven freshmen get big minutes last season in an effort to have them all come up together and build from within.
• The Knights are on their sixth coach over the past eight seasons. During that time the Knights have had five winning records, but none in the past three seasons.
• Walker led the team in field goal percentage, shooting 33 percent from the floor. As a team, the Knights were 314-1250 (25.1 percent) from the floor, a number that must come up. The Knights also shot 46 percent from the free throw line and made just 12 3-pointers in 26 games.
• The Knights averaged just 30.5 points per game and were held to a season-low nine against Providence Day. Christian needed to score big to win, but was just 3-11 in games when they scored 30 or more, meaning there is work to be done on the other end of the floor as they averaged 52.3 points per game.
Charlotte Country Day
Coach: Andre Haston, ninth season (67-119)
2017-18 Record: 11-14, 5-5in CISAA
Starting Five:
• Lindsay Batten, 6-1 sophomore forward (3.8 rebounds, 2.2 points)
• Toni-Ann Ocloo, 5-4 junior guard (3.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals)
• Sophie Rucker, 5-5 sophomore guard (5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists)
• Mary Holland Waters, 5-7 freshman forward
• Hudson Rixham, 6-0 freshman forward
Rotation Players: Sadie Ridell, 5-7 junior forward (2.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals); Margaret Lostetter, 5-4 senior guard (1.0 point); Lulu Sasz, 5-5, freshman guard; Lacy Cory, 5-6, sophomore guard; George O’Neil, 5-6, freshman forward
Points in the Paint:
• Haston has guided the Bucs to 11 wins in each of the previous two seasons. That’s the most wins in a season for any Country Day girls team since the 2010-11 season. The five conference wins both of the past two teams have had tie for the most since 2009-10.
• Junior Kennedy Grier and senior Katie Batten will miss the season with ACL injuries. Grier (12.2 points, 3.3 steals in 2016-17) and Batten (11.5 points, 15.3 rebounds last year) will be big losses.
• Haston is very impressed with his freshmen class, including Waters and Rixham. Both will be asked to contribute immediately, but all four newcomers in the rotation will play big minutes.
• The Bucs will try to avoid last year’s fate when they cooled off late, losing six of their last eight games.
Charlotte Latin
Coach: Charise Mapp, sixth season (75-57)
2017-18 Record: 20-8, 9-1 in CISAA
Starting Five:
• Kathryn Vandiver, 6-1 senior forward (15.4 points, 7.2 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.4 blocks, 1.1 assists)
• Ruthie Jones, 6-0 senior forward (13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.1 assists)
• Grace Armstrong, 5-9 senior forward (3.4 rebounds, 2.1 points, 1.7 steals)
• Elizabeth Rose, 6-0 sophomore guard (4.8 rebounds, 3.8 points, 1.2 steals)
• Neely Grace Tye, 5-7 sophomore guard (2.7 points, 1.4 rebounds)
Rotation Players: Forrest Williams 5-9 sophomore forward (2.3 rebounds, 2.0 points, 0.7 steals)
Points in the Paint:
• Jones is a Duke soccer commit where she’ll play attend school with her brother, Daniel. Her middle brother, Bates, plays basketball at Davidson.
• Vandiver gives the Hawks, who are already a strong rebounding team, a strong inside presence. Vandiver is a next-level player looking to make a decision soon.
• Rose is another inside presence and also a standout lacrosse player. She is getting recruiting interest in both sports.
• The Hawks 20 wins marks their best season in at least 13 years. While it will be tough to replace Claudia Dickey, who plays soccer and basketball at North Carolina, the Hawks return four starters and are expecting big performances from Williams and Tye although depth could be a concern.
Covenant Day
Coach: Zach Turner, seventh season (76-83)
2017-18 Record: 8-17, 5-5 in CISAA
Starting Five: (Bold indicates returning starters)
• Katherine Ashley, 5-9 sophomore guard/forward (4 points, 5 rebounds)
• Madeline Crumpler, 5-5 senior guard (6 points, 1.6 rebounds)
• Vickie McCue, 5-5 junior guard (one point, two rebounds)
• Jackie Haynes, 5-5 junior guard (one point, one rebound)
• Taylor Houseton, 5-7 freshman guard/forward
Rotation Players: Caroline Cady, 5-10 freshman forward; Elle Kelada, 5-10 freshman forward
Points in the paint:
• Won five of their last seven games and two in a row, rebounding from a tough start to finish at .500 in conference play
• Three freshmen are expected to see extensive playing time this season
• Team’s top returning scorer and rebounder, Taylor Webber, is not playing this season to concentrate on volleyball
• The Lions were 8-7 last season when they scored 40 or more points, and 0-10 in all other games
Independence
Coach: Lauren Galvani, fourth season (22-52)
2017-18 Record:13-12, 6-8 in Southwestern 4A
Starting Five:
• Braylyn Milton, 5-8 sophomore guard (15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.5 steals)
• Sharonda Smith, 5-7 senior guard (9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds)
• Ayanna Anderson, 6-0 junior center (7.5 rebounds, 7.2 points)
• Natalyah Wilson, sophomore guard
• Julia Rohlfing, 6-1 sophomore post
Rotation Players: Laura Flynn, 5-7 junior forward; Alexandria Burrino, 6-0 junior forward; Azuria Burrino, 6-0 junior forward
Points in the Paint:
• The Patriots had gone 3-68 in the three seasons before Galvani arrived including 0-44 in the previous two seasons. But she slowly built and has the Patriots back on track.
• Milton is one of the area’s real stars. The super sophomore already has offers from East Carolina, Presbyterian and UNC Wilmington with many more on the way.
• The Patriots should dominate on the boards with Milton a terrific rebounder for a guard, but also with four players 6-0 or taller.
• The Patriots would had been a playoff qualifier had it not been for a 3-7 finish. Galvani has her system in place, has her star and this is the season they get it all turned around.
Providence
Coach: Jennifer Bean, third season (20-32)
2017-18 Record: 15-12, 7-5 in So. Meck 7
Starting Five:
• Nyla McGill, 5-7 sophomore guard (10 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 3.5 steals)
• Jaylynn Askew, 5-8 senior forward (8.0 points, 9.1 rebounds)
• Lili Bowen, 5-7 senior forward (9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals)
• Grace Shires, 5-7 senior forward 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds)
• Cameron Mulkey, 5-9 junior forward (6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds)
Rotation Players: Marlow Chapman: 5-9 junior wing (4.8 points, 4.1 rebounds);
Brynn Harrison: 5-8 junior forward (1.9 points, 2.4 rebounds)
Points in the Paint:
• All five starters return from a Providence team that won more games last year (15) than any Panther team in at least the past 12 seasons.
• Bowen is an East Tennessee State softball commit. Last season she batted .456 with 20 runs scored, 16 RBIs, six doubles and three homers for the 22-4 Panthers. Bowen is the team’s top outside shooter (34-114 on 3-pointers last year).
• McGill is the point guard and catalyst for the team. Not only did she lead the team in most every statistical category, but also shot 41 percent from the field. McGill is a Division I talent with interest from several Ivy League schools.
• If there’s one knock on the Panthers, it’s got to be their free throw shooting. Last year, McGill was 58-130 (45 percent) from the line and the team shot just 52 percent. Bowen (76 percent) and Askew (68 percent) were Providence’s better free throw shooters.
Providence Day
Coach: Josh Springer, 13th season (322-46)
2017-18 Record: 24-7, 9-1 in CISAA
Starting Five:
• Andi Levitz, 5-5 junior guard (9.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.0 steal)
• MiLeia Owens, 5-5 junior guard (4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals)
• Grace Godwin, 5-8 junior forward (1.9 points, 2.5 rebounds)
• Kailey Smith , 5-7 junior forward (3.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals)
• Morgan Kelson, 5-10 junior forward (transferred into school this year)
Rotation Players: El Ferguson, 5-7 sophomore guard (4.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, 31 percent form 3-point range); Anna Riley Gutierrez, 5-7 sophomore forward (1.6 points); Dalaney McGuirt, 5-9 sophomore forward (1.2 points, 1.0 rebound); Emnet Naod, 5-8 sophomore wing (1.7 points, 2.9 rebounds)l Taylor Sanchez, 5-6 sophomore guard (0.6 points, 1.0 rebound); Scarlett Greer, 5-7 freshman guard
Points in the Paint:
• Junior all-conference pick and projected starter Nina-Simone Clark will miss the season due to injury. Last season Clark averaged 6.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals.
• The Chargers boast all-conference selections in Levitz (first team) and Owens (second), and those two will be asked to do quite a bit this season.
• Providence Day has won the CISAA conference championship for 15 consecutive seasons and the Chargers have won nine of the previous 11 NCISAA 3A state championships.
• The Chargers hosted the 11th annual Super Scrimmage in early November with 28 of the state’s top teams. Providence Day will also play its usual rigorous schedules, with dates at the Charlotte Hoops Challenge, Ladies Classic in Tennessee over Christmas and at their own MLK Showcase.
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