By Bob Moore - CCCbasketball.com
36 – 0. “It’s their spot until somebody beats them.” “Until somebody dethrones them, they are the favorites.” “Are they a factory, or what?!” These are all opposing coaches comments about one team; Miami East Lady Vikings. Miami East Vikings have been a dominate force in the CCC since they sailed into the conference 3 years ago. They are a perfect 36-0 in league play and even with the loss of a Viking ship full of seniors they show no signs of re-building; they are re-loading! They are the favorites going into the first game of the fall of 2009 and from this point forward… until proven otherwise.

Miami East Vikings
Head Coach: Preston Elifritz, JV Coach: Brian Kadel, Varsity Assistant: Kelly Cash
Gone to graduation are Katie Mengos, Ashley Rice, Rebecca Leffel, Sarah Skidmore and Morgan Rice. Returning Lettermen, 5’6” Sr., Callie Boitnott (6.7 PPG); 6’0” Sr., Lottie Hageman (2.9 PPG; 5’10 So., Morgan Miller (5.7 PPG), So., Hannah Mengos; 5’11” Fr., Abbey Cash; 6’1” Fr., Leah Dunivan

East lost 70% of their offense to graduation from last years District Championship team that lost in the Regional semi-finals to Versailles. While that stat would spell bad news for most teams and give the rest of the league a glimmer of hope for a conference team to put a dent in the perfect conference record; their defense has been their bread and butter. In conference games the Lady Vikings margin of victory over the last 3 years has been has been over a staggering, 30 points per game. Another factor for league opponents to keep their optimism in check; the Vikings are looking to reload for the next 4 years as the freshman class enters with size and talent. Freshman Abbey Cash and Leah Dunivan enter on a short preseason list of Freshman to watch on the Dabbelt Report.

Ansonia Tigers
Head Coach: Vaughn Ray; JV Coach: Doug Amspuagh
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’ 5” Sr. Ashlyn Hemmelgarn (13.1 PPG); 5’8” Sr. Sara Mayo (6.1 PPG); 5’8” Sr., Kaela Hierholzer; 5’10” Jr., Sarah Amspaugh; 5’9” Jr., Jennifer Gasper; 5’6” Jr., Kendra Reier; 5’8” Jr., Taylor Wasson; 5’5” So., Whitney Gasper; Key Contributors: 5’6” Jr., Alexa Rowand; 5’8” So., Katie Leeper; 5’7” Fr., Janel Gilbert

Coach Vaughn Ray begins his inaugural year as the Tiger’s head coach and returns All CCC player Ashlyn Hemmelgarn. Hemmelgarn finished last year’s season on a terror as she averaged over 16 PPG her last 10 games of the season. The Tigers lost a bevy of seniors from last year’s team and will need to find an offensive groove along with developing the defense and rebounding to be competitive. Coach Ray notes that he has hard working group that does not know the word quit and expects good things from the Tigers as the season progresses.

Arcanum Trojans
Head Coach: Steve Christ; Jr. Varsity: Chris Knick
Returning Players: 5’3” Sr. Jessica Rakuscher; 5’6” Sr. Amanda Falknor; Key contributers: Jr. Stephanie Sink; Jr. Marissa McLain; Jr. Ashley Davis; Jr. Shelby Anderson; So. Amber Snell and Taylor Allen.

Steve Christ returns to his 3rd year as the Trojan’s head coach and unlike last year’s senior laden team that finished 10-2 in conference play, the Trojans will only have two returning lettermen in Rakuscher and Falknor. A committee of underclassmen will be in the mix early in the season as the Trojans find the right formula for success. Rebounding will be a concern as the tallest player measures in at 5’ 7.”

Bethel Bees
Head Coach: Ed Quincel; JV Coach: Brian Firstenberger; Assistant: Ed Vocke
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’9” Jr., Emily Elerbrock (13 PPG); All CCC Honorable Mention, 5’8” Sr., Kendal Banks (8.6 PPG); 5’5” Sr., Brook Cornett; 5’10” Jr., Mercedes Nelson; 5’7” So, Katelyn Cripps; Key Contributers Moving up: 5’5” So., Krista Burchett; 5’11” Jr., Casey Seale; 6’2” So., Mackenzie Nelson; 5’7” Jr., Shelby Black; 5’5 So., Kim Williams

Ed Quincel enters his 4th year at the helm of the Lady Bees and fields a team with athleticism and size that will be in the thick of things again this year in the CCC. Emily Ellerbrock, Kendal Banks and fellow senior Brook Cornett will lead a very formidable Bee team. Ellerbrock is one of the best female athletes in recent CCC history and she will be the focus of the opposing team defense. Ellerbrock dropped 18 points on Milton Union in the second game of the season and led the Bees to an impressive road victory over National Trail who is favored to be solid team in the conference this year.

Bradford Railroaders
Head Coach: Christina Wobler
Returning Players: Marrisa Wirrig; Chelseas Broughman; Amy Smith; Caitlin Goubeaux; Alicia Patty.

The Roaders bring 17 players to the hard court this season with a large sophomore class gaining valuable experience from last year. The Lady Roaders are athletic and bring some size to the floor and look to be more competitive this year in the CCC. With only 17 players in the program, depth will be factor for first year coach Christina Wobler and keeping the team healthy will be a priority.

Covington Buccs
Head Coach: Chris Besecker, JV Coach: Steve Burnett
Returning Player: Special Mention All CCC, 5’8” Sr., Alyssa Angle; 5’5”; 5’9” Sr., Shelby Hoblit; Sr. Halley Roberts; 5’4 Jr., Carrie Spurgeon; 5’4” Sr., Erin Waterfall; 5’11” So., Julianna Simon; 6’1 So., Shelby Kihm and 6’1: So., Caitlyn Crawford. Players moving up from JV: Jr., Tabitha Snyder; Jr., Aubrey Cain; So., Hannah Pond; So., Haley Reames

The good news for the Buccs is the return of senior Shelby Hoblit who sat out last year with an injury. Keys for the Buccs will be finding an offensive groove to go along with their signature defense which is a staple with any Chris Besecker team. Senior Alyssa Angle will be running the show at point and she will lead a team that lost only two seniors from last year’s squad. The Buccs have size and athleticism with the underclassmen and look to improve from their atypical 3-9 record in conference play from last year.

Franklin Monroe Jets
Head Coach: Ned Gray;
Returning Players: All CCC, Sr., Sierra Bruner (12 PPG); Special Mention CCC, 5’7” Sr., Tiffany Kossler (9 PPG); Honorable Mention CCC, 5’8” Jr., Brandy Fourman (6 PPG); 5’6” Jr., Hayley Deardourff; 5’2 Jr., Natalie Bowling; 5’2” Jr., Kate Kenworthy; 5’7” Jr., Ashley Pfahl; 5’ 11” Jr., Monica Heckman; Key contributors: Freshmen Taylor Howell and Haley Gray.

Last year’s preview noted that the Jets would be a factor by the end of the year and they proved that point by playing into the sectional final. Ned Gray enters his 11th year as head coach and the Jets hope to continue that success into this season. Picked as one of the front runners in the conference race the Jets will be force to be reckoned with. Their first conference game will be at Miami East and that will be a bell weather game on how these two teams will stack up with the rest of the league.

Mississinawa Valley Black Hawks
Head Coach; Jim Bolin
Returning Players: Sr., Kirsten Jessup; Sr., Katie LeMaster; Sr., A.J. Cox; Jr., Jordan Wicker; Jr., Jodi Schmidt; Jr., Key contributers: Jr., Chelsea Saintignon; Sophomores Haley Cox, Mallory Livingston, Shelby Rehmert; Freshman Mattie Murphy

Bolin returns to his second year in his second term as the Blackhawks head coach and hopes that continuity will lead to more success. Key to success will be reducing turnovers and hammering home the fundamentals of passing and rebounding to be in a position to gain more wins. The ‘hawks bring back experience from a young squad from last year and are looking for more success this upcoming season. MV was listed as a sleeper team on several coaches preview, so keep an eye on the Lady Blackhawks as the season progresses.

National Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Troy Ferguson; JV Coach: David Barger; Returning Players: Special Mention CCC, 6’3’ Jr., Kate Yeazel; Honorable Mention CCC, 5’5” So., Makayla Abner; 5’7” Sr., Kaitlyn Stephens; 5’8” Sr., Nicki Howard. Key contibuters; 5’10” So., Rikki Foust; 5’5” So., Paige Thompson; 5’9” Jr., Shelbey Ebersole; 5’7” Ashley Shaeffer; 5’9” So., Sarah Drew; 5’9” Sr., Brittany Houdieshell

Troy Ferguson returns for his second season at National Trail and with a 6’3” post player in Yeazel and 5’5 point guard Abner mentioned in the Dabbelt top 100 list, he has the building blocks for success. Yeazel will have a 5’10” Sophomore Rikki Foust joining her in the lane and Abner will have ball handling and scoring help with Freshman Paige Thompson and Junior Shelbey Eversole. Size in the paint, plus guards with ball handling ability will equal plenty of success for Trail and they enter one of the favorites to compete for one of the top spot in the conference standings. Keys for the Blazers will be getting the younger players experience at the varsity level and replacing the loss of Allysa Joyce and Stacey Davis who provided the offensive firepower and the spark on defense.

Newton Indians
Head Coach: Steve Fisher; JV Coach: Mindi Shardo; Assistant Coaches: Scott Davis
Returning Players: Special Mention All CCC, 5’5” Sr., Keeley Booher (6.5 PPG); 5’8” Sr., Mariah Davis; 5’5” Sr., Heather Hines; 5’8” So., Aryn Doseck; 5’6” So., Marina Snipes; Key Contributers; 5’6” So., Fawn King; 5’7” So., Andee Welbaum; 5’9” So., Cheyenne Quillen; 5’5” Jr., Lacey Jackson

Keeley Booher returns as the lone senior starter at the beginning of the season as second year Coach Steve Fisher looks to take advantage of team speed and athleticism to run the floor this year. Joining Booher will be sophomore Fawn King who will run the show at point guard. Joining King will be fellow sophomores Aryn Doseck and Marina Snipes while junior Lacey Jackson returns to basketball floor to fill out the final starting role. Coach Fisher noted that the Newton program spent more time in the gym last summer and expects that it will pay dividends with more offensive production this year. Look for Newton to employ the 1-2-2 zone and pressure the ball from baseline to baseline. Keys for success will be improving their performance on offense and pulling down some more rebounds.

Tri-County North Panthers
Head Coach: Dan Music; JV Coach: Amber Wright
Returning Players:; 5’10” Sr., Abbey Schlater; 5’6” Jr., Sara Bierly; Special Mention All CCC, 6’2” So., Mallory Ullery; 6’0” So., Carly Schriever; 5’4” So., Kindra Mullins. Key contributors: 6’0” Fr., Megan Johnson; 5’4” So., Katie Whitaker; 5’6” Fr., Kelly Schriever

North will be without CCC player of the year Rachel Heindl and her All CCC cohort Sarah Whitaker but second year Coach Dan Music hopes his team will gel into a cohesive unit that will make some noise again this season. North will be young this year with only one senior on the team. The North Panthers has a good mixture of size and quickness that will produce line up challenges for opposing teams. Keys will be developing the defense, rebounding and converting opportunities at the charity stripe to consistently put them in the mix throughout the season.

Tri-Village Patriots
Head Coach: Brad Gray; JV Coach: Mike Fisherback; Assistant Coach: Amelia Frazier
Returning Players: 5’10” So., Kayla Linkous; 5’4” Sr., Kaila Burns; 5’2” Sr., Hillarie Frech; 5’5” Sr., Adrianna Finkbine; 5’5” Sr., Kylie Thomas; 5’4” Sr. Bre Abney;; 5’8” Sr., Brittani Abney Key Contributor from JV and JH: 5’4” So., Hallie Mikesell; 5’8” Jr., Taylor Collins; 5’4” So., Alexa Foreman; 5’ 3” Fr., Shaye Thomas; 5’6” Fr., Teha Richards; 5’7” Fr., Jordan Hill

The Pats return Sophomore Kayla Linkous who led the team in almost every recordable category with the exception of assists. Linkous led the league with 21.6 PPG but her status on how much of a factor she will be early in the season in the question as she recovers from knee surgery from an injury she sustained in June. At full strength, Linkous will be in the running for player of the year. Strengths for the Pats will be their speed and their depth as they return 6 seniors who saw significant playing time last year. The leadership of the seniors will serve them well as Coach Gray adds three freshmen to the team to contribute this season. Freshman Shaye Thomas will be leading the show as the starting point guard and is another player to watch in the CCC as listed on the Dabbelt Report Freshman List.

Twin Valley South Panthers
Head Coach: Glen Mabry; JV Coach: Connie Wells
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’9” Jr., Adelle Gates (11.7 PPG); Special Mention All CCC, 5’8” Jr., Tayler Creech (8.1 PPG); 5’9” Jr., Laura Ingram (6.5 PPG); 5’8” Sr., Katelyn Hoskins; 5’7” Jr., Sara Philpot Key Contributors: 5’9” Sr., Jessica Hickey; 5’3” Sr., Caitlin Ackerman; 5’6” Jr., Kim Perry; 5’7” Jr., Codie Pinkerton

Coach Glen Mabry returns experience and depth and TVS looks to improve from last year when they finished 2-10 in the conference race. Working in South’s favor is returning All CCC player Adelle Gate and Special Mention All CCC Tayler Creech who are only juniors. Key for TVS will be improving the team defense that was outscored an average of 9 PPG last year. With their tallest player only 5’9” rebounding will be another key factor with the league scattered with players 6’0” and taller.