CVC, Suburban season previews inside
While some girls basketball teams in the Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division may find it hard not to think about the players they no longer have, the Allentown High girls are ready to show off all the talent they’ve got returning.
Led by 5-foot-8 senior guard Ryan Weise, who enters the season having already scored 1,293 points on her career, and five other returnees, the Redbirds figure to be the cream of the crop in the Valley Division as well as one of the best teams in the area.
“We’ve had 20-plus wins season the last few years, and we are hoping to do that again as well as chase a Mercer County Tournament title and state title,” said 13th-year head coach Linda Weise, Ryan’s mother. “We don’t have as much depth as we’ve had, but we have a really good core.”
To help survive its tough schedule, Allentown has added three freshmen who could prove to be a big help by the end of the season.
A year ago, it was West Windsor-Plainsboro North which walked away with the MCT trophy. But after graduating four talented players in Chrissy DiCindio, Jasmine Watson, Natalie Everett and Ciahni Hunt, and having 12year head coach Bob Boyce retire, the Northern Knights will have new leadership this season as Frank Moore takes over.
The cupboard is not bare as Moore gets to build around 5-8 junior guard/forward Jordan Brown (11.3 points per game), plus five other returning players.
“Last season the girls saw what it takes to be successful,” Moore said. “The players who graduated weren’t just good players. They were good leaders. We’re trying to carry that over.”
Nottingham will deal with the graduation of double-digit scorers Tyasia Stephenson and Haylee Kieffer, but seventh-year head coach Lauren Adams will also have six returnees to steady the ship, headlined by seniors Madison Diaz and Liz Kerekes.
“I would very confidently go into battle with the players I have,” Adams said. “They are very scrappy. This season, they all have to become scoring threats.”
Hamilton will have a new coach in Joe Radice after five years under Erin Wolverton. The Hornets have three senior captains in Marissa Cooper, Amanda May and Jenna Slack, who will need to direct a rather inexprienced varsity squad.
“The three of them are going to have to truly be leaders on and off the floor for us to make the progress we want to make each day,” said Radice, the former Steinert varsity boys coach.