By Chris Parker
College Heights girls basketball has been one of the area’s most consistent teams over the past four seasons winning between 16 and 26 games each year.
The Lady Cougars have one district title in that span but will look to add another with key players returning this season.
Jayli Johnson, Lauren Ukena and Addie Lawrence will be the team’s senior leaders.
“All three of these seniors are great kids,” said College Heights head coach John Blankenship. “They are role models on and off the court. They will set the bar high for practice expectations with their work ethic.”
Johnson earned first-team all-conference honors last season. She averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game.
“Jayli is our point guard,” Blankenship said. “She is incredibly athletic and sees the court so well. She is also a great defender that provides excellent ball pressure.”
Ukena averaged 3.6 points and 2.7 steals per game.
Lawrence poured in 10 points per game with 3.5 rebounds. She will miss an undetermined amount of time this season with an injury.
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Sophomore Libby Fanning earned first-team all-conference honors as a freshman after she posted a double-double with 10.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
“She is a great scorer inside at the five position,” Blankenship said. “She shoots well, finishes well, and is a strong rebounder.”
Maddy Colin (junior), Molly Long (sophomore) and Ava Lett (sophomore) also return.
Blankenship on Colin: “She is strong in the post. She rebounds well and has the ability to step out and shoot both the mid-range shot and the three-point shot.”
Blankenship on Long: “She is very quick for a post player and runs the floor well. She is a hard worker and plays great interior defense with her length. She is also quick enough to play defense on the perimeter.”
Blankenship on Lett: “Ava Lett really improved and came on strong toward the end of her freshman year. She has the potential to be one of our best 3-point shooters and will help stretch out the defense.”
Kinley Marsh is a sophomore who had a strong finish to her freshman year and will see an expanded role this year.
“Kinley Marsh is a who came on strong toward the end of her freshman year,” Blankenship said. “She will add some depth to our rotation. She will work very hard on both ends of the floor. She runs the court very well, and she will strengthen our interior defense.”
Junior Avery Shumaker along with a handful of freshmen will potentially be in the varsity rotation.
“Quickness will be our greatest strength which I’m hoping will elevate our defensive pressure,” Blankenship said. “We have been a little inconsistent with our shooting over the last couple of years, especially from three-point range, but I believe that will be much improved this year giving us a true inside-out threat.”
College Heights opens the season on Nov. 22 at home against Providence Academy.
“Our team identity over the last few years has been our defense and transition game,” Blankenship said. “That will be our team identity again this year. We practice defense hard which contributes immensely to our transition game.”
