The Observer’s 2024 Lincoln County girls’ high school basketball preview
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Here is The Observer’s look at girls’ high school basketball in Lincoln County ahead of the 2024-25 season
Teams to watch
East Lincoln: The Mustangs are 88-5 overall in the past three years, including 44-0 in Western Foothills’ Athletic conference play. However, East Lincoln must reload a bit with three starters back: Emma Montanari (18.1 ppg), Lane Pethel (8.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Taniyah Thomas (7.2 ppg, 4.6 spg). Coach Jason Otey expects to compete for another conference title and be a team capable of making another deep 3A state playoff run after reaching the 3A quarterfinals last season.
Lincoln Charter: The Eagles look to keep the momentum going from a team that has 68 wins in the past three years. Lincoln Charter returns three starters from a 2A state semifinalist, with senior guard Symphani Stevens (10.5 ppg) and juniors Claire David (6.8 ppg, 5 rpg) and Martha Guinle (9.7 ppg) back in the lineup. Coach Kim Allen, in her 10th year as head coach, has the experience to contend for the conference title and be a factor the in 2A state playoffs again.
North Lincoln: The Knights were 16-11 last season, their first winning season since 2019-20. With four starters back, first-year coach, Kristen Karr looks to help build on that success. North Lincoln has a balanced lineup with three sophomores — Ashlyn Black (9 ppg, 7 rpg), Addison Grace (10.4 ppg, 6 rpg) and Ally Smith (15.5 ppg, 5 rpg) — as well as senior Hailey Hagler (11 ppg, 6 rpg) all returning.
Players to watch
Hailey Hagler, North Lincoln: The 5-9 senior (11 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg) is a key playmaker on a veteran Knights’ team.
Emma Montanari, East Lincoln: The 5-7 junior (18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 4.9 spg, 2.8 bpg) can fill up the stat sheet in every category, already has scholarship offers from LaSalle, Stetson and UNC Wilmington, according to East Lincoln coach Jason Otey.
Ally Smith, North Lincoln, So.: The 5-7 sophomore (15.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg) looks to build on a breakout freshman season with even bigger numbers this year.
Symphani Stevens, Lincoln Charter: The 5-7 senior (10.5 ppg) takes on a lead role for a team that expects to win a lot of games.
Curmiya Tillman, Lincolnton: The 5-4 sophomore (7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 spg, 1.9 apg) leads a team that should be much improved with all five starters back in the lineup.
Players on the rise
Quinlyn Avery, West Lincoln: The 5-11 junior guard (5.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) will team with seniors Calla Varner and Payton Hood to give West Lincoln an experienced backcourt capable of helping them moving into the middle of the Catawba Valley Athletic conference race.
Sarah Rhyne, Lincolnton, Sr.: The Wolves’ 5-10 senior forward (4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and sophomore Nyla Johnson (5.3 ppg) will both have to play bigger roles for Lincolnton to move up the CVAC standings this season.
Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln: The 5-7 senior (7.2 ppg, 4.6 spg) will have to play a much bigger role if East Lincoln is going to win another league title.
Preseason all-county team
Hailey Hagler, North Lincoln, 5-9, Sr.
Emma Montanari, East Lincoln, 5-7, Jr.
Ally Smith, North Lincoln, 5-7, So.
Symphani Stevens, Lincoln Charter, 5-7, Sr.
Curmiya Tillman, Lincolnton, 5-4, So.
Preseason Player of the Year: Emma Montanari, East Lincoln, 5-7, Jr., Guard.
Notes
East Lincoln girls’ basketball coach Jason Otey has 182 career wins and could hit 200 this season. Otey has a great chance as the East Lincoln girls’ basketball team has averaged 29 wins over the last three seasons.
First-year North Lincoln girls’ basketball coach Kristen Karr takes over the varsity program after leading the North Lincoln girls’ middle school basketball team for the last six years.
West Lincoln girls’ basketball coach Tom Sain is entering his fifth year in charge of the Rebels’ girls’ program but has been coaching at the school for more than three decades now.
Conference predictions
Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference
Community School of Davidson; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Christ the King; 4. Pine Lake Prep; 5. Mountain Island Charter; 6. Corvian Charter; 7. Bradford Prep; 8. Langtree Charter.
Catawba Valley Athletic 3A Conference
East Burke; 2. Maiden; 3. Bandys; 4. Lincolnton; 5. West Lincoln; 6. Newton Conover; 7. Bunker Hill; 8. West Caldwell.
Western Foothills’ Athletic 3A Conference
North Lincoln; 2. East Lincoln; 3. Hickory; 4. North Iredell; 5. Fred T. Foard; 6. St. Stephen’s 7. Statesville; 8. West Iredell.
This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 6:15 AM.
