By Mike Buchanan

 

Seton Keough is looking for nothing short of a championship in the IAAM A-Conference this season.

 

Last year’s “Big Four” consisted of two dominant teams in each half of the league. Due to graduation and injury, that quartet has been reduced to an early-season “Big Two,” with one hands-on favorite in each half. In the Y Divison, that early favorite is clearly Seton Keough.

 

Coach Jackie Boswell returns a strong core of four starters, in addition to the return of talented guard B.J. Williams. The Gators have size in the middle in 6-3 JR C Aysa Bussie, a 3-point threat in Arika Ullman, speed throughout with Ayana Lee, Katelyn Fischer, Tierra Ellis and Williams, as well as depth with 6-3 freshman Elizabeth Brown coming off the bench. Keough lost to St. Frances by one point in last year’s semi-finals. With an experienced, senior-laden team, Boswell is hoping that this is the year of the Gators.

 

Towson Catholic won this half of the “A” last year with a 15-1 mark, but the Owls were hit hard by graduation, losing three key players and the bulk of their scoring. Gone are guards Marak Strickland (Maryland) and Candice Walker (Loyola), both playing and starting at the college level, as well as Tracey Johns. Tyler Hale and Gabrielle Styles return, but beyond that the Owls are very young and inexperienced.

 

Institute of Notre Dame is another team hit hard by losses, with three starting seniors gone, along with F Akilah Sewell, a transfer to City. Junior C Caitlin Bopp will lead a very young team.

 

Mercy lost three starters to graduation, but Coach Mary Ella Marion enters her 23rd season with a versatile squad, led by SR PG Khadija Mitchell and SR F Jessica Zikorus.  The Magic should be very competitive in the league this season.

 

Roland Park was an already-young team that got even younger. Coach Scott Buckley had no seniors on the team last year, and lost his top two scorers in Amirah Tucker (transfer to New Town) and Jasmine Barksdale (out for the season, academics), leaving him with a raw and inexperienced group that will also face playing all games on the road while the new RPCS gym is being built.

 

St. Mary’s won just two games in the league last year, and long-time Coach Harry Dobson is hopeful of an improvement, with yet another young team, this one led by JR G Melissa Perkins.

 

Here is a quick run-down of the six teams:

 

INSTITUTE OF NOTRE DAME

Coach:  Tully Sullivan (3rd season)

Record 2006-07:  (7-9, 9-13)

Key Losses:  Four – three to graduation, including Amanda Ward (7.5 ppg) and Morgan Bailey (6.5 ppg) …one to transfer, F Akilah Sewell (11.8 ppg) to City

Key Returnees:  One – returning starter JR C Caitlin Bopp (11.3 ppg)

Outlook:  Sullivan, on this year’s Indians “Look for key contributions from returning players.  Last season’s JV players will have to mature quickly.  The season will test the players” commitment to overachieve as we look to improve on last year’s record.”

 

MERCY

Coach:  Mary Ella Marion (23rd season)

Record 2006-07:  (7-8, 14-12)

Key Losses:  Three starters to graduation – G Kate Bell, F Marcia Bond and F Niki Flynn (Carlow College)

Key Returnees:  Two returning starters – SR PG Khadija Mitchell (8.2 ppg) and SR F Jessica Zikorus (7.5 ppg)

Outlook:  “Mitchell and Zikorus are four-year varsity players and will be keys to our success this year.  The team should be versatile at guard and post positions … JR G’s Mary McKay, Maggie Marion, Melinda Kane and Mary Stefanski will be expected to contribute at both ends of the court …SR F Danielle Abell and JR F Brynne Matthews will rotate playing time down low … SO’s Caitlin Herman, Carissa Shropshire, Lindsay Scheve and Ava Trageser come up from a 20-1 junior varsity team and will push for playing time,” says Marion of the Magic.

 

ROLAND PARK COUNTRY

Coach:  Scott Buckley (12th season)

Record 2006-07:  (4-12, 9-17)

Key Losses:  Two – SO G/F Amirah Tucker (10.3 ppg) transferred to New Town, SR G Jasmine Barksdale (11.0 ppg) out for season

Key Returnees:  Three returning starters – SR Nia Clark (3.4 ppg), JR Jackie Kell (7.4 ppg), SO Lauren Carter (4.2 ppg)

Outlook:  “We are very inexperienced.  And, it will be a tough year with all games being played on the road (while new gym is under construction). We will be relying heavily on the sophomores and freshmen for big contributions,” adds Buckley.

 

SETON KEOUGH

Coach:  Jackie Boswell (8th season)

Record 2006-07:  (13-3, 22-7)

Key Losses:  One – starter Kathy McLaughlin

Key Returnees:  Four - returning starters include SR G Arika Ullman (10 ppg), SR G Ayana Lee (9 ppg, 10 rpg, Drexel), JR C Aysa Bussie (15 ppg, 11 rpg) and JR Katelyn Fischer (5 ppg, 4 apg) … other significant returnees include SR G BJ Williams and SR G Tierra Ellis

Outlook: The Gators should be the cream of the crop in this half of the league with four returning starters plus the return of Williams, one of the top guards in the Baltimore metro area.  Boswell has the 6-3 Bussie to patrol the middle, allowing the Keough guards to press and take more chances outside.  Whether on a make or a miss or a steal, Keough has excellent team speed which allows for faster transition to the offensive end.

 

ST. MARY’S

Coach:  Harry Dobson (21st season)

Record 2006-07:  (2-13, 5-20)

Key Losses: Two – Caitlin Hill (8.7 ppg) and Allison Matera

Key Returnees:  Two – JR F Katie Bollhorst  (4.9 ppg) and JR G Melissa Perkins (8.9 ppg) … Top Newcomers include FR F Melanie Mocniak and FR G Kelly Broussard

Outlook: Dobson, never at a lack for words, has this to say about his team’s outlook for the season, “.500 ???”

 

TOWSON CATHOLIC

Coach:  Jeff Palumbo (1st season)

Record 2006-07:  (15-1, 18-6)

Key Losses:  Three starters to graduation – G Marah Strickland (Maryland), G Candice Walker (Loyola), F Tracey Johns and Lauren Cevis

Key Returnees:  Two starters - SR G Tyler Hale (Drexel) and SR F Gabrielle Styles … other key returnees include SO G Chelsea Dukes, SO G Melanie Williamson and JR Christie Williams

Outlook: After losing the bulk of the team's scoring to graduation, new Coach Palumbo says, "We are a very young team and will go as far as Hale and Styles can take us."