The Observer’s Gaston County high school girls’ basketball preview
The Observer’s preview for high school girls’ basketball in Gaston County:
Teams to watch
Ashbrook: The Green Wave have been consistent, averaging 18 wins per season during the past five years. For 2023-24, Ashbrook returns four starters, including 6-foot-1 sophomore Nykira Arrington (9.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and junior point guard Duerajah Hardin.
Hunter Huss: The defending Big South 3A conference regular season champions return the core of that team, including junior Brooklyn Swann (16 ppg, 8 rpg) and seniors Savanni Harris (9.6 ppg) and Myla Hoover (15.4 ppg).
Highland Tech: The Rams return five starters, including seniors Addie McCraw (15.2 ppg, 14.8 rpg), Reese Thomas (7.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and junior Katie Fangman (6 ppg) in the frontcourt. Senior Bailey Maiers (13.3 ppg) and sophomore Akeila Taylor (8.3 ppg, 5.7 apg) give the Rams a solid backcourt duo.
Stuart Cramer: The Storm are looking to build on their best season in school history (22-6 last year) with four starters returning. Sophomore point guard Oshauna Holland (18 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 5 spg) is back with classmate Ella Barajas (6 ppg, 4 rpg), junior Hadley Womack (13.3 ppg) and senior Madison Lee (4 ppg, 4 rpg).
Players to watch
Nykira Arrington, Ashbrook: The 6-1 sophomore (9.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg) nearly averaged a double-double as a freshman.
Amya Graham, South Point: The 5-11 junior forward (17 ppg, 14 rpg) is capable of taking over a game in the paint.
Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer: The 5-7 sophomore point guard (18 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 5 spg) can impact a game in all phases and already has interest from Davidson, Queens and Wake Forest, according to Stuart Cramer coach Carey Pohlman.
Addie McCraw, Highland Tech: The 5-9 senior forward (15.2 ppg, 14.8 rpg) is back to lead the Rams as a three-time, all-conference and three-time team most valuable player.
Amani Neely, Forestview: The 5-10 sophomore guard (13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.8 spg) looks to build on a breakout freshman year.
Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City: The 5-10 junior averaged 19.8 points 11.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game last season.
Brooklyn Swann, Hunter Huss: The 5-11 junior forward (16 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.5 spg) is an impact player on both sides of the court.
Players on the rise
Maddie Frank, South Point: The 5-4 senior point guard (9.7 ppg, 3.6 apg) is a two-time all-Big South conference performer for the Red Raiders.
Lauren Humphrey, Stuart Cramer: The 6-2 freshman center gives the Storm some size in the middle on an experienced team.
Jaleila Littlejohn, North Gaston: The Wildcats’ 5-7 freshman point guard should have an immediate impact in the North Gaston lineup.
Bailey Maiers, Highland Tech: The Rams’ shooting guard (13.3 ppg) is one of the county’s top best from distance, making 42 percent of her 3-pointers last year.
Blair Riley, Forestview: The 5-11 senior (8.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.2 bpg,) missed 14 games last season with injury, according to coach Kevin Gurganus, but will return to give the Jaguars a solid one-two punch in the frontcourt with junior, Molly Fangan (7 ppg, 9.6 rpg)
Preseason All-Gaston County team
Nykira Arrington, Ashbrook, 6-1, So.
Amya Graham, South Point, 5-11, Jr.
Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer, 5-7, So.
Addie McCraw, Highland Tech, 5-9, Sr.
Amani Neely, Forestview, 5-10, So
Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City, 5-10, Jr.
Brooklyn Swann, Hunter Huss, 5-11, Jr.
Preseason player of the year: Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer, 5-7, So., PG.
Notes
Former Bessemer City boys’ basketball coach Danny McDowell now takes over the Yellow Jackets’ girls’ program.
Gaston Day will not have girls’ varsity or junior varsity basketball team this year due to lack of numbers, according to Spartans’ athletic director Lule Brase.
Highland Tech senior forward Addie McCraw has 780 career points and 800 career rebounds. She has a chance to hit 1,000 in both categories in her final high school season.
North Gaston head coach David Williams, in his first year as the Wildcats’ head coach, is a former East Mecklenburg High player.
South Point junior forward Amya Graham is on pace to pass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her high school career in only her third varsity season.
Conference predictions
Big South 3A Conference
Crest; 2. Hunter Huss; 3. Stuart Cramer; 4. Ashbrook; 5. South Point; 6. Forestview; 7. Kings Mountain; 8. North Gaston.
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.
Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC)
Concord Academy; 2. Northside Christian; 3. Gaston Christian; 4. Metrolina Christian; 5. Hickory Grove; 6. Westminster Catawba; 7. SouthLake Christian.
South Piedmont 1A/2A Conference
Thomas Jefferson Academy; 2. Shelby; 3. Highland Tech; 4. Bessemer City; 5. East Gaston; 6. Burns; 7. Cherryville.
This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
