Girls Basketball Season Preview (with CAPSULES)
Questions abound during this time of year for high school basketball coaches.
As teams shift focus toward the tip-off of a new season tonight, most will do so with several players returning to the fold from last season, some will look to build on the momentum garnered from playoff runs of a year ago while others will look to start anew.
All will enter the season with uncertainties.
But perhaps few schools will have as many questions in need of answering as Walton.
Coming off of last year’s 18-8 run to the Class 3A regional semifinals, coach Terry McClure must replace program pillars in Betsy Stevenson and Lee Paulk. He also saw eight other players leave the program due to graduation or transfer and returns one varsity member from a year ago.
Most coaches in the same situation would talk of gloom and doom, but McClure isn’t most coaches.
“I don’t ever look at a season and think we can’t do this or we can’t do that,” McClure explained. “We’re going to work hard and try to win district and get down to Lakeland (site of the state finals).”
Fort Walton Beach, which lost just one — albeit, very important — senior in Kristin Rogers, appears primed to build on last year’s run to the Class 5A regional semifinals. Holly McDaniel’s cast of returnees includes Raquita Gooden, Kiani Parker and Lakeryl Ingram, who each played pivotal roles down the stretch last season.
“These girls grew up so much last year,” McDaniel said. “They feel some entitlement in being a leader and not waiting for someone else to do it. Those three together really are providing a good sense of leadership.”
New leaders are in place at Paxton, Baker and Rocky Bayou Christian, as each program experienced coaching changes in the offseason after playoff runs a year ago.
At Paxton, Steve Williams takes over for the retired Herb Haddock and inherits a team that advanced to the Class A regional semifinals and lost only one senior. Erin Walker, Katie Kinkey and Krysten Cuchens headline a list of returnees that has the 24-year veteran of the coaching ranks anticipating a new beginning.
“My expectations are the same as what they have been in the past,” Williams said. “The tradition here is strong. We’re going to try to play for a state championship, I think that’s the goal every year.”
Brian Wagner takes over a Gators program built by the legendary Kathy Combest that returns one senior but experience in sophomores Dani Mayhair and Morgan Jones. Baker advanced to the Class 2A regional quarterfinals last season.
“There’s a good base there,” Wagner said. “Those young freshmen wound up playing a lot last year on the varsity, so they’re not babies being thrown to the wolves. They have a little experience but they have a lot to learn. Probably not as much as I do.”
Ren Kiser, herself a graduate of Rocky Bayou Christian, has returned to take the helm of a Knights program that last season reached the Class A regional quarterfinals. A tumultuous offseason led to player defections, but with the dust now settled, Kiser is optimistic.
“We’re trying to rebuild a little bit,” Kiser said. “My goal is to be a positive role model in their lives. It’s not only about the game of basketball, but learning about discipline and commitment. Of course, it’s more fun to win than it is to lose.”
Baker
Coach: Brian Wagner
District: 1-2A
District opponents: Freeport, Jay, Northview, Pensacola Christian, Ponce de Leon
Athletes returning: Allysa Horn, Catilyn Holley, Dani Mayhair, Morgan Jones, Haley Wagner, Bethany Chestnut, Cassidy Anderson, Macie Wilde
Others to watch: Kathryn Quigg, Katie Wickery
Athletes lost: Courtney Fountain, Ariel Adkinson, Hanna McGraw
Choctawhatchee
Coach: Don Brown
District: 1-4A
District opponents: Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Washington, West Florida
Athletes returning: Francheska Bowman, Branita Malone, Rachiknec McCorvey
Others to watch: Kanisha Austin, Brittany West, Brittany Brown, Charity Lane
Athletes lost: D.J.Taylor, Christine Redding
Crestview
Coach: Donald Campbell
District: 2-5A
District opponents: Fort Walton Beach, Mosley, Niceville
Athletes returning: Monique Thurman, Jodi Montalvo, Danica Applewhite, Toteana Fraizer, Candice Green, Holly Stanford, Latisha Larkins
Others to watch: None reported
Athletes lost: Arquitia Jernigan, Shaquan Scott, Jordan Thurman, Bernisha Union, Brittney Gilliam
Fort Walton Beach
Coach: Holly McDaniel
District: 2-5A
District opponents: Crestview, Mosley, Niceville
Athletes returning: Shaakira Mitchell, Lakeryl Ingram, Alisha Anderson, Kiani Parker, Raquita Gooden, Eboni Payton, Kiara Turner, Lamonica Lewis
Others to watch: Lindsey Stainbrook, Emily Troell
Athletes lost: Kristin Rogers
Freeport
Coach: Michael Myrick
District: 1-2A
District opponents: Baker, Jay, Northview, Pensacola Christian, Ponce de Leon
Athletes returning: Nikki Blalock, Dannica Mosher, Jesse Moulton, Amanda Bates, Catherian Trotman, Chelsea Lindaas, Katelyn Cuchens, Megan Seibert
Others to watch: Bri Ross
Athletes lost: Curstin Buford, Joslyn King
Laurel Hill
Coach: Scott Varnum
District: 1-A
District opponents: Bethlehem, Central, Escambia Charter, Paxton, Poplar Springs, Rocky Bayou Christian
Athletes returning: Tuyen Morris, Jenny Brown, Brooke Hansen, Jessica Gartman, Laquetta Williams
Others to watch: Emmalee Infinger
Athletes lost: Nyiece Underwood
Navarre
Coach: David Noles
District: 1-5A
District opponents: Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest, Tate
Athletes returning: Ricki Alex, Beka Padilla, Leah Charitat
Others to watch: Ajay Memds, Miranda Fletcher, M.C. Perrone, Aeisha Henry
Athletes lost: Lori Fletcher, Kylie Casey
Niceville
Coach: Babita Artabasy
District: 2-5A
District opponents: Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Mosley
Athletes returning: Sharome Strutchen, Emily Dutton, Michelle Smith, Holly Osborne, Kacie Stone
Others to watch: Ranika Rone, Tori Moore, Lauren Day
Athletes lost: Arianna Roper, Cassandra Brown
Paxton
Coach: Steve Williams
District: 1-A
District opponents: Bethlehem, Central, Escambia, Laurel Hill, Poplar Springs, Rocky Bayou Christian
Athletes returning: Erin Walker, Katie Kinkey, Aubrey Anderson, Chantel McCormick, Krysten Cuchens, Laura Ashley Anderson, Magen Adams, Rebecca Berriara, Alyssa Dupree
Others to watch: None reported
Athletes lost: Stevie Davidson
Rocky Bayou Christian
Coach: Ren Kiser
District: 1-A
District opponents: Bethlehem, Central, Escambia, Laurel Hill, Paxton, Poplar Springs
Athletes returning: Rebecca Weaver, Glory Allen, Katherine Rogers, Rachel Mosley, Peyton Preston
Others to watch: Kristen Burnhizel, Haley Johnson
Athletes lost: Jasmine Jacquay, Monica Johnson
South Walton
Coach: Kevin Craig
District: 2-2A
District opponents: Blountstown, Bozeman, Cottondale, Graceville, Holmes County, Sneads, Vernon
Athletes returning: Julie Williamson, Jamie Delaney, Tiffany Snider, Abbie Young, Alex Lovell, Samantha Snider
Others to watch: Mackenzie Watson, Alex McManus, Blakney Barrett, Morgan Kennedy
Athletes lost: Aracely Garcia Vivian Rodriguez, Sarah Zombori, Sadie Hussien, Kendall Moore
Walton
Coach: Terry McClure
District: 1-3A
District opponents: Arnold, Bay, Chipley, Marianna, Pensacola Catholic
Athletes returning: Jasmine Moore
Others to watch: Lynn Paulk, Taliah Moore, Gillian Infinger
Athletes lost: Betsy Stevenson, Lee Paulk, Casey Perkins, Shannon Currie, Jasmine Dorsey, Alex Infinger, Sami Barnes, Katie Stewart
