For starters, several star players have graduated and moved on to CIS programs --- including last year's MVP, Kaitlyn Schenck (WLU via St. Mary's), and all-stars Natasha Stoyakovich (Waterloo via St. Mary's) and Jacqui Rodrigues (Waterloo via Resurrection).
Despite those losses, both St. Mary's and Resurrection having incoming seniors that should be able to contribute immediately --- more on that shortly!
The St. Benedict Saints, with several returning D8 all-stars, initially looked to be the favourite on paper before stumbling (albeit while partially shorthanded) this past weekend over at Eastwood. Of the 2011 D8 all-stars, 4th year G/F Dana Milani is the lone 1st team D8 all-star that will be returning this season.
Meanwhile, in "housekeeping news", St. David CSS will sadly not be fielding a senior team in the D8 circuit this year. That said, the league will still be at 6 teams as Woodland Christian will be joining the league after playing in the D4 last season (4-6 record).
At any rate, I think that any one of St. Benedict, Resurrection or St. Mary's should be in contention to take the D8 title (and resulting "AAAA" CWOSSA) berth --- it will likely come down to who improves the most and is playing the best basketball come November!
Projected Senior Order of Finish
1. St. Benedict CSS/Cambridge
2. St. Mary's HS/Kitchener
3. Resurrection CSS/Kitchener
4. Monsignor Doyle CSS/Cambridge
5. Woodland CHS/Breslau
6. Rockway MC/Kitchener
D8 Preseason All-Star Team
Sydney Greulich - F, St. Mary's (3rd Year)
Alysha Hergott - G/F, St. Mary's (5th Year)
Sarah Schulz - G, Resurrection (3rd Year)
Dana Milani - G/F, St. Benedict (4th Year)
Hilary Ferguson - C, St. Benedict (4th Year)
Team Capsules
Last Season: 3rd Place; lost semifinal @ Resurrection.
Key Returnees: G/F Dana Milani (1st Team D8 All-Star); F Janelle Case (2nd Team D8 All-Star); C Hilary Ferguson.
Top Rookie: Brooke Wanklin (averaged double-digit PPG for '11 junior team)
Outlook: The Saints, who finished 3rd last season, are set to move up the D8 rankings with the majority of their squad back at SBCSS this season.
They'll be led offensively by Dana Milani, a slashing swingwoman who was a D8 all-star last season. Hilary Ferguson patrols the paint and is a triple-double threat (points, blocks, rebounds) most evenings --- she came up a few blocks shy of one on Friday against KCI.
Brooke Wanklin moves up from the junior team to bolster the offense.
Sure, the Saints (while shorthanded --- including just 7 players against KCI) stumbled to an 0-3 record this past weekend at the Eastwood tournament, but I don't think that performance is reflective of their potential for this season. I'll give them a mulligan there and peg them as the slight favourites in D8 heading into this season.
Last Season: Undefeated Regular Season; def. Resurrection 48-29 in D8 final.
Key Returnees: Alysha Hergott (Injured '11; Starter on '10 D8 Championship Team); Emma Jada (2011 D8 2nd Team All-Star); Linda Huynh; Monica Januszek, Jennifer Joseph, Laura Franco.
Key Losses: Kaitlyn Schenck (D8 MVP - Graduated); Laura Boterman (D8 1st Team All-Star - Graduated); Shelby Dixon (D8 1st Team All-Star - Graduated); Natasha Stoyakovich (D8 2nd Team All-Star - Graduated).
Top Rookies: Sydney Greulich (6'1" F), Laura Kay.
Outlook: First, the good news: the Eagles have about a half-dozen returnees from last year's D8 championship team.
Now, the bad news: St. Mary's loses over 90% of their scoring offense (based upon the D8 championship game) and four District 8 all-stars from last year's squad.
Of course, they'll (gladly) welcome back Alysha Hergott, who returns after missing almost all of the 2011 season due to injury. Needless to say, she'll be counted on a lot more for her scoring than in her previous years at St. Mary's.
The other key returnee is guard Emma Jada, a solid defender from the guard position who can also get some baskets when required.
As for the newcomers, the offense will be bolstered by grade 11 (6'1") rookie Sydney Greulich, who was actually recruited from the volleyball team for last year's junior team. She contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds in last year's D8 junior final, and will again be a key offensive threat despite moving up to the senior ranks.
Gruelich didn't play due to an ankle injury this weekend at the Eastwood tournament, but she is expected to return to the lineup soon.
Laura Kay, another double-digit scorer from last year's junior squad, will also be expected to contribute immediately; their other top junior from last year, the athletic Angela Mercurio -- an OFSAA triple-jump gold medalist -- won't be playing basketball this season as she focuses on track and field.
In speaking with Head Coach Jeff Roth, he noted that "we are not nearly as strong as in years past but have the same goal --- to defend our D8 title. This is a nice, hard-working group; they listen well and are very coachable.....I'm excited to see the progression that we can make as a team between now and November."
Last Season: 2nd; lost in D8 final to St. Mary's
Key Returnees: Marley Neiscier (Starter on '11 team); Emma Higgins (6th woman on '11 team); Angelika Jarski.
Key Losses: Jacqui Rodrigues (D8 1st Team All-Star - Graduated); Janelle Santi (D8 1st Team All-Star - Graduated); Danielle Duncan (D8 2nd Team All-Star - Graduated)
Top Rookies: Sarah Schulz (D8 Junior MVP & leading D8 junior scorer in '11); Andrea Phillippi, Ellen McGowan, Laura Stern (all 3 were starters on RCSS '11 junior team).
Outlook: Like St. Mary's, Resurrection loses a lot of their scoring offense from the 2011 team, while returning a handful of players that will be meshed with a nice crop of incoming rookies from the junior program.
Leading the way offensively will likely be one of those rookies, 5'9" G Sarah Schulz. She poured in 20+ on several occasions last year, including a 24-point effort in the D8 championship game. Marley Neiscier, who started as a grade 11 on last year's team, will aid on the offensive end as well.
Though I have RCSS 3rd in my "preseason rankings", they could certainly be making another appearance in the championship final if they can peak at the right time.
Last Season: 4th; Lost D8 Semifinal to St. Mary's
Key Returnees: Leah Flanagan, Jade Loehle
Key Loss: Marley Gray (2nd Team D8 All-Star)
Top Rookie: Taylor Fitzpatrick (2nd team D8 Junior All-Star '11)
Outlook: The 'Stangs won't have a lot of competition for the D8's CWOSSA "AAA" berth --- as with the withdrawal of St. David, they're the only "AAA" team in the league (they'll still have to play a qualifier to qualify for the championships, of course).
MDCSS should again be playoff-calibre provided they get strong efforts from returning guard Jade Loehle and some additional contributions on the offensive end by Taylor Fitzpatrick. The 'Stangs aren't as deep as the clubs above them, but they may be able to pull an upset or two if they are overlooked.
Last Season: Did Not Compete in D8 (4-6 in D4).
Key Returnee: Rebekah Oosterhof
Key Rookies: Emma Roorda; Kirsten Hofstee
Outlook: It's certainly hard to project how a team such as Woodland will translate from the D4 to the stronger D8 league; however, I see them as being the slight favourite (on paper) to land the D8's "A" CWOSSA berth.
Look for Rebekah Oosterhof and rookies Emma Roorda and Kirsten Hofstee to provide the offensive spark.
Last Season: 6th; Missed Playoffs
Key Returnee: Emma Kschesinski (leading scorer in '11); Steph Veltri.
Outlook: It could again be a long year for the Flames, who are in tough against much larger schools in the D8 league. They won't get much help from incoming juniors (0-10, average score 51-9 against last year in D8) --- but I do expect a stronger overall performance than last season, especially with Kschesinski and Veltri returning. The Flames and Woodland should have a good battle for the "A" CWOSSA berth.
Monday Picks
St. Benedict at Resurrection (5pm)
Mark's Pick: SBCSS by 6
Needless to say, I was a bit surprised by St. Benedict's performance on Friday against KCI when I attended that game --- until I looked at their bench and realized they were missing a few key players.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Resurrection pull the upset as both teams shake off some early-season rust; that said, SBCSS appears stronger on paper so I'll go with them as my pick here.
Monsignor Doyle at Rockway (5:30pm)
Mark's Pick: MDCSS by 12
The Flames have not won a D8 league game since the graduation of current UW star Laura Burnett (2009) and I look for that trend to continue here today at the hands of the MDCSS Mustangs.
