Girls Sweet 16 Basketball Countdown: No. 11 East Rutherford Cavaliers

Today, the Observer begins its countdown of the region’s best girls basketball teams.

Teams will be revealed several times daily throughout the week of Oct. 30.

The capsules were compiled by Observer correspondent Jay Edwards.

NO. 11 EAST RUTHERFORD CAVALIERS

Head Coach: Larry Ross (16th year as East Rutherford basketball coach).

Coaching Career Record: 307-93.

2016-17 Record: 19-9 (12-4 in the South Mountain Athletic 2A/3A Conference).

2017-18 Conference: Southwestern 2A (SW2A) Conference.

Returning Starters (4): Osha Makerson, Jr., PG (5-6); Kendra Ross, Sr., PF (6-3); Charmee Miller, Sr., PF (6-1); Claire Jackson, Sr., C (6-1).

Other Key Returnees: Shyon Randolph, Sr., G (5-8); Brooklyn Henderson, Jr., G (5-11); Amarie Price, So., G (5-10). Key Newcomers: N/A.

Outlook: East Rutherford returns four starters from a 19-win team which makes them the favorite to win the new, SW2A conference. With experienced playmakers inside in Jackson (9 ppg, 8 rpg), Miller (11 ppg, 11 rpg), Ross (16 ppg, 12 rpg) and outside in Makerson (17 ppg), the Cavaliers have the talent to be a 2A state championship contender.--JAY EDWARDS

NO. 12 FREEDOM PATRIOTS

Head Coach: Amber Reddick (14th year as Freedom basketball coach).

Coaching Career Record: 285-86.

2016-17 Record: 29-2 (14-0 in the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference).

2017-18 Conference: Northwestern 3A/4A Conference.

Returning Starters (3): Madison Bailey, Jr., G (5-9); Blaikley Crooks, So., G (5-8); Sierra (C.C.) Davenport, Jr. C (5-11). Key Newcomers: Amaiya Williams, Sr., G (5-9); Adair Garrison, Fr., F (5-10).

Outlook: The Patriots have won 20-plus games in each of the last nine seasons, and went 29-2 last year, falling in 3A state semifinals to Hickory Ridge. With 85 percent of their scoring graduated, it won’t be easy for Freedom to remain one of the state’s best with Coach Reddick missing beginning of the season as her daughter is due in early November. Freedom will look to its all-conference trio in Bailey, Crooks and Davenport to keep their winning streak going, contend for another conference title and again be a factor in late February, or even March.

--JAY EDWARDS

NO. 13 EAST BURKE CAVALIERS

Head Coach: Crystal Bartlett (3rd year as East Burke basketball coach).

Coaching Career Record: 49-14 at East Burke.

2016-17 Record: 27-4 (15-1 in the South Mountain Athletic Conference).

2017-18 Conference: Northwest Foothills’ 2A Conference.

Returning Starters (3): Josie Hise, So., PG (5-7); Brooke Arney, Jr., G (5-6); Arianna Hawkins, Jr., G (5-7).

Key Newcomers: Riley Haas, So., F (5-11); Graleigh Hildebran, So., F (5-9); Ashlynn Stillwell, So., PG (5-5); Gracie Ruff, So., PG (5-3).

Outlook: The Cavaliers have won 49 games in the last two years, and also boast a 19-game home winning streak. With an experienced back court returning in Arney, Hawkins and Hise and a talented group of sophomores on the rise, coach Bartlett believes East Burke can challenge for the new, Northwest Foothills 2A conference title -- and more. Just how deep they can go in the postseason (2A state semifinalist last year) will depend on how their young front court emerges as the season progresses.

NO. 14 CUTHBERSON CAVALIERS

Head Coach: Joel Allen (10th year as Cuthbertson basketball coach).

Coaching Career Record: 95-86.

2016-17 Record: 18-9 (4-6 in the Southern Carolinas’ Conference (SCC)).

2017-18 Conference: Southern Carolinas’ Conference.

Returning Starters (4): Kayla Young, Jr., PG (5-6); Lauryn Hardiman, So., SF (5-7); Kaylin McKinney, Jr., SG (5-5); Lillian Anderson, So., C (5-11).

Key Newcomers: Maddie Dillinger, Fr., PF (6-0); Trinity Cherry-Brown, So., SF; Kamaria Sherriff, Fr., PF (5-9).

Outlook: The Cavaliers look to carry the momentum after winning the SCC tournament championship last season. Cuthbertson returns four starters, led by all-SCC performers in Hardiman (12 ppg, 8 rpg) and Young (9 ppg, 5 rpg), which should put them right in the thick of a league that got a lot harder with Charlotte Catholic, Monroe and Parkwood joining the race.

NO. 15 CLOVER BLUE EAGLES

CLOVER

Head Coach: Sherer Hopkins (17th year as Clover basketball coach)

2016-17 Record: 16-9, (5-3 in Region IV, 5A).

2017-18 Conference: Region IV, 5A.

Returning Starters (4): Renee Carter, Sr., G/F (5-9); Aylesha Wade, Fr., G (5-6); Amber Lipscomb, Sr., G (5-6); Tiona Walls, Jr., G (5-7).

Key Newcomers: None

Outlook: Coach Sherer Hopkins says "she has a great mix of veterans and younger players that love the game." Those returnees, which includes four starters, are back to a lead a Blue Eagle team that advanced to the AAAAA state quarterfinals last season. This season, Clover has the firepower led by all-region performers in Carter (11 ppg, 8 rpg) and Wade (12 ppg as an 8th grader) to battle Rock Hill for a region title and make another run.

NO. 16 CHARLOTTE LATIN HAWKS

Head Coach: Charisse Mapp (5th year as Charlotte Latin basketball coach).

Coaching Career Record: 54-49.

2016-17 Record: 12-14 (6-4 in the CISAA).

2017-18 Conference: CISAA.

Returning Starters (4): Claudia Dickey, Sr., PG (5-10); Kathryn Vandiver, Jr., F (6-1); Ruthie Jones, Jr., G/F (6-0); Grace Armstrong, Jr., G/F (5-9). Key Newcomers: Elizabeth Rose, Fr., G (5-10); Forrest Williams, Fr., G (5-9).

Outlook: Charlotte Latin have the talent to compete with the state’s best with four starters back, led by their big three in: Dickey (16 ppg), Jones (11 ppg) and Vandiver (16 ppg). Coach Mapp believes her team can contend for a CISAA title, but says "someone has to prove they can beat (eight-time, defending state state champion) Providence Day," before that happens. Either way, the Hawks have the team to be a contender deep in the state playoffs.

--JAY EDWARDS

This story was originally published October 30, 2017 at 10:03 AM with the headline "Girls Sweet 16 Basketball Countdown: No. 11 East Rutherford Cavaliers."