Reno Huskies
2015-16 league record: 15-1, first in HDL
2015-16 postseason: L to Bishop Manogue in regional title game, 72-59; L to Centennial in state semis, 82-53
Number of returning starters: 3
Key returners: Dom Harding, Mikayla Shults, McKain Murdock, Kaitlyn Biassou
Notable losses: Mallory McGwire, Daranda Hinkey
Coach: Shane Foster, 12th season
Season outlook: How will the Huskies handle the post-McGwire era? First, it was Mallory (now at Santa Clara), then it was Morgan, who graduated in the spring and is a freshman for Oregon this year. The now-Duck averaged a double-double last season, scoring 15.4 points and grabbing 10.9 rebounds a game. Both led the team. “We are not as tall as the past, but we have very good speed and some quality shooters,” coach Shane Foster said. The team’s second-leading scorer, Daranda Hinkey (12.6 ppg) also graduated. The Huskies will lean on senior Dom Harding (8.8 ppg), junior Mikayla Shults (7.7 ppg) and sophomore Kaitlyn Biassou (6.1 ppg).
Reed Raiders
2015-16 league record: 9-7, fourth in HDL
2015-16 postseason: L to Bishop Manogue in regional quarters, 87-54
Number of returning starters: 5
Key returners: Taylor Johnson, Serene Townsell-Williams, Vanessa Hernandez, Tori Baer, Larsa Guzman
Notable losses: None
Coach: Sara Schopper-Ramirez, 12th season
Season outlook: The Raiders’ cupboard is once again stuffed. Coach Sara Schopper-Ramirez returns everyone from last year’s team and will still have one of the younger teams in the 4A North. First-team junior guard Taylor Johnson is back. Second-team junior guard Serene Townsell-Williams is back. Sophomore second-team guard Vanessa Hernandez is back. Sophomore honorable mention center Tori Baer is back. And sophomore point guard Janae Bluehorse transferred to Reed. Bluehorse was a second-team Sierra League selection at Douglas last year. The talent is there, a strong veteran presence is not. Schopper-Ramirez expects her team to go through growing pains, but hopes they become less frequent later in the season. If the team meshes, the Raiders can become a contender by season’s end.
McQueen Lancers
2015-16 league record: 12-4, second in HDL
2015-16 postseason: L to Douglas in regional quarters, 59-49
Number of returning starters: 4
Key returners: Kaila Spevak, Kendra McAninch, Izzy Warren
Notable losses: Sadaria McAlister, Holly White
Coach: Aaron Walton, third season
Season outlook: The Lancers return a number of pieces from last season. They’ll need them. The team’s two best players Sadaria McAlister (12.4 ppg, 5.5 rbp) and Holly White (5.9 ppg) graduated. Instead, Aaron Walton will look to Izzy Warren (7 ppg), Kaila Spevak (6 ppg) and Kendra McAninch (6.6 ppg). Walton does not like playing zone defense, instead opting for man and trap, which leads to transition opportunities. “We will run and break when we can play offense based on the defense,” Walton said. Injuries played a role in the Lancers getting upset by Douglas in the regional quarterfinals last year, so health will obviously be a priority this season – like it is any season.
Spanish Springs Cougars
2015-16 league record: 4-12, fifth in HDL
2015-16 postseason: None
Number of returning starters: 4
Key returners: Anhelica Shanrock, Kalli Prendergast, Alysa Domingues
Notable losses: Halley Morgan
Coach: Art Cardenas, fourth season
Season outlook: Can the Cougars get over the hump? They finished 7-20 overall last year, but six of those defeats were by five points or fewer. Most of the players on this year’s team remember those losses. Just three seniors graduated with leading scorers Anhelica Shanrock and Alysa Domingues both returning. Honorable mention forward Kalli Prendergast is also back for her senior season. Fourth-year coach Art Cardenas said to finish those close games in the fourth quarter, his team needs to improve on the defensive end. “It’s got to be our defense. I was watching some game film, our defense just wasn’t what it should be,” he said. “The ball would get past, we’d turn and stare rather than react, rather than get to where we’re supposed to be.”
North Valleys Panthers
2015-16 league record: 10-6, third in HDL
2015-16 postseason: L to Damonte Ranch in regional quarters, 58-53
Number of returning starters: 1
Key returners: Shanna Dennis, Shelise Darrough, Jada Casper
Notable losses: Morgan Daniels, Passion Burrell, Sami Dinan,
Coach: Bob Bentley, 10th season
Season outlook: The Panthers are going to look a little different this winter. No, they’re going to look a lot different. Tenth-year coach Bob Bentley returns just one starter. “We’ve been wearing name tags in practice so we get to know who each other are,” he said. “That’s the hardest part. They don’t know how to play together. That’s going to be a challenge.” North Valleys graduated 2015-16 first teamer Passion Burrell as well as second teamer, Samantha Dinan, who walked onto the Nevada women’s basketball team. Adding to the uncertainty is the unknown availability of senior forward Shanna Dennis. Dennis is the lone returner with postseason accolades a season ago (she received honorable mention), but is rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Bentley is cautiously optimistic he’ll get her back by Christmas. Last year’s team played with rhythm and chemistry. This year’s team isn’t there. Not yet at least. Said Bentley: “I’m just hoping we can be competitive at some point this year.”
Hug Hawks
2015-16 league record: 0-16, sixth in HDL
2015-16 postseason: None
Number of returning starters: 3
Key returners: Shaira Roscom
Notable losses: Lesley Grajeda, Funga Lolohea
Coach: Ryan Gardner
Season outlook: The Hawks have struggled to become a threat in the High Desert League, but can hope to change that on the strength of a junior class that is 10 deep. A core is intact that will play together at the varsity level for the next two seasons.
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