The Observer’s Lincoln County girls’ high school basketball preview
▪ The Observer’s preview for girls’ basketball in Lincoln County:
Teams to watch
East Lincoln: The Mustangs return the core of a team that has gone 59-3 in the past two years with 6-foot-3 junior center Hailey McFadden (11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and sophomore guards Kiara Anderson (10.8 ppg, 4 apg, 4 spg) and Emma Montanari (11.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 spg). Also back are senior Abbie Hege, junior Taniya Thomas and Lake Norman transfer Neveah Atkins, another junior. In short, East Lincoln has the pieces to win another Western Foothills Athletic conference title and be a contender to win the 3A state championship after reaching the regional championship game last season.
Lincoln Charter: The two-time Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference champions are 43-12 in the past two seasons combined. This year, the Eagles return three starters: senior forwards Kallie Lusk (10 ppg) and Samantha Ayers (5 ppg) along with junior guard Symphani Stevens (7.7 ppg). Lincoln Charter has the experience to win 20-plus games, contend for the conference title and be a factor in the 2A state playoffs.
West Lincoln: The Rebels will look to build on their first winning season (15-11 last year) since the 2008-09 campaign. Coach Tom Sain will lean on 6-2 senior center Carolina Robinson (14 ppg, 15 rpg) and the backcourt duo of junior point guard Calla Varner and senior shooting guard Zoe Owenby.
Players to watch
Hailey Hagler, North Lincoln: The 5-11 junior forward (13 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg) gives North Lincoln a go-to player inside but is the team’s lone returning starter.
Camellia Holland, Lincolnton: The 5-8 senior is the Wolves’ leading returning scorer (6.4 ppg) and rebounder (5.4 rpg).
Kallie Lusk, Lincoln Charter: The 5-10 senior (10 ppg in 2021-22) returns to lead the Eagles after missing the 2022-23 season with an injury.
Hailey McFadden, East Lincoln: The 6-3 junior center, the reigning Western Foothills conference player of the year, averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game as a sophomore on a team that went 31-1.
Emma Montanari, East Lincoln: The 5-7 sophomore gives the Mustangs an all-conference weapon on the outside (11.1 ppg). She shot 40 percent from the 3-point line as a freshman.
Carolina Robinson, West Lincoln: The 6-2 senior center averaged 14 points and 15 rebounds per game last season.
Players on the rise
Kiara Anderson, East Lincoln: The 5-4 sophomore point guard (10.8 ppg, 4 apg, 4 spg) had a breakout freshman season, and can make plays for herself (37 percent three-pointer shooter) or her teammates.
Zoe Owenby, West Lincoln: The 5-11 senior shooting guard gives the Rebels experience and production in the backcourt with junior point guard Calla Varner.
Symphoni Stevens, Lincoln Charter: The 5-7 junior guard (7.7 ppg) earned all-conference honors as a sophomore.
Preseason All-Lincoln County team
Hailey Hagler, North Lincoln, 5-11, Jr.
Kallie Lusk, Lincoln Charter, 5-10, Sr.
Hailey McFadden, East Lincoln, 6-3, Sr.
Emma Montanari, East Lincoln, 5-7, So.
Carolina Robinson, West Lincoln, 6-2, Sr.
Preseason player of the year: Hailey McFadden, East Lincoln, 6-3, Jr.
Notes
▪ East Lincoln has won 34 straight Western Foothills’ Athletic conference games, including 28 victories in the regular season and six tournament games.
▪ Lincoln Charter has won 19 straight Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference games.
▪ Lincoln County has two new varsity coaches with William Auman taking over at Lincolnton and Craig McCoy at North Lincoln.
▪ West Lincoln coach Tom Sain in his fourth year as the Rebels’ head coach, having coached for more than three decades now overall.
Conference predictions
Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference
Community School of Davidson; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Pine Lake Prep; 4. Christ the King; 5. Corvian Charter; 6. Bradford Prep; 7. Langtree Charter; 8. Mountain Island Charter
Catawba Valley Athletic 2A Conference
1.East Burke; 2. Newton Conover; 3. West Lincoln; 4. Bandys; 5. Maiden; 6. Lincolnton; 7. Bunker Hill; 8. West Caldwell.
Western Foothills Athletic 3A Conference
East Lincoln; 2. St. Stephen’s; 3. Hickory; 4. North Lincoln; 5. North Iredell; 6. Statesville; 7. Fred T. Foard; 8. West Iredell.
This story was originally published October 29, 2023 at 7:30 AM.
