Bishop Manogue Miners
2015-16 league record: 16-0
2015-16 postseason: Regional champs; L to Liberty in state semis, 59-53
Number of returning starters: 3
Key returners: Katie Turner, Malia Holt, Maddie Camacho
Notable losses: Tawni Henderson, Hanna Bingham
Coach: Carlnel Wiley, second season
Season outlook: The Miners enter 2016-17 as the favorite to win what would be their third straight regional title. The largest reason is the return of senior Davidson commit Katie Turner, the 2015-16 Sierra League Player of the Year. She will be joined by senior Malia Holt, who was also a first-team all-league selection a year ago. That doesn’t mean second-year coach Carlnel Wiley plans to lean solely on those two. “I believe our identity will be based on our ball movement, spacing, execution and our basketball IQ,” he said.
Damonte Ranch Mustangs
2015-16 league record: 11-5, second in SL
2015-16 postseason: L to Reno in regional semis, 68-27
Number of returning starters: 2
Key returners: Alexis Hunter
Notable losses: Morgan Waller, Megan Carlson, Kyra Bruesewitz
Coach: Ed Shepard, sixth season
Season outlook: A senior-leaden Damonte team put together a nice season last winter, finishing second in the Sierra League and advancing to the regional semifinals. It was arguably the best team in Northern Nevada not named Reno or Bishop Manogue. It has work to do to reach that threshold again this year with just three total returners. The Mustangs lost two talented bigs: Morgan Waller (first-teamer last year) and Megan Carlson (second-teamer). They will also be without sharp shooter Kyra Bruesewitz. Junior guard, Alexis Hunter, a reigning first-team all-league selection, will be asked make up a lot of that production. “She’s our leader. She’s an amazing little athlete,” sixth-year coach Ed Shepard said. “How Alexis plays is how Damonte is going to play.” A couple interior players transferred to Damonte in the offseason. Shepard expects them to have an impact immediately, but their presence will likely slow the Mustangs’ typically up-and-down style of play.
Douglas Tigers
2015-16 league record: 9-7, third in SL
2015-16 postseason: L to Bishop Manogue in regional semis, 75-32
Number of returning starters: 3
Key returners: Hailey Hughes, Alexa Moss, Hannah Carr
Notable losses: Maddy Lowe
Coach: Werner Christian, 21st season
Season outlook: Douglas began last year as one of the youngest, most inexperienced teams in the region. Long-time coach Werner Christian still got his team into the playoffs as the Sierra League No. 3 seed, where they upset McQueen in the first round then fell to eventual regional champion, Manogue, in the semis. Somehow, the Tigers got even younger this year. Six seniors graduated, one junior opted not to play and one all-league selection transferred. Just four players with varsity experience are back this year, led by sophomore second-team all-league center Alexa Moss. The team has four freshmen and not a single senior on the roster. “We have a lot of teaching to do,” Christian said. “What we do have is some pretty good athletes. We will try to go up tempo early so we don’t have to think so much, just play on instincts.” The Tigers were in a similar spot last November and finished the year as one of the best teams in Northern Nevada. There’s not much reason to think that won’t be the case again this year.
Carson Senators
2015-16 league record: 5-11, fourth in SL
2015-16 postseason: L to Reno in regional quarters, 74-11
Number of returning starters: 1
Key returners: Haley Garver
Notable losses: Brianna Alvarado, Lindy Lehman
Coach: Melissa Larsen, second season
Season outlook: Second-year coach Melissa Larsen is all but starting over this season. Just two players are back from last year’s team, led by sophomore honorable mention guard Haley Garver. Larsen expects Garver to lead the team offensively, but behind her, it is to be determined where points will come from. Defensively, it won’t be anything flashy. “We’re just working on intensity, being strong, getting on the ground,” Larsen said.
Galena Grizzlies
2015-16 league record: 4-12, fifth in SL
2015-16 postseason: None
Number of returning starters: 4
Key returners: Kristen Farrell, Josie Peck, Reilly Moss
Notable losses: Ashley Brooks
Coach: Jeff Keyes, fifth season
Season outlook: The Grizzlies return four starters from last year’s team that missed the postseason by one game. Leading the way will be junior guard Kristen Farrell. Farrell was a second-team all-league selection as a sophomore, leading the team with 10.8 points per game. She will play alongside senior Jose Peck, who averaged more than eight points per game last year, receiving honorable mention. The most notable departure from last year’s team is Ashley Brooks. Brooks averaged nine points, five rebounds and two assists a game last year. Fifth-year coach Jeff Keyes that despite returning four starters this year, he will have another young team. “The most important part of our success will be how much we improve as the season progresses,” he said. The Grizzlies will be “guard-oriented” offensively, leaning on Farrell and Peck.
Wooster Colts
2015-16 league record: 1-15, sixth in SL
2015-16 postseason: None
Number of returning starters: 2
Key returners: Michelle Werdann, Jessica Pearson
Notable losses: Leilani O’Daye, Desiree Bounds, Darlene Merrill, Bailey Vollmer
Coach: Sheryl Hicks, sixth season
Season outlook: The Colts struggled to one regional win last year and are without four of the top scorers from that team. Wooster will once again be looking to find players who can score the ball. Coach Sheryl Hicks said the plan is to play with a “balanced tempo” with a threat from inside and out.
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