High School Girls Basketball Preview

As Forrest Gump's momma said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you will get."

The same is true at the beginning of the basketball season. Not a single league game has been played, yet there is anticipation not unlike that of picking a chocolate.

How is the season going to play out? Who is the team to beat? Is it River Hill, Mt. Hebron, Howard, Centennial, or someone else?

Most fingers point toward River Hill.

"I think River Hill is unbeatable. River Hill is like a county all-star team," said Mt. Hebron coach Scott Robinson, who had last year's unbeatable (28-0) and state championship team.

The Hawks do have everything -- post players, guards and forwards -- plus desire. After winning four county titles in a row, River Hill has been empty handed the past two years.

Ryann Dannelly and Alicia Seelaus, both committed to Division I basketball programs, bolstered by guards Vanessa Collier and transfer Shantrel Oliver, will put some points on the board, but it is defense that coach Teresa Waters relishes most.

The most likely challengers will be Centennial and Howard, two schools that aren't usually mentioned in that context.

Centennial returns its entire starting lineup and has the size to counter River Hill; Howard does, too.

"Howard will be very good," Oakland Mills coach Seth Willingham predicted.

Howard may have the best two basketball players in the county. Nyree Williams, has a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina, currently the No. 2 ranked team in the nation. The 6-foot-1 forward is considered to be one of the top 100 players in the nation and ESPN's RISE magazine named her fourth team all-area. She is also a McDonald's All-American nominee.

But it is the other player, Brandi Wingate, who could take Howard over the top. Wingate, also a 6-1 senior, may be an even better athlete than Williams. But she hasn't played high school basketball since her sophomore year.

Generally, Mt. Hebron is in the thick of the county title race. Injuries, including one to point guard Aja Wallpher, may make the Vikings a real long shot. Count on this, however, Mt. Hebron will only get better as the season goes on. Defense keeps teams in games, and Mt. Hebron always plays tough defense.

The county's public schools begin play Friday, Dec. 5. The county title game is Feb. 24 between the two teams with the best record. Want to get an early preview of that game? Howard plays at River Hill Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m., Centennial plays at Howard Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. and River Hill plays at Centennial Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Glenelg Country School, an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference team, opened its season Dec. 2; Chapelgate, an IAAM B Conference school, opens its season in the Eagle Classic at Annapolis Area Christian School Dec. 5.

THE TIP OFF

Here's how the teams look as the season begins:

ATHOLTON

2007-08 records: 16-2 county, 22-6 overall.

Top players: Senior Jennifer Shacreaw; juniors Katie Mann and Amber Cook; sophomore Bridget

What you need to know: Although Snyder shared a starting spot a year ago, effectively, the Raiders graduated their starting five. Now it's the understudies turn to shine.

"Some of these kids gave me good minutes last year and never got the spotlight. Now it's their turn," Atholton coach Maureen Shacreaw said. "You may need a scorecard to watch us."

There are four freshmen and three sophomores on the team. Atholton is balanced with six new players blending with the seven returners. Mann and Cook will do the bulk of the scoring; Erica Makar will run the point. Freshman Adrianna Vitagliano will get quality minutes.

CENTENNIAL

2007-08 records: 10-8, 14-10

Top players: Seniors Molly Speicher, Jess Graeff and Kristin Anderson; juniors Victoria Pino and Julia Benjamin.

What you need to know: Centennial returns the starting five from a team that reached the regional semifinals a year ago. "The seniors have been in the system for four years," coach Rob Slopek said. "We haven't skipped a beat and we haven't had to maket of adjustments. Our expectations are very, very high."

With a good year, Speicher could score her 1,000th career point. Pino will be the team's primary ballhandler. Michelle Klima (6-foot-2), Anderson and Benjamin (both 6-0) give Centennial size. The Eagles can put a tall lineup or a guard-oriented line-up on the floor and they hope to present matchup problems for opponents.

GLENELG

2007-08 records: 7-11, 9-15

Top players: Seniors Rachel Smith and Courtney Evanstad; junior Hannah Gaw; sophomore Liz Ebeling.

What you need to know: Although there are five seniors on the team, this year could be a challenge for the Gladiators.

"We're not very deep and we are so little," coach Don Beall said. Then he adds, "I think we are pretty skilled and everyone is interchangeable."

To compensate for its lack of size, Glenelg will try to use its defense to create offense.

Freshmen Danielle Burris and Alyssa Parker, both guards, will figure prominently in the game plan.

HAMMOND

2007-08 records: 1-17, 1-20

Top players: SeniMatthews; juniors Ellen Johnson and Brandone Roberts.

What you need to know: "Overall we are pretty even," said coach Raymona Reid, who picks up the reins of the team after a two-year absence.

This year's squad reminds her of her first team at Hammond, a squad that reached the state finals in 2002, Reid said. "They really, really want to learn. They are hungry to hear what you have to say."

Learning will be the key for Hammond, a team that has only won four games combined the last four years. Other keys will be shifting defenses and keeping fresh legs on the court.

Basketball will be a family affair for the Golden Bears. Reid's husband, Michael, is the junior varsity coach and the two teams are taking a big sister/little sister approach by taking notes at games and practices and helping each other out.

"It gives us an opportunity to grow and learn together," Raymona Reid said.

HOWARD

2007-08 records: 5-13, 7-16

Top players: Seniors Nyree Williams and Brandi Wingate; junior MacKenzie Calhoun; sophomore Julia za.

What you need to know: As the season begins, Howard is scrambling. "We're a little underprepared. We have not had a lot of time to put in everything that I want to put in," said Kim Kennedy, who takes over at her alma mater. She is Howard's third coach in four years.

Williams and Wingate, who has played only one year of high school basketball, give Kennedy talented cornerstones to work with. The W's have other county coaches worried and if they blend with their teammates it could give Howard more of the other kind of "w's" (wins).

"Howard hasn't had a good basketball program since the 1990s," Kennedy said. "We are trying to build a program to put in the pride for Howard High School. It's time for Howard to start doing something."

LONG REACH

2007-08 records: 1-17, 2-18

Top player: Senior Michelle Gravdahl

What you need to know: New is "in" at Long Reach. New coach, new uniforms and hopefully, a new direction.

Denise McNiff is getting to know her players -- she didn't cut anyone -- and is trying to rejuvenat program that hasn't had much success recently. Her attitude is: what's past is past.

"I've told the team this is a whole new season. This is your time and we will embrace our strengths and mitigate our weaknesses and do the best that we can do," McNiff said.

MARRIOTTS RIDGE

2007-08 records: 3-15, 4-20

Top players: Senior Bri Harmon; sophomores Allie Price and Becca Fath.

What you need to know: New coach Paul Courtney has only been with his team since Nov. 15. "We are all kind of shellshocked trying to feel each other out," he said. "We have a very, very young team."

Marriotts Ridge has three seniors -- Harmon, Denise Mitchell and Maddy Hartman -- on its 14-player roster.

The Mustangs will make up for being height challenged by pressing and getting up and down the court quickly.

MT. HEBRON

2007-08 records: 18-0, 28-0

Top players: Senior Brittany Bowen; juniors Megan Schaff and Kathleen Stafford; sophomore Aja Wallpher.

What you need to know: A huge question mark hangs over Mt. Hebron. Will Aja Wallpher be back? The Vikited point guard tore her anterior cruciate ligament early in the summer and had surgery in late June.

"We aren't good right now, but by the end of the year we could be if we get Aja back," coach Scott Robinson said. "Right now we are struggling."

And Wallpher's isn't the only injury. Schaff is temporarily out with concussion and Sarah Miller, a call-up from JV, has a sprained ankle.

From its 12-player squad, Mt. Hebron only had eight able-bodied players for a scrimmage last Saturday. Still, the effort was better than the first scrimmage of the season, when the Vikings had 49 turnovers, Robinson said.

"We are a work in progress," Robinson said. "They are nice kids and nice girls, we just have a long way to go."

OAKLAND MILLS

2007-08 records: 14-4, 18-5

Top players: Juniors Nicole Hill, Monet Nias and Bria Nichols; sophomore Anna Kiely.

What you need to know: Oakland Mills is athletic and will get up and down the floor quickly. In spite of graduating Miriam McKenzie, the 2007-08 Player of the Year, coach Seth Willi says his team is a little bit deeper and more balanced.

But it is also young. There is not a single senior on the squad that includes three freshmen and two sophomores. Freshman Jasmine Hill could nail down a starting spot.

The Scorpions will stress defense and try to hold opponents to 45 points or less.

RESERVOIR

2007-08 records: 13-5, 17-8

Top players: Seniors Brianna Bradford, Ashley Ausby, Monique Morgan and Brooke Romm; junior Caitlin Lovend; sophomore Emily Smoot.

What you need to know: "We're looking a little thin this year with not much depth," coach Suzanne Hughes said.

Bradford is the Gators' all-time scoring leader. She got her 1,000th career point last year and will continue to raise her total. She has been tapped by ESPN's RISE magazine as one of the area's top players and she has been nominated for the McDonald's All-American team.

Reservoir will rely heavily on its core group of seniors. Bradford is a four-year starter. Romm, Morgan and Ausby have three years varsity experience, as does Lovenur weakness will be our lack of depth on the bench," Hughes said.

The Gators could have trouble improving on last year's record, which was the best in school history.

RIVER HILL

2007-08 records: 13-5, 19-6

Top players: Seniors Ryann Dannelly, Alicia Seelaus and Vanessa Collier; juniors Alex Vega, Nicky Piper and Shantrel Oliver, a transfer from Wilde Lake.

What you need to know: River Hill is the team to beat. The Hawks are tall and talented -- Dannelly is 6-foot-4 and has signed with the University of Richmond and Seelaus is 6-foot-1 and committed to Yale. Combined, they give River Hill a strong presence near the basket.

As Collier works her way back from knee surgery, Oliver can run the point. Both have quick hands and are three-point shooters.

"I hope we are contenders; I hope we are competitive," coach Teresa Waters said.

River Hill is seeking its seventh county title in 10 years.

WILDE LAKE

2007-08 records: 7-11, 9-13

Top players: Seniors Megan Federline, Kourtney Holland and Lateasha Squirrell.

What you need The best player from last year transferred schools, only five players participated in fall ball, one player has already dropped off the team, the team has no height to speak of and the bench isn't very deep.

New coach Pam Wright has her work cut out for her and she's up for the challenge.

"I am going to have to coach my best year this year," she said.

Wright wants to build a program, like she's done at both Milford Mill and New Town. Both schools have made multiple state tournament appearances.

If she can turn Wilde Lake around, it will make Wright a little bit like her mentor, Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, who has taken three schools to the NCAA final four.

"That's my goal," Wright said. "I am excited to build this program."

CHAPELGATE

2007-08 records: 2-10 IAAM B, 11-12

Top players: Senior Julia Groves; juniors Kelly Stambaugh, Courtney Stull and Allie Kohr; sophomore Amanda Best.

What you need to know: Groves, a four-year starter, will crack the 1,000-point scoring mark early in the season, possibly thisend. She has 981 points.

Last year, the Yellowjackets finished the season with a flourish, narrowly losing in the B Conference semifinals before winning the Maryland Christian Schools tournament.

"We are going to be a little bit more focused on the fastbreak and the press this year," coach Rick Kohr said. "I think we have a pretty athletic team."

Kohr said he hopes to get more scoring from sophomore guard Laura Lovaas this year.

Best and Stambaugh, both about 5 foot 9, are Chapelgate's tallest players.

The B Conference has reconfigured and is now in two divisions. Chapelgate is in the BX.

GLENELG COUNTRY

2007-08 records: 6-10 IAAM C, 8-12

Top players: Seniors Erika Olney and Mary Tucker; juniors Ashley Dolgoff, a transfer from River Hill, and Sonia Swaray; sophomore Sam Weinstein.

What you need to know: Bob Cranford was named coach in the middle of the preseason, but because he has led the JV team at Glenelg Country for four years, he is familiar with the varsity players.

"I think we'll be OK this year," he said.

Oason is Dolgoff, who is 6-foot-2. She can play anywhere on the court, including point guard.

Cranford said he will stress making free throws and fastbreak lay-ups and boxing out.

"It's going to be a fun year, but we have to play hard and smart and take care of the ball," he said.

The teams to beat in the C Conference are St. Timothy's, Baltimore Lutheran and Park.

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