Looking ahead at Girls Basketball for 2010/2011

GUILFORD COUNTY EARLY PRESEASON PREDICTIONS FOR GIRLS BASKETBALL
Special to Greensborosports.com:

1. Dudley: Even though Coach Britton has resigned her squad is stacked and ready for
bear again. Coach McNeil has a nucleus that are headed by UNC Charlotte commit
Desire Drayton, Kierra Mciver, Ebony Goins, Chell Jackson, Lauren Jackson and KK
Rouse. The departure of UNCG signee Breonna Patterson will not slow this locomotive
down. Do not be surprise if they do not go even further than this past season. Key
will be the emergence of Kierra Mciver and KK Rouse from the scoring column.

2. Southwest Guilford: May be the most powerful team in the area. They have good
team speed and great low post play. Look for them to get off to a greater start than
in years past. Spearheaded by Zena Lovette, Shannon Buchannon and a host of others,
this could be their year. Winning 20 games is a sure bet and winning the conference
title is certain. They will be the talk of Guilford County this year.

3. Northern Guilford: What can you say when you have big Sam Coffer roaming the
lanes? The addition of her sister Amanda Coffer, whom many say is more talented and
just as big, should give them the inside punch that they need to dominate their
conference. They got great play from the likes of Asia Milton,Taneesha Williamson
and Alexis Robinson. They won the Conference tournament title and won 21 games. They are thinking state title this year. They could very well do it.

4. Southeast Guilford: Team had one of the best trio’s in the city in UDC signee
Julissa Anderson, Ayshia McNeil and Brittany Price. They will lose Anderson to
college but with the improvement of freshmen Kenya Haley, whom scored 13 points in the first round of the playoffs, it should give coach Newton the weapons that he needs
to contend for the conference title. Key will be if Brittany Price can return to form after a season ending injury.

5. High Point Central: This team was one of the hottest teams during the season but
kind of came unglued towards the end. They will return Cedrica Gibson and a host of
others to try and get over the hump. They must get by Southwest in order to really
challenge. That could be a very tall order if not impossible.

6. Northwest Guilford: The Gretchen Bennett,Hannah Mcintosh, Belmont Abbey signee
Melisa Foures era is over. They had a great run and finish on a good note by
reaching the second round of the playoffs since 2006. The next year team may be a
pleasant surprise and may struggle at times being that they must face SWG and
High Point Central twice. This could be one of Darlene Joyner’s best coaching job
even if the record does not match up to the previous seasons.

7. Page: This squad matced up to early preseason predictions of a year ago by
winning 17 games after a dismal 9-15 campaign of a year earlier. They upset
Southeast and played Dudley really well in the season ending game. Coach Jones will
miss Chevena Pickard, Ashley Fowler and Porta Oakley. In her presence she still
have sharp shooter Brittany Drew who almost single handily brought Page back in a
first round lost to NWG by scoring 19 points. Page got stellar play from freshmen
Hannah Talton and several others. If this team can match last this years record,
look for Coach Jones to be Coach of the year in her conference.

8. Western Guilford: Coach Henoid did a good job because his team was in many of the
games that they played. He will lose Gardner Webb signee Catrina Green who manned
the post. But he has scorer Brittany Clancy returning whom must know learn how to
incorporate her teammates in order for them to win some of the close games that they
lost. If they break even or are two games above their losses in the win column, that
would be a great job of coaching. They have been to the playoffs the past two years
so that will not be a surprise to see them reach it again. Advancing now becomes the
goal.

9. Ragsdale: A program that will find a way to win. They started hot but became
unfocus down the stretch. Ragsdale has a history or winning at least 15 games over
the past few years. Look for them with the skills of Cierra Jackson to return to
form.

10. Northeast Guilford: Played about 500 basketball all year long. Always capable of
beating anyone but also vice versus. Look for them to maybe even win their
conference and advance in the playoffs. Several players return and that should bold
well for coach Apple.

Teams worth Noting:

11. Greensboro Day: The program looks like they are about to turn the corner.
Winning 12 games this year were monumental based on previous years. They played well
at the Pizza Hut Classic. Khadejah Wilkerson the Dudley transfer help with that turn
around by averaging a double-double during the year. Do not be surprise if they do
not win more games than they lose this year. Scheduling some of the area schools
early could bold well.

12. Smith: A major dissapointment down the strecth. They won the Pizza Hut Classic
Tournament and then everything went south. The squad was loaded with talent
including Maryland Eastern Shore signee Lakendra Wilkersson. Unprdictable point
guard Ashley Debose (MVP of Tournament) and Katrina Gibson whom all they will lose
this year. They have a solid player in Z. Greer whom must now assume the leadership
role that was lacking. Team could be better this year and live up to their
capabilities.

13. Southern Guilford; Ten games looked like a certainty early on, but came up short
in close games through out the year. They have a scorer and all conference player in
Kamillia Horn and several up and comers lead by Sylvia Bass. In a conference that
they could finish in the top three provided that they get off to a strong start.

14. Grimsley: Need to at least break even to show that the program is on the way
back up. Denika Harden has shown promise but is that enough? Lots of work to do
here.

15. Eastern Guilford: Was not a preseason pick a year ago and then went on and
finish 13-0 and had the best record 24-4 in Guilford County by advancing to the
Sectional Championship. Loss a lot of key players in Capricia Small, Kristin Crosby,
Amerijah Jamison and April Totten. Coach Gunn may have to stratch her head a lot
this year because there might not be much to work with. Winning 7 games may be a
stretch.

16. High Point Andrews: Did not have a great season but could surprise this year.
Ten wins and the whole city of High Point may throw a parade.

8 thoughts on “Looking ahead at Girls Basketball for 2010/2011

  1. Do not sell Tina Gunn short. She still has Miranda Jenkins and she is a good coach. They will win at least 15 games (if not more).

  2. Hey, it’s ok to look ahead for the 2010/2011 football season, you know who will be very good this coming season. N?G!

  3. Don’t be surprised if a lot of these players are not returning to thier former teams. In light of Oak Ridge Academy’s recent hiring of Head Coach Delaney Rudd many of these talented young ladies will be transitioning to Oak Ridge. Im talking players from Dudley, High Point Central, SW Guilford, etc. Its going to be an interesting year.

  4. I agree Tom…funny, she had the best record in Guilford County, undefeated in conference play when predicted to finish fourth, and has steadily built on of the most successful if not the most successful program in the county over the past 8 or 9 years, but she is not worthy of “Coach of the Year” nor are her players worthy of first team or second team nominations for “All Area Teams” You would think that an undefeated conference schedule and going further in the playoffs than almost everyone else would say something for her and the program. Yeah, I’d watch those Wildcats too…

  5. It is going to be very interesting to see who the News and Records picks for first team , second team , third team and honorable mention and how they came up with their selections on next Sunday?

  6. Wildcats, Wildcats
    You guys seem to have a complex about something. Slow your roll… too much over kill! Anybody headed to college yet?

Comments are closed.