SPORTS
DECEMBER 1, 2011 • FLORENCE-UNION RECORDER • A5
Editor: Melanie Laughman, mlaughman@communitypress.com, 513-248-7573
HIGH SCHOOL | YOUTH | RECREATIONAL
COMMUNITY
RECORDER
CommunityPress.com
VETERAN RAIDERS HOPE FOR REGIONAL RUN
By James Weber
set back by a knee injury last year and could be the leading scorer this year. Scott posted 7.4 points per game and Ray 5.7. Conner played at Lloyd Nov. 28 and will play McNicholas Dec. 1 before debuting at home Dec. 6 against St. Patrick.
jweber@nky.com
UNION — The Ryle High School girls basketball team has been on the verge of winning the Ninth Region in recent years. With more experience and height this season, head coach Patti Oliverio is hoping the Raiders can take that next step this year. “We'll be a little stronger inside than we have been in the past,” Oliverio said. “We'll be juniors and seniors. Now we finally have a veteran group. You can see their knowledge and experience.” Ryle was 23-7 last year for Oliverio, who enters her fourth season as head coach with a record of 84-34. She returns three starters and three veteran reserves. The top player is 5-foot-11 senior Jenna Crittendon, who averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists a game last season. The Miss Basketball contender signed with Xavier in November. The athletic and versatile forward can play any position on the floor. “We're just taking it game by game like last year,” she said. “I'm hoping we go farther than last year. We're a solid team. We have inside players this year, and I'm looking forward to it.” Crittendon is already the top scorer and rebounder in Ryle history. “She came into the program as an eighth-grader, and she's been in the program to help the turnaround,” Oliverio said. “She's been amazing – her love for the game, her skill level and leadership on the court.” Senior Ashley Cheesman returns at point guard after averaging 13 points and three assists. She tore an ACL in her knee in June and hopes to return in midseason. Senior wing player Tyianna Douthit is a hard-nosed player who shoots well. Junior guard Dawn Johnson, who averaged 10 points, three assists and four steals a game last year, is drawing Division I looks. She is a very athletic player who is a strong defensive player and hard to beat on the other end when she dribble-penetrates inside. Junior forward McKell Oliverio is a very good shooter and smart player who does the little things. Oliverio is excited about a bigger interior presence, led by 6foot senior Whitney Dixon and 511 freshman Haylee Smith. Dixon had some key minutes last year, and Smith, the standout softball pitcher, will get her first hardcourt action for Oliverio. Junior guard Anna Monobe is also a top potential new contributor. A big key to this season is re-
Cooper
Shannon Turner returns for her fourth season as head coach at Cooper, where she has been leading the program from day one. Cooper is 25-57 overall, including 11-17 last year. Turner returns two starters in junior guard Andrea Thompson and sophomore wing player Savannah Brinneman. Thompson averaged 10.5 points per game last season. Sophomore guard Paige Ross and sophomore center Grace Maniacci are the top newcomers to the starting lineup. Wing player Kerry Schafer is the lone senior on the roster. Turner likes the versatility of her lineup. “We have a great deal of talent and depth, but we are young,” she said. “ We are playing a tougher schedule than we have in the past. I think that as we gel as a team we will be able to surprise a lot of teams.” Cooper opens the season in the Dixie Heights Invitational. Cooper's first home game is Dec. 7 against St. Henry.
Ryle's Dawn Johnson (25) is one of the team's top players. FILE PHOTO placing the outside shooting of guard Abby Jump, who is now playing for Wright State although she is injured early this season. “As a team, we're going to miss Abby's shooting and her leadership, but from a rebounding perspective, I think we'll be much stronger,” Oliverio said. “This is probably the most cohesive group we have had. I'm excited about our athleticism, which allows us to do a lot of different things on both ends of the floor. The team is experienced and deep.” Crittendon is hoping this is the Raiders' year. “It would mean a lot,” she said. “Being an eighth-grader, helping rebuilid the program, I want the team to shine and go to state.” Ryle opened play at home Nov. 30 against Bryan Station then hosts Middlesboro Dec. 3. Ryle will test itself in holiday tournaments in Lexington and Owensboro. The first major local test is at Notre Dame Dec. 6.
Boone County
The Ninth Region's all-time winningest coach, Nell Fookes, returns for her 27th season with a 604-213 record. Her Rebels were 28-6 last year, winning the 33rd District and falling in the Ninth Region championship game. She returns three starters, led by Sydney Moss, the 5-foot-11 senior forward who enters this year as a frontrunner for the Miss Basketball honor that goes to the top senior in the state. Moss averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 assists and three steals per game. She has signed
Heritage
Ryle High School's Jenna Crittendon (35) and Ashley Cheesman are two of the team's top players. FILE PHOTO with Division I Florida of the Southeastern Conference. Junior Lydia Nash, a 6-1 center, averaged 10 points and six rebounds a game. She shot 51 percent from the floor and often made opponents pay for doubleteaming Moss. Junior Jessica Jones returns at point guard. She averaged four assists and three steals per game and is a very athletic and talented point guard. Fookes said she had an excellent summer of practice and is drawing interest from Division I and II colleges. Senior forward Zuri Hill comes to Boone from Virginia Beach, Va., where she played for a state championship team. She is a strong physical inside force and also a great defender and rebounder.
Fookes said athletic ability and size are the team's strengths, helping the squad's defense, rebounding and transition. Outside scoring is her main concern. The Rebels opened the season at home against McAuley Nov. 30 and play at defending Eighth Region champ Walton-Verona Dec. 2. Boone will host the Northern Exposure Classic Dec. 20-22.
Conner
Aaron Stamm returns for his second season as head coach for the Cougars. He has a record of 115-85 between Conner and Ludlow, and directed Conner to an 1117 record last year. His top players are senior guard Dawn Peacock, junior forward Jordan Scott and senior center Amanda Ray. Peacock was
The Eagles were 1-16 last year and have a new head coach in Eddie Nelson. Top players are senior guard Ashley Besecker, senior forward Rebecca Heinrich, junior center Sarah Wiley, sophomore center Mariah King and sophomore guard Taylor Schwarz. “With this group, their strength is going to be learning,” Nelson said. “They are going to learn so much because we want to get the ball up court a lot faster.”
St. Henry
Brian Coburn returns for his fourth season as head coach with a 59-29 record. The Crusaders graduated point guard Taylor Gamm and forward Abby Janszen, two of the top players in the area at their positions last year. Coburn returns three veteran seniors in guard Annie Fugate, guard Jill Bauer and forward Jessica Knaley. The coach expects the Crusaders to be balanced and competitive. St. Henry started at Beechwood Nov. 28 then plays in the Dixie Heights tourney. St. Henry's first home game is Dec. 10 against Scott. See more sports coverage at www.cincinnati.com/blogs/presspreps, www. facebook.com/presspreps or visit James on Twitter at @RecorderWeber
PRESS PREPS HIGHLIGHTS Swimming Swimming season has started in Northern Kentucky. The Recorder will have information on local teams in the coming weeks. Here is a list of some of the top local meets this year: » Dec. 12, Scott meet » Jan. 7, Scott Classic » Jan. 14, Scott Diving Classic » Jan. 20-21, NKAC meet (Scott) » Feb. 1, Scott Gold Medal meet
» Feb. 8-11, regionals » Feb. 23-25, state meet, Louisville.
Wrestling
Wrestling season is grappling into gear this week. The Recorder will have information on local teams next week. Here is a list of some of the top local meets: » Dec. 3, Bearcat Brawl (Walton-Verona) » Dec. 7, Newport tournament » Dec. 10, Ryle Raider Rumble
» Jan. 7, Simon Kenton Invitational, Conner invitational » Jan. 10-11, NKAC meet » Jan. 18, Kenton County championships » Feb. 10-11, Region 6 championships » Feb. 17-18, state meet, Frankfort
Bowling
Bowling starts Dec. 1, the first season the sport is officially sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Northern Kentucky teams will bowl each other in weekly matches. The rules of competition will basically be the same as past years when bowling was a club sport. There are additional parts to the schedule this year, with teams able to schedule out of Northern Kentucky. Covington Catholic has weekend matches with Louisville St. Xavier, Louisville Trinity and Lexington Catholic, for example. There is also a tournament in Louisville Dec. 10 and the
Northern Kentucky Invitational Feb. 11 at Super Bowl, Erlanger. Seventeen area schools will participate in the sport this year.
Social media lineup
» Facebook: www.facebook.com/presspreps » Twitter: www.twitter.com/ nkypresspreps Staff: Melanie Laughman, @PressPrepsMel. James Weber, @RecorderWeber » Blog: www.cincinnati.com/ blogs/presspreps