GRC Girls Basketball 2023-24 Season Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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Defending GRC Champion South Harrison received six first-place votes and is the coaches’ pick to win the GRC Girls Basketball Championship for the 2023-24 season.  Polo received the only other first-place vote and was picked second.  Trenton was picked third by the coaches.

South Harrison

South Harrison’s senior class of girls is used to winning.  Not only is the girls' basketball team the defending GRC Champions, but they have also enjoyed success at the state level in golf, softball, and track.  This year’s Basketball team looks to continue that trend for the Lady Bulldogs.  After they won the conference title, they made it to the Class 3 Quarterfinals before falling to El Dorado Springs.

Everyone will return from last season’s team that finished 23-6 and 7-0 in conference.  They are led by the GRC’s leading returning scorer, Senior Hannah Carter (17.6 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, All-State, District Player of the Year).  Other key players returning are Junior Abigail Molloy (11.6 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District), Senior Megan Norris (4.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference), Senior Hallee Chamberlin (4.3 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), Senior Emma Chamberlin (4.1 ppg), and Sophomore Lexi Hunter (4.0 ppg).

Freshman Bailey Barnett, Sophomore Abby Owens, Senior Megan Bottcher, and Junior Aubree Cannon, among multiple others, will be expected to help provide the Lady Bulldogs depth this season.

Coach Kale Watson said, “The bar was set pretty high last year for this squad as they made it to the Quarterfinals in Class 3 and ended the season ranked 7th leading into this year. Those accomplishments have really raised expectations around here for this season, and for good reason. I think that this year, we have some very nice pieces to add to our team to make us deeper off the bench & hopefully help us play faster. I look for us to be a stronger team inside with some nice additions & girls that have come along over the summer to add depth in that area. I fully expect our guards to be an even larger contributor to our offensive production & to make our defense more aggressive. However, our biggest challenge is going to be getting everyone to gel/mesh together to utilize our depth correctly.  Our #1 goal this season is just being really great at who WE ARE day in and day out. This group has some big expectations to fill, but if I know anything about these girls, it's that they are up to a good challenge.”

Polo

Polo had some ups and downs last season but was able to cap off the season with a second consecutive District Championship.  The District Championship helped earn the late Wally Aubrey District Coach of the Year.  Cody Glenn will be taking over the coaching duties this year.

They finished 2^nd in the GRC East at 6-1 and 20-7 overall.  They will have to replace three talented players from last year’s team.  Gone are Chloe Gilbert (10.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team), Lily Gentry (8.3 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District), and Jade Misel (3.6 ppg).

The Lady Panthers will have leading scorer Hanna Vaught returning (14.5 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, All-State, District Player of the Year, KMZU Dream Team).  Also returning will be Senior Layna Norton (4.7 ppg), Sophomore Libby Norton (5.3 ppg), Sophomore Kendyl Fitzwater (2.2 ppg), and Sophomore Emma Chapman.

Coach Glenn said, “There has been a lot of improvement from last year leading into our summer ball. I am excited to see who is ready to compete for those spots that need to be filled from our Seniors last year. One of those spots being a point guard, which is a very important role, but we are excited to see the girls compete against each other in practice and prove to us who wants it more. The other big spot for us will be replacing Chloe Gilbert in the rebounding category. She was a natural rebounder who had a nose for the ball and passed the ball extremely well. But I think with some of the younger girls coming up, we have good opportunities to fill some spots.”

He added, “I have high hopes and expectations for this year. They are coming off back-to-back district championships, and players who played on those teams are still here. It is a great group of girls and a senior group that is super competitive and knows the feeling, and knows what it is going to take to win games this season. They are outstanding leaders with an amazing work ethic, so having the younger girls feed off them will be a huge benefit going into this season. We're looking to get past that Sectional game this year where we have come up short in the last two years.”

Trenton

After a rocky start last season, the Trenton Lady Bulldogs finished the season strong, winning seven of their last nine regular season games.  They hope to build on that momentum this season as they return virtually their entire team.  Junior Mirena King (14.3 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District) was the team’s leading scorer last season.  Senior Madi Moore (5.0 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District) also took home postseason honors.  Also returning will be Junior Astrid Soriano (6.2 ppg), Junior Kenzie Lynch (2.6 ppg), Junior Kaegen Croy (4.3 ppg), and Sophomore Kaylor Hodge (5.8 ppg), all of whom started games last year at some time.  This gives the Lady Bulldogs six returning starters from last season, a luxury that few teams have.  Seniors Jena Harris and Katelyn Clark are also expected to play significant roles.  Newcomers Freshman Kimberly Clark and Junior Ayra Meeker will give Trenton some added depth.  Freshmen Cozette McLain, Zaylea Phillips, Catelin Bowe, and Olivia Tabbert will round out the roster.

Steve Richman replaces Kameron Cool as coach of the Lady Bulldogs this season.  Richman is coming over from Princeton, where his Lady Tigers led the GRC in points scored with 52.8 per game.  Under Cool, Trenton played a deliberate style that kept the games in the 30s.  Coach Richman said, “In my first year here, we will change the entire style of play.  We are going to play at a quick pace and look to pressure on defense.”

Milan

Last season, Milan had to learn to play without Cady Pauley.  They finished 12-15 overall and 2-5 in conference.  While they had some bumps along the way, they have a solid group of returning players looking to bring the Lady Cats back to a winning season.

Auburn Cole (7.7 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District), Hallie Weaver (4.7 ppg), Gracie Dickson, and Emily Menchaca are gone from last year's team.  But the leading scorer, Sophomore Marian Dabney (12.1 ppg, 1st Team All-Conference, All-District), will return.  Dabney also led the team in rebounds and blocks and was 2^nd in assists.  Also returning will be Junior Emerson Pauley (3.8 ppg), who led the team in assists and will be the point guard, and Junior Amy Pickering (5.1 ppg), another guard who led the team in steals and is the Lady Cats' best on-the-ball defender.  Senior Avery Pickering, Junior Violet Gray, Sophomore Jazmin Cisneros, and Freshman Mya Pauley are other players expected to play significant roles. 

Coach Ched Hurley said, “We think we could be a really good team and want to vie for conference and district championships.”

Gallatin

Gallatin Lady Bulldogs improved from 4 wins to 12 last season.  They finished 12-13 overall and 4-3 in conference.  They are hoping to make another significant improvement again this season.  They will have to replace Presley Wells (6.0 ppg), Elle Copple (3.4 ppg), and Addison Pratt (2.1 ppg) from last year’s team.  However, Gallatin will return their three leading scorers:  Senior Annabelle Ball (12.9 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team, KKWK All-Star Team), Junior Kallie Salmon (8.8 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, KMZU Dream Team), and Senior Ashley Feiden (6.4 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference).

Coach Trish Adkison said, “We are going to be short in the height department this year, and so we have discussed how we will have to out-hustle our opponents. We made great progress last season and look forward to continuing to build on our successes. One of our goals this season is to be in the top three in the conference.  We talked a lot this summer about being team-oriented and wanting the success of our teammates as well as ourselves. We have goals that we have established and certain things that we expect of the players. Everyone has a vital role to play on the team to make sure they are doing their best at fulfilling their role.”

Putnam County

The Putnam County Midgets had a young team that went through some growing pains last season.  They finished 11-15 overall and 2-5 in conference.  They did have some highlights.  They went 2-1 in both the Tri-Rivers Classic and Milan Tournament.  In addition, they were able to win six consecutive games in January. 

They will be replacing three players.  Three-year starters Adeline Dickerson (6.0 ppg) and Jesslyn Knowles (6.8 ppg) both graduated along with Taylor Powell, who started last season.   

Putnam County will be returning their top three scorers.  Leading the way will be Junior Allise Perkins (8.2 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference).  She will be joined by Senior Karley Seaton (7.3 ppg), Sophomore Jenna Knowles (7.0 ppg, All-District), and Senior Emma Whitlock (5.5 ppg).  Sophomore Sammi Blanchard (3.4 ppg) will be expected to step in and have a more significant role this season.

Coach Keith Smith said, “Our expectations are simple. We want to continue to grow our team chemistry, work hard, develop good habits, and have fun.  If we do these things, I feel we will be able to compete nightly and ultimately accomplish our team goals.”

Maysville

Maysville struggled last season, winning just two games.  They will return their top two players this year and add some talent in the freshman class as they look to improve on that mark this season.  They will have to replace Hayley Sweiger (3.8 ppg).  Seniors Elana Clark (8.7 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference) and Sydney Popplewell (6.2 ppg) will lead the Lady Wolverines.  Newcomers that new coach Tyler Zimmerman expects to contribute are Freshmen McKenzie Mason and Harley Sweiger.

Coach Zimmerman said, “I expect tremendous growth throughout the season. I expect to see the team grow into a more aggressive defensive team. We have some inexperience going into the season, which will cause some bumps in the road in the early part of the season, but we will continue to get better and fix the things we can fix.  Our team only won two games last year and graduated one player. We replace that lone senior with two freshmen who will contribute right away on varsity. We are not blessed with height, but we do have some speed and athleticism if I can figure out how to use it the right way. We do return one of the better outside shooters in the conference, so we will try to space the floor out with shooting from all areas of the court.  I want to shoot for double-digit wins this season. With our talent and our competition, I think that is very possible if we can stay healthy.