Sweet 16 girls basketball countdown: No. 11 Mallard Creek

No. 10 Mallard Creek Mavericks

Coach: Clarence Johnson (seventh year as Mallard Creek’s head coach)

2014-15 notes: Finished 18-8 and 9-5 in the MECKA 4A conference to tie for second in the league with Hough and Jay M. Robinson. Mavericks lost 55-49 in the second round of the 4A state playoffs to South Caldwell.

Returning starters: Kayla Brown (5-7, G, Jr.); E’Mya Price (5-8, G, So.); Janay Sanders (5-10, G, So.); Kayla Richardson (6-0, F, Jr.); Janae Davis (5-9, F, Jr.)

Key newcomers: Chantel Williams (5-10, G/F, Sr.)

Why them? The Mavericks return all five starters from a team that won 18 games last season, led by junior guard Kayla Brown (10.5 ppg). All-conference guard/forward Chantel Williams (14.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg in 2013-14 season) returns after she missed last season with an ACL injury. Mallard Creek looks to challenge Hopewell for the MECKA 4A conference title and make a deeper playoff run.

Jay Edwards

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Sweet 16 girls basketball countdown: No. 11 Mallard Creek."