As a new girls basketball season tips off, the Gateway Panthers could be the top team in the county while St. Cloud and City of Life looks to rebuild their successful teams after key losses.
Gateway
The Panthers, under head coach Justin Marino, won 18 games last season and a made a solid run into the post-season. Much talent returns, including high-scoring guards Vanessa Diaz (21.5 ppg) and Malayna Stevenson (11.5). Distributing point guard Neri Moreau is also back, and the team adds guards Madison Vazquez and freshman Soleil DeJesus, and forward Paige Alise, in from St. Cloud.
Marino believes his returning team is his “best ever” and will be looking for an even deeper run into the post-season.
“This year will be my deepest team yet,” he said. “As long as we don’t fall in love with the 3-ball, we will be a well balanced team. We are primed to make a deep run.”
The Panthers have started the season 3-0, holding Liberty, Tohopekaliga and Celebration to 18 points per game.
District 5A-7: Gateway, Auburndale, Bishop Moore, Jones, Lake Minneola, Lake Wales
St. Cloud
The Bulldogs graduated about 90 percent of their scoring and rebounding off of last year’s 15-7 team, but Coach Chad Ansbaugh is anything but pessimistic.
“We have always taught a team concept and I really like what I have seen from this team so far and their work ethic. There is no reason why we can’t equal or even better what we have accomplished in previous years.”
Sophomores Emily Lockley and Haley Collins, who combined for 10.5 points per game last year, return. The rest will be a product of The Bulldog Way (if you know, you know).
“Our girls put in a productive summer and we expect to see those efforts pay off this season. We are a program, not a team. Teams graduate, programs have staying power. I’m expecting to play a deep bench and allow our girls to grow. We have a team that could be as good as any that we have had.”
6A-6: St. Cloud, Harmony, Liberty, Poinciana, East Ridge, East Lake
Osceola
Graduation and transfers have forced Coach Dion Byrum’s Kowboys into a fresh start.
“We are basically starting over,” Byrum said. “We have a bunch of new players who don’t a lot of experience. It will be an interesting year and can’t wait to see how we progress through the season as a team.”
Forwards Cathia Timas and Emelyn Rodriguez enter the season as the top players.
7A-9: Osceola, Tohopekaliga, Cypress Creek, Freedom, Lake Nona
Celebration
The Storm were 6-9 under Coach Beltran Munoz. He said this year’s team will focus on building off the young core of players from last season and the addition of some talented newcomers.
Senior Emily Silva and sophomores Valeria Martinez and Eileen Bolejack return, and the lineup is bolstered by newcoming juniors Adara Vouriotis and Shenne Sirazitdinova and sophomore Marsala Vouriotis.
“This year, creating a disruptive defense will be the key to our success. The expectation is to play at a quick tempo, playing in transition both offensively and defensively,” Munoz said. “The team is young and working hard to develop into a competitive group.”
7A-5: Celebration, Dr. Phillips, Haines City, Olympia, West Orange, Windermere
Poinciana
Behind the return of Ivanis Pimentel (Sr., G, 13.4 ppg) and Eva Johnson (Jr., G, 9.6 ppg), Eagles Coach Leroy Smith believes the Eagles have both the talent and depth to improve on last year’s 8-6 mark. Leilani Terre (Sr., F, 4.6 ppg) and senior Samara Calso also return.
“I am expecting our team to take the next step this year. Getting into the second round of the playoffs in our first year together was a great accomplishment, but we are hungry and believe we can go much farther this year,” Smith said. “We have great player leadership and everyone on the team understands and is focused on fulfilling their roles.”
Harmony
The 4-8 Longhorns were young last year, but bring back returning talent in Emma Blandford, Kaitlyn Davis and Alexia Garrett. Sophomore Aurielle Revis and freshmen Ediannie De Leon and Avery Woollet are promising newcomers
“We are a very young team in terms of experience and age,” longtime Coach Paul Strauch said. “We are working hard to get better every day. We are hoping to show improvement throughout the year. The student athletes have been working hard with a good attitude so it makes coming to practice every day enjoyable.”
Liberty
The Chargers return seniors Annalise and Angeline Beecher and Jereisha Tyrell from a two-win season, and add sophomore guards Jayla Lubin and Amara Mendez.
“With size and depth, our front court will be difficult to guard,” Coach Kennesshia Williams said. “If our shooters are consistent it will give us an advantage as defenders will be forced to play straight up. This season should be successful as long as our players can remain consistent and healthy. We have a short rotation with little bench depth but as long as our players can remain healthy we would have a pretty good shot at doing well come postseason.”
Tohopekaliga
The Lady Tigers haven’t seen a lot of success in their first three seasons, but could change that this year as seniors Connie Kramer and Makenzie Baylis return, along with sophomore Makenna Day. Coach Jennifer Farrell adds freshmen Sophia Delgado and Sheila Santos to the lineup.
“We hope to find more success this year and win some close games,” Farrell said. “We hope to be more physical this year and improve our scoring offense.”
City of Life
The Warriors, Class 2A mainstays, have a bit of rebuilding to do, as 30 points per game graduated. A talented core of forward Talia St. Hilaire and guards Karyna Rivera and Gio Rodriquez remain in place.
“Despite losing some good players, we return some talented athletes that have significant experience. We remain a young team with just two seniors on our roster,” Coach Ray Buggs said.
2A-8: City of Life, Faith Chr., Merritt Island Chr., Orlando Chr. Prep
