Oldham County
* Stacy Jace Bryant (second year).Coach:
* 16-13, lost to Anderson County 80-31 in region.Last season:
* Ashley McMurtrey. Were it not for Eriel McKee and Mackenzie Cann at Anderson County, McMurtrey would be a legitimate candidate for Eighth Region Player of the Year. The 5-10 senior averaged 21.8 points a game last year with a solid inside and outside game and is a four-year starter.Player to watch:
* C Jenna Kirk (6-0, Sr., 7 ppg, 7 rpg), F Abigail Stewart (5-10, Sr., 5 ppg), G Sami Henderson (5-6, Sr., 4.4 ppg), G Hannah Patrick (5-7, Sr., 6.3 ppg).Other top players:
* The Lady Colonels should have a solid starting five and one of the region’s top scorers in McMurtrey. Kirk closed last season with an 18-point, 18-rebound game in the regional and could be an even bigger factor this season.Outlook:
“We have a chance to be a very solid team,” Bryant said. “The key for us is to improve our team defense and rebounding.”
Spencer County
* David Marion (second year).Coach:
* 10-20, lost 54-26 to Anderson County in district.Last season:
* MacKenzie Myers. The 5-10 senior forward emerged as one of the region’s most complete players, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds a game last season.Player to watch:
* G/F Krysten Barlow (5-10, Sr., 3.5 ppg), F Kris Downs (5-9, Jr., 2.5 ppg), F Kaylan Nigh (5-8, Sr., 3 ppg).Other top players:
* With Myers as a proven scorer, Marion said the Lady Bearcats could continue to improve, especially if Barlow can improve her scoring. Spencer County also will rely on a corps of young players, including seventh-grade guard Alyssa Howie, who could see significant varsity time.Outlook:
Shelby County
* Michael Sowers (fourth year).Coach:
* 16-14, lost 52-48 to Collins in district.Last season:
* MacKenzie Raisor. The 6-0 junior forward was an all-region pick last season after averaging 14 points and nine rebounds and is drawing the interest of several mid-major colleges with her strong inside game and ballhandling ability.Player to watch:
* F Savannah Raisor (5-10, Jr., 6.3 ppg), G Justus Martin (6-0, So., 9.6 ppg), C Nikki Simmons (5-11, Sr., 5.3 ppg), G Katie Hudgins (5-5, Jr., 6.7 ppg).Other top players:
* The Lady Rockets return 90 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season and feature one of the biggest and most talented front lines in the region, led by the Raisor twins. Martin has been a varsity regular since the seventh grade and provides scoring and backcourt stability. Sowers said his team will try to pound the ball inside as much as possible to use its size.Outlook:
“We have beefed up our schedule, and hopefully that will pay off in the end,” Sowers said. “We are not very quick but should be hard to press because our big girls handle the ball very well.”
Collins
* Phillip Conder (fourth year).Coach:
* 16-15, lost 41-36 to Simon Kenton in region tourney.Last season:
* Michelle Roberts. The 5-7 sophomore guard averaged nine points a game last season and emerged as a clutch shooter, hitting a 3-pointer to send a regular-season game with rival Shelby County into overtime and sinking the game-winning free throw against South Oldham in the regional.Player to watch:
* F Katie Vogel (5-9, Sr., 4.2 ppg), G Mary Borders (5-4, Jr., 1.3 ppg), G Shai Anne Moorman (5-4, Jr., 1.2 ppg).Other top players:
* Conder will field a young squad that must replace the scoring of three-time all-region pick Aaliyah Wells, who is now playing for Morehead State. Conder said the Titans will concentrate on defense and look to Roberts and Vogel for leadership and scoring early until a group of young players can gain experience.Outlook:
South Oldham
* Christy Higdon (third year).Coach:
* 15-15, lost 44-43 to Collins in region tourney.Last season:
* Emma Sedoris. The 5-10 senior forward had a solid junior season, averaging 6.8 points and nearly five rebounds a game in leading the Lady Dragons to the district title. She will be expected to improve on those numbers as the Lady Dragons try to return to the regional tournament.Player to watch:
* G Abby VanZant (5-6, Sr., 7.8 ppg), G Sydney Jones (5-6, Jr., 6.4 ppg).Other top players:
* The Lady Dragons won the district championship last season before falling to Collins by one point in the regional. With Sedoris inside and the guard duo of VanZant and Jones, they could be stronger this year. Jones could be an emerging star after a big sophomore year; her slashing style of play could lead to more point production. South Oldham can also look to guards Erin Wilson and Holly Schumm for more experience.Outlook:
North Oldham
* Dan Pfaff (fourth year).Coach:
* 6-20, lost 62-23 to South Oldham in district.Last season:
* Cat Fiorito. The 5-8 sophomore can play either guard position and averaged 10 points a game last season as the team’s point guard. She will be moved off the ball some now to increase her scoring chances, and she’s also a top defender, setting a school record for steals last season.Player to watch:
* F Rachel Williams (5-10, Jr., 6 ppg), F Erin Olsson (5-9, Jr., 4 ppg)Other top players:
* Fiorito again will lead a young Lady Mustangs team that will rely on inside players Williams and Olsson early on. North Oldham is also looking to three key players returning from surgery. Senior point guard Morgan Spaulding and senior guard Katie Tucker are coming off injuries that sidelined them most of last season. Spaulding has the most experience, having been a varsity regular since the seventh grade. Maggie Mollack, a 5-10 junior center coming off a solid season, suffered a broken ankle early in the preseason and could be back after the Christmas break.Outlook:
— Mickey Patterson
