By Mike Buchanan

 

Severn made it to the IAAM B-Conference basketball finals last year, falling to St. Vincent Pallotti at Goucher College. In fact, the Admirals have made the finals for four years straight.  The goal this year will be nothing short of a championship, as Coach Chuck Miller returns a strong core, while most other teams were hit hard by graduation.

 

Three new coaches take over programs in the B this season: Mimi Walters is the new Head Coach at Bryn Mawr, John Cooney takes over at John Carroll and Rick Kohr does the same at Chapelgate Christian.

 

As for the race, most coaches polled gave the early nod to Severn, hands down. Miller returns four starters, including All-Conference C Taylor Wieczorek, who averaged a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Of the 10-player All-Conference team, Wieczorek is the lone returnee, as the other nine all graduated.

 

But it is certainly not a one-man show.  The Admirals also have F Leanne Hug inside and G Katie Dickerson in the backcourt as well as five other returnees. Barring injury, the Admiral ship should cruise into port come February and play-off time.

 

The two teams hit hardest in overall losses are Pallotti and Mount de Sales. Coach Debbie Slelly’s Pallotti team won it all last year, but paid the price, losing four starting seniors, including three All-Conference players in Annesia Faulkner, Beth Ann Fusco and Nikki McCrae.

 

Not to be outdone, Mount de Sales Coach Trish Armstrong also felt the sting, graduating four starters and losing a fifth to a torn ACL, as well as two of the first three off the bench to injury or lacrosse – seven key players in all.  Missed the most will be two All-Conference performers in Chrissie O’Donnell and Caitlin Hoffen. The lone returnee with significant minutes is Cara Facchina, and the sophomore guard will have to lead the way as the Sailors rebuild with an extreme youth movement.

 

Two other B teams were hit hard, but not to the extent of the above teams. Bryn Mawr lost its one-two, inside-outside punch of Allie Emala and Meredith Larsen, both All-Conference stars who combined for 30 points and 20 rebounds per game. Walters will have to rely on JR G Paige Greene to step up to lead the Mawrtians.

 

Maryvale Prep also feels the brunt of a somewhat decimated line-up. Coach Jerry Saveage lost All-Conference forward Stephanie D’Anna, one of the league’s most consistent scorers overall the past three years, as well as two other starters and the loss of 6-3 C Maggie Kozloski to volleyball. It will be another youth movement in Brooklandville, like so many other B teams in 2007-08.

 

The bottom two teams from last year – John Carroll and Chaplegate – both escaped with minor damage. Both have new coaches (above) and a core of returnees. The Patriots lost leading scorer and All-Conference G Allison Humphries, but return four starters for Cooney, including guards Anne Brockmeyer and Cori Gray. The Yellowjackets, meanwhile, lost Abigail Groves and Amanda Schwartz, but return four starters, led by SR F Lauren Ahrens.

It should be an interesting year in the rebuilding B, as six teams look to chase down the Admirals.

 

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

 

BRYN MAWR

Coach:  Mimi Walters (1st season)

Record 2006-07:  (9-3, 19-7)

Key Losses:  Six players to graduation – includes All-Conference selections F Allie Emala (18 ppg. 12 rpg) and G Meredith Larsen (12 ppg, 8 rpg, McDaniel), and Stella Davis (8 ppg, 4 rpg)

Key Returnees:  Three – JR G Paige Greene (7 ppg, 4 apg, 4 spg), SO G Grace Parents and SR G Teona Hanson (split time starting) … JR’s Annie Thomas and Margaret Szczerbicki will figure into the rotation up from JV

Outlook:  New Coach Walters says, “This team will have a different look with the loss of six players from last year's team.  This team will feature a balanced attack and will look for leadership from the three captains, SR Teona Hanson, and JR’s Paige Greene and Annie Thomas.   Much will depend on how well this young team gels.”

 

CHAPELGATE CHRISTIAN

Coach:  Rick Kohr (1st season)

Record 2006-07:  (1-11, 9-12)

Key Losses:  Two to graduation – F Abigail Groves and G Amanda Schwartz (playing at Howard CC)

Key Returnees:  Four returning starters – SR C Anna Bryan, SR F Lauren Ahrens, SR F Emily Wolven and JR G Julia Groves

Outlook:  New Coach Kohr on this year’s Yellojackets, “We will miss the offensive capabilities of Abigail Groves and Amanda Schwartz ... three senior returnees above will have to pick up the slack along with returning players JR G Julia Groves, SO F Kelly Stambaugh.  Courtney Stull, Allie Kohr and Laura Lovaas should see quality minutes in the backcourt. The team should be competitive and in the mix in the B Conference race.”

 

JOHN CARROLL

Coach:  John Cooney (1st season)

Record 2006-07:  (2-10, 6-18)

Key Losses:  One – G Allison Humphries (11.2 ppg, Villa Julie)

Key Returnees:  Four returning starters -  SR G Anne Brockmeyer (7.2 ppg), SR F Nicole Clarke (5.6 ppg), SR G Katie Peusch (5.0 ppg) and JR G Cori Gray (6.4 ppg)

Outlook:  “With the hire of a new coach and the loss of point guard Allison Humphries, John Carroll has entered a rebuilding phase. We will have nine returning players from last season's team.  In addition to the returning starters, they will be five other returning players looking to improve their game: JR Mia Poupolo, SO Jen Barlow, JR Tiffany Smith, SO Jen Selvy and SO Bri Reese.  In addition, we have added JR Katie O'Hara and SO Alex Mezzanotte up from JV.  FR Amanda Wolfe and FR Hannah Verschoore should be able to contribute to the team.   The team should be competitive with those in our conference,” says Cooney.

 

MARYVALE PREP

Coach:  Jerry Savage (4th season, 45th season at HS level overall)

Record 2006-07:  (4-8, 9-13)

Key Losses:  Five – four to graduation: F Stephenie D’Anna (13.8 ppg), G Kelly Quinlan (6.3 ppg), G Erin McDonnell (5. 0 ppg) and F Aly Morris … plus 6-3 JR C Maggie Kozloski (7.4 ppg) decided not to play, focusing instead on volleyball

Key Returnees:  Two – SR F Sarah Mather is only full-time returning starter, JR F Stephanie Glavaris also started at times …6-1 JR C Beth Remmert, SR G Jordan Wolf and SO G Morgan Matz are the other projected starters … SO F Molly McElroy and JR F Meredith Frank add help in the paint, SO G’s Shannon Murphy, Julie Peluso, Gabby Kozera and JR G’s Stephanie Schell and Mary Kate Sanders add depth in the backcourt

Outlook: “We will miss All-Conference F Stephanie D’Anna, she was a consistent scoring threat (13.9, 15.5. 13.8 past three years, 14.4 with 1,180 points for career) as well as Quinland and McDonnell in the backcourt, and the size of Kozloski in the middle. But the younger players get a chance to step up and see what they can do,” says Savage on his current Lion squad.

 

MOUNT DE SALES

Coach:  Trish Armstrong (2nd season)

Record 2006-07:  (7-5, 15-10)

Key Losses:  Five: Four to graduation– two All-Conference players in Chrissie O’Donnell (top rebounder) and Caitlin Hoffen (top scorer), and F Megan Kelly and G Allie Ribb … plus Emily Reese, out for season with torn ACL from soccer

Key Returnees:  Four … SO G Cara Facchina, HR G Amy Stryjewski, SR G Anna Tucker, SR G Katie Stryjewski

Outlook: “We have no returning starters, but we should be competitive in our conference. We return SO G Cara Facchina who played very well as a freshman last year and is only returning player who saw significant minutes last year. We’ll also count on JR G Amy Stryjewski and SR G’s Anna Tucker and SR G Katie Stryjewski. Up from last year’s first-place JV team are inside players Sara Bishop and Annie Skomba.  FR G Melissa Singer should give quality minutes off the bench and SO Holly Whitehead and FR Hannah Schmidt will spell the post. We have seven underclassmen on the team. Facchina should be one of the top guards in the B, and will need her teammates to develop quickly as we make steady improvement moving towards the play-offs,” comments Armstrong on the 2007-08 Sailors.

 

SEVERN

Coach:  Chuck Miller (8th season)

Record 2006-07:  (8-4, 17-10)

Key Losses:  One  starter to graduation – Jess Wilson (Washington College) 

Key Returnees:  Eight returnees - SR C Taylor Wieczorek (12 ppg, 12 rpg), JR G   Katie Dickerson (9.3 ppg), JR F Leanne Hug (6.3 ppg, 7.2rpg, 3 blocks pg), JR   C/F Caitlin Sheehan (1.9ppg), SO G Leah Cranmer (5.5ppg), SO G Elizabeth Harbeson (3.2ppg), SO F  Raven Owen (3.0ppg), SO G Aura Payne (2.3ppg, 2.1apg) … Newcomers include JR C/F Richa Davis, SO G Keisha Miles and SO G Kayla Fu

Outlook:  “SR C Taylor Wieczorek, All-Conference and one of the leading rebounders in the metro area returns to lead the team.  Fellow starters JR G Katie Dickerson and JR F Leanne Hug will look to add to their previous season’s output.   JR C/F Caitlin Sheehan, SO G Leah Cranmer, SO G Liz Harbeson, SO F Raven Owen and SO G Aura Payne will battle for a starting position and will see considerable action. Severn has been to the championship game the past four years and should be in the mix again this season,” says Miller.

 

ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI

Coach:  Debbie Skelly (9th season)

Record 2006-07:  (11-1, 20-4) B Conf Repeat Champs

Key Losses:  Four starting seniors - G Annesia Faulkner (Univ of MD soccer), Nikki McCrae (Hampton Univ.), Beth Ann Fusco (McDaniel Softball), Shari Sawney (Howard Univ.) … these four made for 90% of our scoring
Key Returnees: SR F Kaitlin O'Hara, JR F Jackie Buckley, JR G Gabby Eldridge, JR F Maya Pollock, SO F Allie Abell, SO G Maddie Goodman

Outlook: “We will miss our four All-Conference players. We’re looking for the six returners to continue to develop and be more of a factor in scoring and defense. Newcomer 6-5 FR C Chizoba Ekedigwe will help us under the boards along with Maya Pollock. This is the biggest frontcourt I have coached," offers Skelly on the 2007-08 Panthers.