Union County Girls Basketball Preview: Top teams, players to watch, predictions
Here is The Observer’s Union County girls basketball preview for the 2022-23 season
Union County Girls’ Teams to Watch
Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks return two starters from a team that won 22 games and was a perfect 10-0 in Southern Carolinas’ Conference: seniors Zahra Douglas (12 ppg) and Riley Smith (6 ppg). Marvin Ridge will need juniors like Ella Chepul (6 ppg), Reese Fritz (6 ppg) and Kelsie Robitaille to step into bigger roles if the Mavericks are going to repeat as conference champions and be a factor in the 4A state playoffs.
Metrolina Christian: The Warriors look to build on their first winning season (16-10 last year) since the 2015-16 season. Metrolina has a veteran team with four starters back, including seniors Allie Huneycutt (9 ppg, 10 rpg), Hannah Sorrentino (12 ppg), Deja White (9 ppg, 11 rpg and freshman Alaina Griffin (8 ppg, 5 rpg). The team will also benefit from the return of senior Lilly Reynolds (10 ppg in 2020-21 season), who didn’t play last year. The Warriors have the pieces to contend for the Metrolina Athletic Conference title and to go deep into the NCISAA 4A state playoffs after advancing to the third round last season.
Monroe: The Redhawks return four starters from an 18-win team last season. Seniors Taleea Halman (5 ppg) and Dynastee Parker (15 ppg, 10 rpg) pair with juniors Sanyia Gingham (8 ppg, 11 rpg) and Sanyia Wallace (8 ppg) to give Monroe the core it needs to compete for the Rocky River conference title with rivals, Forest Hills and Parkwood.
Parkwood: The Wolfpack will lean on its backcourt trio -- senior Jade Washington (12 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.7 spg) and sophomores Peyton Collins (10 ppg) and Kayl Starnes -- to lead a team that won 23 games, including the Rocky River conference title a year ago. If Parkwood can get consistent production inside, the Wolfpack will have a good chance to contend for another league title and be a factor deep into the playoffs. The Wolfpack was a N.C. 2A state quarterfinalist last season..
Sun Valley: The Spartans return four starters from a 15-win squad, including juniors Aree Meaders (8.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Lindsey Avant (11 ppg) and point guard Tyra Robinson (9.7 ppg, 4.1 apg). First-year coach Ross Parker believes his team can contend for the SCC title, which would put them in good playoff position.
Weddington: The Warriors suffered only their second losing season in the last decade last year, going 7-17. But coach Daniel Welch’s team returns four starters, led by senior guards, Bella Sarcona and Hannah Tse, which should give them the experience to get back above .500, back in the middle of the SCC race and in the playoff picture.
Union County Girls Players to Watch
Jamyah Blakeney, Forest Hills: The 5-foot-7 senior point guard can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. She averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game last season.
Zahra Douglas, Marvin Ridge: The 5-foot-8 senior forward (12 ppg, 7 rpg) will be the “go-to,” player for the Mavericks this season.
Reagan Iovino, Cuthbertson: The Belmont Abbey commit, a 5-foot-8 senior (9.5), is one of the top shooters in the county. She made 42 percent of her three-pointers as a junior.
Dynastee Parker, Monroe: The 5-foot-6 senior averaged a double-double last season (15 ppg, 10 rpg).
Tyra Robinson, Sun Valley: The 5-foot-6 junior point guard (9.7 ppg, 4.1 apg) leads a balanced Spartans’ attack.
J’yana Salton, Porter Ridge: The 5-foot-10 senior point guard (14 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 apg) will play a lead role for a veteran team looking to make a move in the Southern Carolinas conference.
Hannah Sorrentino, Metrolina Christian: The 5-foot-5 senior (12 ppg, 3 apg) is now on the radar of college recruiters, according to Warriors’ coach Jarmark Parker.
Jade Washington, Parkwood: The 5-foot-5 senior (12 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.7 apg and 2.7 spg) does a little bit of everything for the Wolfpack on both sides of the floor.
Union County Girls Players On the Rise
Zoie Jordan, Central Academy: The 5-foot senior point guard pairs with classmate Sarah Gamble to give the Cougars an experienced backcourt.
Emily Polk, Piedmont: The 5-foot-10 junior forward had a breakout sophomore season (6.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and looks to be even more productive this season.
Lilly Reynolds, Metrolina Christian: The Warriors’ senior guard will have an immediate impact in the lineup, with Carmel Christian transfer, sophomore Emily King, after earning all-conference honors as a sophomore (10 ppg, 5 apg) and not playing her junior season.
Hannah Tse, Weddington: The 5-foot-6 senior guard (11.1 ppg) will play a lead role as Weddington looks to get back into thick of the SCC race.
Preseason All-Union County Girls’ Basketball Team
Zahra Douglas, Marvin Ridge, 5-8, Sr.
Jamyah Blakeney, Forest Hills, 5-7, Sr.
Reagan Iovino, Cuthbertson, 5-9, Sr.
Tyra Robinson, Sun Valley, 5-6, Jr.
J’yana Salton, Porter Ridge, 5-10, Sr.
Hannah Sorrentino, Metrolina Christian, 5-5, Sr.
Dynastee Parker, Monroe, 5-6, Sr.
Jade Washington, Parkwood, 5-5, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Jamyah Blakeney, Forest Hills, 5-7, Sr.
Notes
Former Ardrey Kell and Charlotte Latin head coach Jeff Buseick has had a lot of success at both his former schools and will try to keep a Cuthbertson team that has averaged 22 wins per season over the past five years rolling.
First-year Porter Ridge coach Morgan Brown gets a rare opportunity to inherit a team with all five starters back, led by senior guards Sidney Blackwell (11 ppg) and J’yana Salton (14 ppg), on a Porter Ridge team (6-19 last season) that should be much improved.
Union County girls’ basketball teams have a new look this season with five new head coaches, including Brown, Buseick, Sun Valley’s Ross Parker, Forest Hills’ Brandon Rains and Central Academy’s Nathan Stewart. Weddington head coach Daniel Welch is also in his first full season after filling in as the interim a season ago.
Conference Predictions
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy; 2. Metrolina Christian; 3. Northside Christian; 4. Hickory Grove; 5. Gaston Day; 6. Gaston Christian; 7. SouthLake Christian; 8. Westminster Catawba.
Rocky River 2A/3A Conference
Parkwood; 2. Monroe; 3. Forest Hills; 4. West Stanly; 5. Anson County; 6. Central Academy.
Southern Carolinas’ 4A Conference
Marvin Ridge; 2. Sun Valley; 3. Porter Ridge; 4. Weddington; 5. Cuthbertson; 6. Piedmont.
Yadkin Valley 1A/2A Conference
Albemarle; 2. North Stanly; 3. Jay M. Robinson; 4. Mount Pleasant; 5. Union Academy; 6. Gray Stone Day.
This story was originally published October 30, 2022 at 6:30 AM.