2009 Republic Bank Holiday Classic Participating Teams
© 2009 Ron Harrison
Assumption – Coach Ron Ferch's Rockets had a 15-13 record last season but finished strong in the very competitive 7th Region. 6-0 Sr. guard Molly Ernst averaged 17.5 ppg last season and is deadly from the perimeter. 5-9 Sr. Sara Minogue (8 ppg, 6 rpg) scores well inside and is a good defender. 5-7 Sr. Kayla McMahon is a strong, hard-nosed player who will move to the point this season. 5-9 Jr. guard Maggie Hartlage is a versatile performer who can play anywhere on the floor. 5-7 Sr. Paige Mullen is a high energy performer who should be a double digit scorer this season. Young players expected to make an impact this season include 5-10 So. forward Morgan Foley and 5-7 Fr. guard Dee Dee Sliter.
Ballard – Coach Steve Kaufman’s Lady Bruins finished 10-19 last season but had no seniors and appear to be poised to be very competitive in the 7th Region wars this season. They have an excellent group of guards returning in 5-7 Sr. Nicole Heitz (14.8 ppg), 5-7 Sr. Bryelle Bonds (12.8 ppg), and 5-8 Sr. Larissa Stafford (13.7 ppg). Coach Kaufman expects early help from 5-9 Fr. Alexus Colbert. 6-2 Jr. Jaylan Bodiford transferred from Eastern, will be eligible in December, and should make a big impact.
Betsy Layne – Coach Devon Akers’ Lady Cats finished 16-9 last season and should compete for the 15th Region crown this season. The Lady Cats have excellent depth and have two of the best players in the region in 5-8 Jr. Taylor Hott (17 ppg) and 5-6 Sr. Megan Hamilton (16.9 ppg). They also have an experienced point guard returning in 5-4 Sr. Lindsey Martin. Betsy Layne also has experienced frontliners returning in 5-7 Jr. Taylor Watkins and 5-7 Sr. Faith Reynolds.
Bowling Green – Coach LaVonda Johnson’s Lady Purples finished 26-3 last season and are favored to capture the 4th Region crown this season. 5-7 Sr. guard Erica Smith is a quick defender and good scorer. 5-8 Jr. guard Adrienne Tarrence can dish the ball as well as score. 5-5 Jr. Alexis Lawrence, 5-7 Sr. Shelby Lawson, 5-7 Sr. Tiasha Coleman, and 5-9 Jr. Zoe Silbalich are also expected to be key contributors. The Lady Purples have the talent and will be extremely tough if they can rebound and defend in the paint.
Breathitt County – Coach Peggy Moore’s Lady Cats finished 23-8 last season and are shooting for their fourth consecutive 14th Region title. Seasoned veteran 5-10 So. Kendall Noble (17.1 ppg) fills the stat sheet with points, rebounds, and assists. 5-2 Sr. guard Brianna Deaton averaged 11.5 ppg last season. 6-1 Sr. Eden Keeton is a solid post player and 5-10 Jr. Tori Shouse also provides help in the paint. The Lady Cats have several other players expected to log quality minutes, including 5-3 Jr. Courtney Fugate, So. Leslie Spencer, and Jr. Kristen Bowen.
Bullitt East – Coach Chris Stallings’ Lady Chargers finished 23-9 last season and are one of the favorites to capture the 6th Region title. 5-11 Sr. guard Kayla Thacker is a versatile player with good court vision who scores off the dribble or with her jump shot. 5-10 Sr. frontliner Shelby Romine hits the boards well and has good range on her jump shot. 5-6 Jr. guard Jessica Philpott handles the ball, scores, and defends. 5-9 Sr. Jade Troutman is a versatile performer with good range on her shot. 6-2 Jr. center Lindey Young is expected to be a force in the middle. Coach Stallings has several other players expected to log quality minutes.
Christian Academy of Louisville – Coach Don Rice’s Lady Centurions finished 25-5 last season and will be another strong contender for the 7th Region title. 6-2 Sr. guard Antonita Slaughter is a skilled player with excellent range on her jump shot. 5-10 Sr. guard Allison Karst and 5-11 Sr. forward Anna Hart are good returning veterans. 5-8 Fr. guard China Dow is strong, athletic, penetrates well, and can hit the jump shot. Other players expected to contribute include 5-7 Jr. Emily Walden, 5-6 Fr. Kate Joss, and 5-6 Fr. Casey Marshall. Coach Rice has a nice mix of seasoned veterans and promising freshmen who should have an impact.
Clay County – Coach James Burchell’s Lady Tigers finished 25-10 last season and are favored to capture the 13th Region crown again this year. 6-1 Jr. center Whitney Belle Jackson is effective in the paint with power moves to the basket. 5-10 Sr. Jordan Phillips (11 ppg) is another inside scoring threat. The Lady Tigers also have talent and experience in the backcourt with 5-9 Sr. Danielle Fox, 5-7 Jr. Kayla Smith, and 5-6 So. Alisha Mitchell. Clay County also has some promising young players including 5-11 Fr. Morgan Chestnut,
Community School of Naples (FL) – Coach Mitch Woods’ Lady Seahawks finished 29-3 last season and captured the Florida 2A title. The Lady Seahawks return their starting five and the majority of their top players. Coach Woods’ daughter, 5-9 Jr. Michelle Woods (20.8 ppg) was named 2A player of the year last season. Other key players returning include 5-9 So. Hunter Martin, 5-8 Sr. Vanessa Baretta, 5-8 So. Caitlin Schwartz, 5-8 Sr. Jackie King, and 5-7 So. Vivian Grimes. The Lady Seahawks will also get help in the paint from 5-10 Jr. Alessandra Zerbo who moved in from New York.
Conner – Coach Kim Warfields’ Cougars finished 15-12 last season but return a lot of players who gained valuable experience last season. 5-6 Sr. guard Devin Beasley is an excellent floor general and 5-7 So. guard Ellory Kring is a an excellent perimeter shooter. Other players expected to be key contributors include 5-8 Jr. Toria Fischer, 5-7 So. Dawn Peacock, and 5-6 So. Kara Taulbee.
duPont Manual – Coach Stacy Pendleton’s Lady Crimsons finished 24-7 last season and will contend for the 7th Region crown this season. 6-2 Sr. forward Zakiyah Shahid-Martin is an aggressive defender who scores inside and can hit the jump shot. 5-10 Jr. forward Mechael Guess is very athletic, defends, and finishes at the rim. 5-7 So. April Wilson is an excellent guard and leader who displayed exceptional skills this summer. 5-10 So. guard Kara Wright is long and athletic and is an excellent finisher in the lane. 5-7 So. guard Lauren Bodine is deadly from the outside and has an excellent pullup jump shot off the dribble. 5-7 So. point guard LeAsia Wright is a jet quick guard and is a lock-down defender. 6-1 Fr. Kayla Styles has the complete package and has the skills to make a huge impact this season.
Elizabethtown – Coach Tim Mudd’s Lady Panthers finished 33-3 last season, captured the 5th Region championship, and was the state runner-up. However, the Lady Panthers graduated four key seniors and lost promising 5-11 So. forward Darian Ditto to a knee injury. The Lady Panthers return 5-6 Jr, Natalie Greenwell, a quick guard with good range on her shot. 5-11 Jr. forward Adelaide Luckett has rapidly improved and should put up good numbers this season. 5-6 So. guard Tara Gilpin is another player expected to be a key contributor this season. Other players expected to log quality minutes include 5-10 So. Kaylyn Cecil, 5-8 Fr. Anna Bowling, and 5-8 Jr. Hannah Hart.
Grayson County – The Lady Cougars finished 26-5 last season and Coach Brad Johnson takes over as head coach after leading Ohio County to the state tournement last season. Coach Johnson inherits some good talent and with his aggressive defense Grayson County should be a strong contender for the 3rd Region crown. 5-8 Sr. guard/forward Shelby Tyra has a good all-around game and is a versatile scorer. 5-8 Jr. forward Chelsea Pharris is a solid player and 5-10 So. Halee Johnston should help in the paint. Jr. Alex Crowe, So. Kylie Gorby, Fr. Deanna Raley, and Jr. Sarah Taylor are also expected to contribute this season.
Harlan County– Coach Anthony Nolan’s Lady Black Bears finished 21-10 last season and should contend for the 13th Region title this season. Harlan County has a lot of experience returning including all five starters. 6-0 Sr. Samantha Sexton, and 5-11 Sr. Heather Maggard are two of the best inside players in the region. 5-6 Sr. Kendra Russell, and 5-5 Johnnie Parker provide good perimeter shooting. The Lady Black Bears also return an experienced point guard in 5-5 Jr. Whitney Gilliam. They have depth with several players including 6-0 So. Torri Constant expected to be key contributors.
Highlands– Coach Jaime Walz Richey’s Bluebirds finished 25-6 last season and despite graduating seven seniors should compete for the 9th Region crown this season. 5-8 Sr. forward Katie Allen sees the floor well and is a versatile scorer. 6-0 Sr. center Bekah Towles scores well inside, rebounds, and can run the floor. 5-5 Jr. Allie Conner is an experienced returning guard. 5-9 Sr. Hope Cutter is also another solid front court player. The loss of the seven seniors will hurt team depth but Highlands has a large number of returning juniors.
Lexington Catholic – Coach Tony Talbott’s Lady Knights finished 17-15 last season with a tough schedule including the always competitive 11th Region. The Lady Knights should have good depth this season and have a solid guard combination in 5-7 Sr. Anna Gayle Scott and 5-6 Jr. Meghan Cawood. Lexington Catholic has some talented young players including 6-0 So. Alex Botkin, 5-9 Fr. Octavia Wilson, 6-0 So. Liz Walton, and 5-8 So. Jill Maronde. The Lady Knights will play an uptempo style but must get consistent perimeter shooting to improve.
Lincoln County – Coach Don Story’s Lady Patriots finished 26-6 last season and are one of the leading contenders to capture the 12th Region championship this season. 6-3 Sr. Kendra Brown scores in the paint, rebounds, and alters a lot of shots in the paint. 5-9 Sr. Nikki Bustle, 5-9 Sr. Shelby Smith, 5-9 Sr. Jessica Upchurch, and 5-7 Fr. Emily Fox will provide excellent perimeter shooting. Lincoln County has some promising young talent including 6-0 Fr. forward Sydney Harris.
Madisonville-North Hopkins– Coach John Paul Cummings Maroons finished 15-9 last season and should be very competitive in the 2nd Region battles this season. 5-11 Sr. Tayla Foster scores off penetration and is an excellent rebounder. 5-10 Jr. Kenyatta Drake is multi-skilled with a good all-around game. 5-6 Sr. guard Lyndi Tedder can handle, pass, and is deadly from the perimeter.
Marion County – Coach Trent Milby’s Lady Knights finished 27-7 last season and are favored to capture the 5th Region title this year and make a serious run for top state honors. This team is young but extremely talented. 5-9 Fr. Makayla Epps directs the offense, scores, and defends. 6-1 Fr. Kyvin Goodin-Rogers scores, rebounds, and is a defensive presence. 5-9 So. swing player Bre Elder is very versatile and can change a game either on defense or offense. 5-7 Jr. Brooke Roberts and 5-7 Jr. Shakila Goodin are also key contributors. 6-0 Sr. Jasmine Franklin trasferred in from Tates Creek and scores inside and is a good rebounder.
Mercy Academy – Coach Mark Evans’ Jaguars finished 19-8 last season and will contend as usual for the 7th Region title. 5-9 Sr. guard Therese Montano (14 ppg) is a multi-talented guard who is a versatile scorer and tireless worker. 5-8 Sr. Malisa Cruz (11 ppg) is a hard-nosed swing player with good range on her shot. The Jaguars also have a very talented guard trio in 5-5 Jr. Lauren Faris (5 ppg), 5-8 Jr. Juliann Miller (10.5), and 5-9 Sr. Ellen Sholtes (8 ppg). Other players expected to contribute include 5-8 Jr. Emily Goetz, 5-8 Jr. Catherine Dircksen, 5-11 So. Courtney Roush, and 5-10 So. Christine Roush. Mercy will always give a big effort and if they can stay healthy and rebound the ball could be an extremely dangerous foe.
Montgomery County – Coach Janie Robinson’s Indians finished 28-4 last season and captured their fifth consecutive 10th Region title. The Indians graduated several key players and will be relatively inexperienced this season. 6-3 Sr. Mary Jehlik has excellent potential and can score in the paint. 5-10 Sr. Annie Garland will have the opportunity to put up big numbers this season.
Nelson County – Coach Kelly Wood’s Lady Cardinals finished 27-6 last season and should be a factor in the 5th Region again this season. 6-3 Sr. center Samantha Drake is a mobile inside performer who puts up big numbers in scoring and rebounding. 5-8 Sr. guard Lacy Hagan is an excellent perimeter shooter and 5-5 Sr. Emily Hogan is also a key returnee. Other players expected to contribute include 5-9 Sr. Charity Watson, 5-8 Fr. A. J. Lewis, and Fr. Cierra Drake.
Newport Central Catholic – Coach Ron Dawn’s Thoroughbreds finished 24-9 last season and have the talent returning to make a run at the 9th Region title this season. 5-6 Sr. guard Courtney Sandfoss is an excellent floor leader and scorer. 5-11 Sr. forward Mariah Tabor is a solid inside player. Other players expected to log quality minutes include 5-5 Sr. Trisha Taylor, 5-6 Jr. Kiley Bartels 5-10 Jr. Ally Buchanan, 5-6 Jr. Hannah Thiem, 5-7 Jr. Brittany Fryer, and 5-8 Jr. Christine Ciafardini. Coach Dawn returned to the bench last season and didn't miss a beat as his team played aggressively and should enjoy a good season this year.
North Hardin – Coach James Slaven’s Lady Trojans finished 24-6 last season but suffered a set-back over the summer when 5-4 Jr. guard RaeChaun Edwards moved to Virginia. The Lady Trojans cupboard is far from bare as they will still be one of the best teams in the 5th Region. 5-11 Sr. forward Destiny Bramblett averaged 17 ppg and 11 rpg last season. 5-5 Sr. point guard Jennifer Smiley is a versatile performer who averaged 12 ppg last season. 5-3 Sr. guard Lexi Taft is also a key returnee and 5-8 Fr. forward Chanel Roberts averaged 8 ppg and 6 rpg. Other players expected to contribute include 5-10 Jr. Tkeyah Chatman and 5-4 So. Brianna Woodson.
Owensboro Catholic – Coach Ray Zuberer's Lady Aces finished 21-10 last season, graduated six seniors but still has enough talent returning to be very competitive in the 3rd Region wars this season. 5-11 Fr. Becca Greenwell is a swing player who is a versatile scorer (18.2 ppg) and a good rebounder. 5-6 Sr. forward Kaley Robertson (10.4 ppg) and 5-6 Sr. Kaitlyn Elder are returning veterans who will be expected to be key contributors this season. 5-7 Jr. Lauryn Yevincy, 5-5 Sr. Martina Riney, and promising young frontline player 5-11 So. Mary Kate Clemens are also expected to log quality minutes.
Rowan County – Coach Scott Tackett’s Lady Vikings finished 26-4 last season and despite key graduation losses will contend for the 16th Region title again this year. Key returnees for the Lady Vikings are jet-quick 5-4 Sr. guard Kaitlyn Muncy and 5-8 Sr. forward Natasha Kissinger. 5-10 Sr. Adriana Neely and 5-10 Sr. Jenna Kiser should score in the paint and 5-4 Jr. Tierra Hamilton, 5-8 So. Kathryn Duff, and 5-4 Jr. Keshia McClain can shoot the ball. The Lady Vikings are athletic, deep, and have a good mix of veterans and young players.
Ryle – Coach Patti Oliverio’s Lady Raiders finished 19-10 last season and should be among the top teams in the 9th Region this season. The Lady Raiders are loaded with talent despite the loss of 5-10 So. Sydney Moss who transferred to Boone County. 5-11 So. Jenna Crittendon is a talented guard/forward who averaged 18 ppg and 9 rpg last season. 5-6 Jr. Abby Jump (11 ppg) is an excellent perimeter shooter. 5-8 Sr. Scooby Williams is an excellent defender. Other key players include 5-7 So. Ashley Cheesman, 5-7 Fr. Dawn Johnson, 5-10 Fr. McKell Oliverio, and 5-6 So. Tyianna Douthit. 5-10 Jr. forward/center Liz Meyer is a presence in the paint.
Sacred Heart Academy – Coach Donna Moir’s Valkyries finished 25-5 last season and will once again will be a force in the 7th Region race this season. 5-6 Sr. guard Autumn Miller averaged 13.5 ppg last season and has excellent range on her shot. 5-11 Sr. forward Jackie Hafele is very athletic and can score, rebound, and defend. 5-11 Jr. center Morgan Clemons scores inside, rebounds, and defends. 5-4 Jr. guard Maddie Peabody is quick in transition and leads the Valkyries in steals. 5-11 Jr. forward Anna Marie Campbell is a good mid-range shooter and an excellent defender. 5-11 Jr. guard Monica McGreal is an excellent perimeter defender who has good range on her jump shot. 5-7 Sr. guard Leah Storch, 5-5 Jr. guard Hannah Washle, 5-5 Jr. guard Katie Bishop, and 5-9 Sr. forward Mary Gordon Stough are also expected to be key contributors. It has been reported that the injury bug has hit Sacred Heart hard and the roster may be dramatically changed by this event.
South Laurel – Coach Konnie Snyder’s Lady Cardinals finished 19-10 last season and have the depth and talent to contend for the 13th Region title. They will be led by 5-3 Sr. guard Jessica Dean (11.8 ppg). Other key returnees include 5-6 Sr. point guard Tish Walker, 5-9 Jr. forward Morgan Johnson, and 6-1 Jr. guard Erika Burchett. Other players expected to log quality minutes include 5-8 Sr. center Chelsea Anders, 5-4 Jr. guard Andi House, 5-8 Jr. forward Amanda Reynolds, and 5-8 Jr. guard Carly Bowling. South Laurel also has some good young talent including 5-6 So. Macy Clontz, 6-0 Fr. Taylor Arthur, 5-10 So. Laura Davis, 5-4 So. Kendal Deaton, and 5-9 Fr. Cassandra Johnson.
St. Joseph Central Catholic (WV) – The Irish, under the direction of Coach Shannon Lewis, finished 22-5 last season and captured the Class A state championship. Although they graduated top scorer Jill Pulley, the cupboard is far from bare. The Irish will be led by 5-3 Sr. Dusti Chapman, 5-7 Jr. Kiki Smith, and the leading rebounder from last season, 6-1 Jr. Sara Sang. They also have a talented transfer in 6-3 Sr. Brooke Keeton.
Wayne County – Coach Tim Pyles’ Lady Cardinals finished 18-11 last season playing in the very competitive 12th Region. They will be led by their guard duo of 5-5 Jr. Kayla Bowling and 5-5 Sr. Samantha Sexton. Bowling will run the offense and should increase her scoring this season. 5-10 So. TaShea Pyles and 5-9 Fr. Jessica Hardin are expected to be contributors this season.
Webster County – Coach Christina Whitsell’s Lady Trojans finished 23-8 last season and are one of the favorites to capture the 2nd Region title this season. 5-10 Sr. forward Stephanie Householder scores well in the paint. 6-2 Sr. center Lynette Harris has excellent post moves and defends well inside. 5-10 Sr. Ellie Steiner is an excellent perimeter shooter and 5-4 Sr. Kerstin Hayes will run the point. Other players depended on to contribute include 5-4 Sr. Caylee Duncan and 5-5 Jr. Keri Wright.
Please send your comments and questions to Ron Harrison at prephoops@yahoo.com.
Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other basketball events appear on http://www.kyprephoops.com.