2008/2009 Basketball Preview
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Pre-Season Rankings
(November 14, 2008)
1. Hodgson Vo-Tech
While they came in second in summer league to Delcastle, they were missing the services of standout starter, Asha Jones. Not to say that she alone would have made up the difference. Delcastle is a dominating team. And they match up well with Hodgson. While the Silver Eagles may not have the same depth of the Cougars, I’m going to gamble and go with the strength of the starting five for Hodgson in the upcoming winter season. Gone are Kanzes Battin (to University of Maryland Eastern Shore) and A’lisha Jones. Everyone else from last year’s Final Four run returns. Sironda Chambers (11 ppg; 3.4 spg; 4.8 rpg last season) and Asha Jones (9.8 ppg; 4.2 apg; 4.8 spg last season) will once again be interchangeable at point and shooting guard. Rounding out the back court will be Ericka Furrowh (8.7 ppg; 3.5 apg; 3.7 spg last season). All three guards are seniors and all will be hungry to go out with a title. With Battin gone, it will be hard to sit the 6’1” Tiffany Anderson this year. She should be joined by flexible swing player, Alyssa Cuomo.
2. Delcastle
The Lady Cougars have had what seems to be a meteoric rise in talent over the last season or two. They cut through summer league like a hot knife through butter. They looked good against all competition. Based on what I know of them, this team will make it to The Bob and survive beyond Final Four. Should the Finals truly be them against Hodgson, and should the game become a “knock down, drag out” affair, Delcastle’s depth of roster could prevail. The big three for the Lady Cougars has to be Karena Puckham, Ashley Robbins and Jaquetta May – all seniors. May has committed to the University of Delaware and made 2nd team all-state last year. All three standouts work well together and don’t seem to mind sharing the glory. Soph, Maria Talarowski, will prevent defenses from clogging the lane with her outstanding shooting from the arc. Make no mistake. This is a deadly, explosive team! The amount of separation between Delcastle and Hodgson is so slim either team could win the title. It’s just that close.
3. Caravel
“Something old, something new” best describes the lineup you’ll see from the Lady Bucs this year. Leading the “old” is senior all-world point guard, Dara Taylor. Most teams that get to The Bob do so on the strength of standout players. Taylor alone would make most teams in the State viable contenders. Helping round out the veteran talent pool are forward Liz Wise and guards Janell Dunham and Elle Rollins. Wise is a player to keep your eye on. Largely flying under the radar last year, look for her to step up to an expanded role on the team – especially in the wake of Karona Roach’s graduation. Wise is aggressive and tough underneath, but also brings good speed and footwork during transitions. Among the “new” at Caravel this year are first-year Bucs Arielle Chard and Courtney Migliocco. Both forwards top off a roster that is not lacking in height or size. Chard may be the most physically aggressive player seen on all the summer league teams. Migliocco, a transfer from St. E’s, brings with her experience in a top-line, winning program. Third-year coach, Kristin Caldwell, will be charged with blending all these diverse ingredients together to form a team that has what it takes to get to Final Four and to challenge for a berth in the Title Game.
4. Middletown
The success of Middletown last year was unforeseen by DGB.com. We won’t make that mistake again. Two words explain why Middletown will make it to Final Four this year: Chelsea Davis. Davis is impossible to stop. One of the rare high school talents that can score at will. Complimenting Davis’ formidable skills is guard and fellow senior Morgan Taylor. Taylor would easily make anyone’s Top Five Point Guards in Delaware list. Together, Davis and Taylor will really have to step it up considering all that was lost to graduation. The Cavs lost three big-time players by way of diplomas – more than most of the top teams. If there’s any weakness with this squad, it would be with the depth and experience of the bench. Otherwise, this team is good to go.
5. Sanford
The Lady Warriors like playing in The Bob. They’ve done so for at least two years running. Much of the credit goes to head coach, Marcus Thompson. Thompson has been a magnet for elite area talent, drawing to Sanford refugees from other top-flight public, Catholic and independent programs. Gone is Jasmine Gibson – a Sanford legend and hall of famer. Gone, too, is Jamie Milliski and all she brought to the table. Returning, however, are the fleet-of-foot guards, Naiesha Brown and Alexa Webb, who should be something else and a treat to watch this year. Allie Kenney also comes back for an encore. Kenney is one of those “hybrid” players – a genetic cross between a guard and a forward, with a little center thrown in for good measure. She’s got front-court toughness and size with a shooting touch that would make any back-court player proud. Newcomers Andrea Hines (soph) and Amber Genwright (freshman) will bring still more energy and pop to the lineup. Sanford will hang tough deep into the State Tournament. They may even snag a State Title if all their young talent gels at the right time.
In the Mix: St. Mark’s, Glasgow
No team in the state has more title wins than Ursuline. Few have as many Title Game appearances as St. E’s. But both of these schools have histories of the occasional “down year.” Not so with St. Mark’s. The Lady Spartans are a study in consistency. The sheer size of the St. Mark’s student body goes a long way to ensure that each year will yield a good roster. Take that head start and add fundamentals coaching that is second to none, and you have the foundation for a perennial contender, which St. Mark’s clearly is. While they lost a lot to graduation last year (four starters having moved on), they will be knocking at the door nevertheless. If senior Jeanne Knowles can just keep injury-free this year, she should provide leadership out of the point guard position. Junior Annie Rivituso at 5’ 10” will furnish height and toughness underneath the hoop. Junior Briana Goodge and sophomore Alison Zimny, both relegated to few minutes last year due to all the seniors on the roster, should finally get their turn to shine.
Since the late 90s, the Lady Dragons have been, over that span, the best public school team in the State. Yet, for all that, they have not landed themselves a State Title. Ever. In fact, the last time they made it to the Finals was March of 2000. Yes, they have Telisha Turner. Turner is in the discussion when comparing the best 1-guards in the State. A fantastic ball handler and prolific scorer. But, I have a feeling that, like so many seasons before, the Lady Glasgowians will be that elusive “one player away” yet again.
Honorable Mentions: Archmere, Concord
Archmere was a puzzling team in summer league. Some nights, they brought barely enough girls to have a game, while other nights, it seemed there were 20 suited up! If senior point-guard Jenna DiNardo can get some good chemistry going with sophomore (and 2007/2008 JV standout) Kelly Gimlett, they should own the Diamond State Conference yet again. Also watch for Allison Hazel, Hillary Fitts and Ashlee Hale to contribute.
Concord did not make the State Tournament last year. But veteran Head Coach John Armstrong has reason to be optimistic this year. He finally will have a roster that is all his this year. None of his players will have known another Concord varsity head coach. All the players he "inherited" from the former staff have graduated. Add to that a very solid performance in this year's summer league (they won most of their games), and there's lots of reasons for Coach Armstrong to smile this year. I would be surprised if they don't win a State Tourney seed.
Coaches' Roundtable Pre-Season Discussion
Click here to see what the Head Coaches
at Caravel, Hodgson, and Sanford are
saying about the upcoming season!
(A DGB.com exclusive!)
Jim Charles - DelGirlsHoops@aol.com