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