Top Ten Guilford County/Area Girls Coaches

Posted on by Andy Durham

TOP TEN GUILFORD COUNTY/AREA GIRLS COACHES

from our Greensborosports.com Girl’s Basketball contributing writer and Greensborosports.com staff:

Here are the Top Ten Guilford County/Area girls Coaches and how their teams should fare:It was a very close race as far as positioning goes.

1. Krystal Britton: Dudley: Won State Championship last season and has a great nucleus of players returning. Her teams have always advanced deep into the playoffs and she should have been Coach of the Year in this area last year. Key returning starters in Breonna Patterson, Desiree Drayton, Chell Jackson and the return of Amanda Harrison should give the Panthers a dominant presence. Also there are a slew of players that saw extended playing time in Kierra McIvor, KK Rouse and Ebony Goins whom all will be vying for a starting position. Key loss will be the leadership of two time Conference player of the year and Guilford County Player of the Year, Charleston Southern signee Helen Terry.

2. Darlene Joyner: Northwest: This could be the year that NWG breaks through. They have always gotten off to a great start and have had high State rankings, only to whither early in post season play. They have a great experienced crew returning led by Conference Player of the Year Melissa Floures, Gretchen Bennett and Hannah Mcintosh. Coach Joyner does a great job in getting her squad to run half court sets with picks and back door passes. They shoot very well from the perimeter and free throw line. If they can get solid play from other starting players and reserves, do not be surprised if they go deep into the playoffs. Winning 20 plus games is a certainty.

3. Kim Furlough: Northern Guilford: Coach Furlough has really kept this team together in the aftermath of what happened concerning the boys. Her team has improved over its first year of varsity play and now those Freshmen and Sophomore players are now Juniors and Seniors with a lot of experience. Led by returning starters,Two time All Conference Player Samantha Cofer, Molly Tohmased, Kelly Tessitorie and key players in Vontrese Hayes,Taneesha Williamson, Jessica Johnson, Alexis Robinson and Asia Milton, this team should walk away with the 3A Conference Title. Coach Kim should get her first Conference Coach of the Year Award and look for Northern to challenge for the State Championship trophy. A 22 win season is not asking a lot from this squad.(Notes on Jessica Johnson and we apologize for leaving her out earlier:Jessica, a senior returnee started every game for the Nighthawks last season and was one of the top defensive players on the team. JJ hit a key three-pointer at the buzzer to that led to a one-point NG Nighthawk win over the Northeast Guilford Rams.)

4. Shawn Newton: Southeast: Coach Shawn’s teams are always pretty good. They are well coached and have a nice system in place. Yes, they lose Amy Beasley and South Carolina State signee Paris Alston. They lost Haley Hackett a year before and still came back and won 20 games or more. They have some key returning starters in Brittany Price, A. Mcneil, Julissa Anderson and several other key players that played significantly last year. Look for them to be at the top come February and to advance in the State tournaments.

5. Brian Robinson: Bishop McGuinness: Coach Robinson’s program has set the bar for winning State Championships. No other team in the area or State can make that claim. They are the most fundamentally sound team in the area led by one of the top recruits in the State Megan Buckland. They have some players whom will have to contribute immediately this year in the likes of Sarah Coon, Erin Fitzgerald, Gabby Mortis and others. If they have lost Whitney Knight to transfer, they will find a way to fill her shoes. They always do. That is why they are called “The Home of Champions”. This could be one of his most challenging seasons. Another Championship in the bag.

6. Jessica Bryan: Southwest Guilford: One of the bright young coaches on the rise. After leaving Southern Guilford she has made great head way into the SWG program. Her squad had a strong finish and the 14-13 record should be much improved this season. She has some of the best players in the area returning in Zena Lovette, Shannon Buchannan, Cheynenne Parker and Brittany Mercer. They can play uptempo or a half court game. She will get the most out of her players and the magic mark of 20 wins is not out of reach. A great start will help to validate that. A strong season could lead to Coach of the Year honors for her resume.

7. Debbie Jones: Page: The 9-14 record of last year was just that. Folks who know Coach Jones knows that will not be the case this year. She has an unstoppable guard in Chevena Pickard who could carry any team on any night and should have a great season to add to her already impressive high school career. The experience that Portia Oakley, Brittany Drew and Ashley Fowler brings will help with that turn around in Pirate Basketball. Winning 15 or more games is more than reachable. If they get on a hot streak and play consistant, then 20 wins could happen.

8. Kenny Carter: High Point Central: Coach Carter is more like in the top three because of the success that he has had. Last year’s team struggled at times because of lack of experience. Look for the likes of Cedrica Gibson, Megan Tate, Brittany Gywnn and company to raise eye brows this year. Coach Carter believes in a well disciplined team and now he must get his team to buy into it in order for them to get the desired results which is called “WINS”. As the season progresses, look for HPC to be in the top 5 at the Christmas break. Central going 21 and 9 would be a great season.

9. Weaver Walden: High Point Andrews: Coach Walden finally got his players to play together and the results were outstanding. They improved from 8-14 to 16-11. The loss of Campbell-signee Tonisha Baker will be huge. He has Jackson coming back and that should be a very comparable replacement to help lead his squad. It might be asking a lot to repeat last season’s 16-11 record, but knowing Coach Walden, he may even improve it.

10. Brandon Apple: Northeast Guilford: Coach Apple’s squad is ripe for a good season. After being one of the top teams a few years ago, they had to re-group this last season. They will be in a new conference and that should serve them well and allow them to get off to a great start. They will need much needed scoring and winning 14 games could happen.

16 thoughts on “Top Ten Guilford County/Area Girls Coaches”

  1. How in the world is Tina Gunn(Eastern Guilford) not listed on here? Has either won or shared a conference title almost every year for the last 5 years. Made it to the sectional finals 2 out of the last 3 years.

  2. Ragsdale’s Jerry Fuqua should be high on this list. Consider:

    06-07 24 – 5 2nd in MidPied Conf @ 10-2, Won Conf Tournament 3rd rd in States

    07-08 23 – 4 ties 1st in Mid Pied with SEG @ 11-1, Won Conf tourn., 2nd rd in States

    08-09 24 – 5 1st in Mid Pied @ 11-1, Won Conf Tourn, Won Pizza Hut Invitational Tournament, 3rd rd in States

    Fuqua was named Coach of Year In Mid Pied Conf 07-08 and 08-09.

  3. Tina Gunn has to be on this list. It doesn’t matter what talent level she has, Coach Gunn has them ready to play and they succeed.

  4. Kenny Carter; yes he’s a good coach if he runs his program instead of the parents. Considering the contract parents he has and the parent coaches; he has just what he wants to win a championship, maybe ? ? ?

  5. I think WIlliam Whitaker should be on the list, he has Southern’s girls looking like contenders. Last year near the end of the season his girls looked like high school basketball players instead of middle school.

  6. There’s defintely a Storm Watch going out down at Southern Guilford with Coach Whitaker.

    With Horne and Inman and the supporting cast we expect big things from them this season.

    We will have a seperate listing on Eastern Guilford coming soon!

  7. How can you leave out Kyle Ward from Graham and Hamilton Perkins from River Mill?

    Ward has led his team to three consecutive State Championship appearances.
    Perkins was Times-News All-Region Coach of the Year last year, and has about 4 or 5 girls from the squad playing in college.

    You included Forsyth County. Don’t leave out Alamance!

  9. I AM PUZZLED AS TO WHY SENIOR JESSICA JOHNSON’S NAME IS LEFT OUT UNDER THE FURLOUGH/NORTHERN TEAM ENTRY. AS A STARTING GUARD AND ARGUABLY NORTHERN’S BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER, SHE WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO NORTHERN’S WINNING SEASON LAST YEAR… FOR EXAMPLE HITTING THE BUZZER BEATING WINNING 3-POINT SHOT IN THEIR ONE POINT VICTORY OVER NORTHEAST.

    THIS ABOVE ENTRY MENTIONS A PLAYER THAT ISNT EVEN ON THE TEAM THIS YEAR AND MENTIONS EVERY STARTER EXCEPT FOR JESSICA. SOME CORRECTIONS ARE IN ORDER.

    JESSICA SHOULD BE OFFENDED. I AM!!

    JESSICA IS A TALENTED ATHLETE THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION.

  11. Look for Denika Harden to light it up for our Whirlies this year. She could be in position to be Conference Player of the year. She has mad handles and is really fast. Look out Page, Dudley, Smith and Western Guilford! The season is just around the corner!

  14. Coach Furlough has it all at Northern. The BIG THREE , Samantha, Molly and Kelly are major college bound and are going to give teams fits this coming year. Our team probably has the most college bound players because of the great job coach Furlough does. GO VIKINGS!

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