Hard to believe it's been about 10 months since WCI defeated Eastwood in the 2011 WCSSAA final; yet, here we are.
A few teams --- including those Rebels --- have seen significant roster overhauls, while others return a significant portion of last year's lineup.
Three of my "top preseason CWOSSA teams", the WCI Vikings, Jacob Hespeler Hawks, and Bluevale Knights will be among the teams at the top of the standings, but I do expect a few teams in the next part of my "projected ranking", including the WODSS Crusaders and the Cameron Heights Golden Gaels, to be able to potentially make some noise this season.
Without further ado, let's get right to my thoughts on the season:
1. Waterloo CI
2. Jacob Hespeler SS (AAA)
3. Bluevale Collegiate
4. Waterloo-Oxford DSS
5. Cameron Heights CI
6. Southwood SS
7. Elmira DSS
8. Preston HS
9. Kitchener CI
10. Grand River CI
11. Forest Heights CI
12. Sir John A. Macdonald SS
13. Eastwood CI
14. Galt CI
15. Huron Heights SS
16. Glenview Park SS
Preseason 1st Team WCSSAA
All-Stars
Alex Klein,
F – Waterloo CI
Lindsay
Taylor, G – Waterloo CI
Taylor
Dennis, G – Jacob Hespeler
Liz
McLellan, F – Cameron Heights
Blair
McNaughton, G/F – Forest Heights
Natalie
Bishop, G - Bluevale
Preseason 2nd Team WCSSAA
All-Stars
Krista
Wiens, G – Elmira
Brooklyn
Wright, F – Jacob Hespeler
Ashley
White, G/F – Preston
Julia
Pavlik, G – Waterloo CI
Nicole
Barnard, G/F - Southwood
Madison
Horst, G – Waterloo-Oxford
Team Capsules (Alphabetical Order)
Bluevale
Collegiate Knights/Waterloo
Last Year: 10-2, 4th
(W 45-39 JHSS QF; L to WCI 47-40 in SF)
Key Returnees:
Natalie Bishop, Sarah Hamm, Hannah Fishbein, Victoria Gunpat
Key Loss: Tessa Dent
(Injured – Out For Season)
Top Rookie: Kailee
Sawyer
Outlook: Some early
injury issues have put a mild damper on expectations over at BCI – and taken
away from their depth at the forward spots.
That being said, the Knights still have arguably one of the best
backcourts in the league and bring up a couple of key rookies including G/F
Kailee Sawyer. Put it all together, and
the Knights could certainly fight their way into a semifinal spot and possibly
even the WCSSAA championship game.
Cameron Heights CI
Golden Gaels / Kitchener
Last Year: 8-4, 6th
(W GCI 49-35 QR; L 36-19 to ECI in QF)
Key Returnees:
Liz McLellan (GR 12; 1st Team WCSSAA AS ’11), Tyshaine Page,
Ashanti Lewis
Top Rookies: Hunter
Johns*
Outlook: Liz
McLellan, who is receiving some serious post-secondary interest from both sides
of the border, leads a Cameron squad that again is looking to finish in the
top-half of the WCSSAA standings. It
hasn’t yet been confirmed to me if Hunter Johns will be moving up to join the
senior squad, but if she is – it would provide a significant addition to the
frontcourt.
Look for the Gaels to be a team making a push for one of the two “AAAA” CWOSSA berths.
Eastwood CI Rebels
/ Kitchener
Last Year: L 62-40 to
WCSSAA FINAL; W 45-39 PHS (SF); W 36-19 ECI
Key Returnees: Meagan
Karai, Lori Stankiewicz
Key Losses: Michelle
Hudyn (Graduated/NCAA D1 - Missouri); Lindsay Ward (Graduated/HM WCSSAA All-Star);
Caitlyn Schlegel; Erika Gardiner; Megan Brockelbank
Top Rookies: Mel
Samuel, Kayla Shantz, Sam Legue (Gr. 10 – G)
Outlook: Coaches Mike
Reinhart and Ivan Parkinson will have a revamped squad this season, losing not
only WCSSAA Co-MVP Michelle Hudyn, but also 5 other grade 12’s to
graduation.
On the bright side, this year’s youthful edition of the Rebels are all eligible to return next year, so this will be a year for ECI to grow and improve as a unit. They are bringing up grade 10 guard Sam Legue to the senior team; she will be starting at the PG spot. Meagan Karai should lead the offensive charge up front.
Elmira DSS Lancers
/ Elmira
Last Year: 7-5 (9th;
beat #8 SSS 46-40 QR; lost to WCI 45-13 in WCSSAA QF)
Key Returnees: G Krista Wiens (2nd Team WCSSAA All-Star 2011); G/F Julia Frey; PG Amy Hachman; C Tessa Charnuski
Key Returnees: G Krista Wiens (2nd Team WCSSAA All-Star 2011); G/F Julia Frey; PG Amy Hachman; C Tessa Charnuski
Key Losses: Jessica Reichard (Graduated); Emilie Mechler (Out For Season - ACL)
Top Rookies/Newcomers: Bailey Bond; Jocelyn Lubert (Gr. 12; Missed ’11 season – injury)
Outlook: Despite losing some presence on the interior with the graduation of Jess Reichard and the injury to Emilie Mechler, the Lancers should again be in contention for one of the “AAA” CWOSSA berths.
Guard Krista Wiens is expected to key the offensive attack.
Forest Heights CI Trojans / Kitchener
Last Year: 8-4, 7th
(L 36-35 to #10 KCI in QR)
Top Returnee: Blair McNaughton – F
Outlook: With McNaughton, a likely first team-all star and potential league-leading scoring candidate on the roster, the Trojans should continue to make strides this season and again return to the playoffs. A tough schedule will make matching last year’s 8-4 mark difficult, but look for a strong season from this West Kitchener bunch.
Galt CI Ghosts /
Cambridge
Last Year: 4-8, 11th (Lost to #6 CHCI in Qualifying Round 49-35)
Key Losses: Milica Stevanovic (HM ’11), Bryar Hind
Top Rookies: Courtney Davis, Megan White
Outlook: The Ghosts will have a building year with a youthful squad set to take the court in Cambridge. Gone is last year’s leading scorer Milica Stevanovic, while a couple of hard-working junior rookies (including Megan White & Courtney Davis) will be looked upon to pick-up the scoring slack.
Glenview Park SS
Panthers / Cambridge
Last Year: 2-10 (Did
Not Make Playoffs)
Key Returnees: Maggie Tucker
Key Losses: Alyssa Goodridge (HM ’11); Emily McLean
Top Rookies: Jocelyn Kivell
Outlook: Despite a couple of key losses, the Panthers have a couple of newcomers that can contribute immediately, including rookie Jocelyn Kivell. Look for the Panthers to challenge for a playoff berth this season, but it won’t be easy with a tough schedule --- October games against Huron Heights & Galt are “must wins” for that to happen.
Grand River CI
Renegades / Kitchener
Last Year: 3-9, 12th
(Lost to #5 JHSS in Qualifying Round)
Key Returnees: Kailey DeBoer, Ana Milanovic, Stephanie Schumacher, Tori Gilvin, Leticia Skeete
Top Rookies: Jamie Nooan, Leslie Ogilvie, Hannah Gardiner, Hannah Gibson
Outlook: Despite a 12th place finish last year, there is some optimism in east Kitchener for Coach Scott Reynolds and the Grand River Renegades as they return 4 players from that squad and integrate a few key rookies from a junior team that advanced to CWOSSA “AAAA” last season.
With the offense likely led by Kailey DeBoer, and Leticia Skeete clamping down on the defensive end, look for Grand River to make a jump into the middle-of-the-pack in this year’s standings.
Huron Heights SS Huskies / Kitchener
Last Year: 1-11 (Did
Not Make Playoffs)
Key Returnees: Emily Bidinosti
Top Rookies: Aly Jacobs
Outlook: The Huskies move up to “AAAA” this year, and they’re also seeking to move up the WCSSAA standings after a 1-11 mark a year ago. Returning HM WCSSAA All-Star Emily Bidinosti will lead the way for Huron offensively.
Jacob Hespeler SS
Hawks / Cambridge
Last Year: 9-3, 5th
(W 49-27 #12 GRCI QR; L BCI SF)
Key Returnees: Taylor Dennis, Brooklyn Wright, Naomi Adams
Top Rookies: Courtney Wright (Gr 10 – F), Candice Wright (Gr 10 – F)
Outlook: Optimism is high in Hespeler this year, with a strong returning core of girls that hoisted the CWOSSA “AAA” junior championship two years ago. Move up two of the best junior forwards in CWOSSA (Courtney & Candice Wright – both 6’0” – 6’2”), and you enter the season as the top-ranked “AAA” school in my books.
Obviously, size is a huge edge for Hespeler, who avoid playing WCI & Bluevale in this year’s edition of the WCSSAA schedule. With that being said, they should finish the season either undefeated or with one loss at worst if things go well.
Kitchener CI Raiders / Kitchener
Last Year: 4-8, 10th
(W 36-35 vs KCI in QR; L 47-57 to #2 PHS in QF)
Key Returnees: Olivia Nelles; Christiana Koebel
Key Losses: Erin Kelly
Top Rookie: Kelsey Dawe
Outlook: The Raiders played well over the weekend, demonstrating an aggressive defensive style and timely offensive baskets --- if they can keep that trend up, they’ll likely fare much better than the “middle of the pack” projection where I’ve slotted them.
Olivia Nelles and Christiana Koebel are WCSSAA all-star potential players that will lead the Raiders offensively this season.
Preston HS Panthers / Cambridge
Last Year: 10-2, 2nd
(W KCI 57-47 QF; L ECI SF)
Key Returnee: Ashley White (HM ’11)
Key Losses (Starters): Nikea Worrell, Kirsten Leach, Alexandra Aguiar
Outlook: Despite some
key losses including WCSSAA All-Stars Worrell & Leach, the Panthers do have
some key components from a WCSSAA semi-finalist squad two years ago, including
G/F Ashley White, who should be among the league’s top players.
Obviously, with other teams keying on her defensively, Preston’s success is going to be partially dependent on the strides that secondary scoring options can make throughout the season. I still see them as an “upper tier” team this year in the WCSSAA league.
Sir John A.
MacDonald SS Highlanders / Waterloo
Last Year: 1-11 (did
not make playoffs)
Key Returnees: Malena McCrossan, Jillian Reiter
Key Rookies: Sam Fowler
Outlook: As evidenced by a couple of wins over the weekend at Eastwood, look for this to be the year that the SJAM Highlanders begin to make a climb up the WCSSAA standings. With last year’s leading scorers (WCSSAA HM All-Star) Malena McCrossan and Jillian Reiter both returning, the ‘Landers should get into the playoffs though a tough “AAAA” schedule will make a home qualifying date a challenge.
Southwood SS
Sabres / Cambridge
2011: 6-6; 8th
– Lost in Qualifying Round
Key Returnees: Nicole Barnard, Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor
Top Rookie: Taylor White
Outlook: The Sabres return the majority of their scoring offense from a season ago, and add one of the more dynamic scorers in the junior WCSSAA league, Taylor White. The result should be another strong season in the “upper half” of the WCSSAA standings.
Waterloo CI
Vikings / Waterloo
2011: Undefeated
WCSSAA Champions
Key returnees: The Vikes will return 4 of their top 6 off the depth chart, including Alex Klein (F), Lindsay Taylor (G), Julia Pavlik (G) and Anja Gorrie (F).
Key Losses: Lindsay Lessard
(G/F), Lynn Dabrowski (F)
Top Rookies/Newcomers: Kaylee
Anagnostopoulos (Gr. 10 – G), Courtney Banham (G), Erin Helsby (G).
Outlook: Despite losing co-MVP
Lindsay Lessard, the Vikings still return 3 starters from last year and
are the favourites to claim yet another WCSSAA title entering the season.
Grade 10 guard Kaylee Anagnostopoulos has moved up to the senior squad and had a solid debut in this past weekend’s tournament in London (notching 8 points and 8 rebounds against last year’s OFSAA bronze medalists, Mother Teresa).
Courtney Banham and Erin Helsby, who were both away from the team for a
year, will return to add significant backcourt depth off the bench.
Waterloo-Oxford
DSS Crusaders / Baden
2011: Did Not Field a
Senior Team
Key Returnees: N/A (Did Not Field a Senior Team)
Key Losses: N/A (Did Not Field a Senior Team)
Key Rookies/Newcomers: Madison Horst (G), Rebecca Payne (G), Alisha Glendinning (F), Tess Pettigrew (F), Kyla Burrough (F).
Outlook: Despite not fielding a senior team in 2011, I’m expecting a strong season from the youthful Crusaders. They move up the key components from their undefeated CWOSSA-championship junior squad of a year ago --- so although they may still be a year or so away from a championship title, look for them to be competitive with the top teams and in contention for one of the “AAAA” CWOSSA berths (FYI – WODSS has been moved up to AAAA designation this season).
The Crusaders won their home tournament this past weekend, posting a victory over Cameron Heights in the final --- so it looks as though the transition to senior will be a relatively seamless one for these athletes.
Today’s Games / Picks
(All 5:00pm Starts)
Elmira @ Waterloo-Oxford
Pick:
WODSS
A tough one
to pick right off the bat here, but I’ll go with the youthful Crusaders and
their home-court edge in this one.
Galt @ Forest Heights
Pick:
FHCI
Blair
McNaughton and the Trojans will put one in the win column right off the bat at
the expense of the GCI Ghosts.
Bluevale @ Glenview Park
Pick:
BCI
This one
shouldn’t be close as the Knights are too deep for Glenview to handle, even at
home.
Grand River @ Huron Heights
Pick:
GRCI
With a
couple of tough games upcoming in their next three (JHSS & WCI among them),
the Rens can’t overlook this one. I’ll
look for a comfortable road win for them today.
Cameron Heights @ Jacob Hespeler
Pick:
JHSS
Provided that my preview hasn’t put too much pressure on their shoulders, look for JHSS to win in the Hawks’ Nest today.
Provided that my preview hasn’t put too much pressure on their shoulders, look for JHSS to win in the Hawks’ Nest today.
KCI @ SJAM
Pick:
KCI
The SJAM
Highlanders will definitely be improved this season, but not likely by enough
to get past the KCI Raiders today.
WCI @ Preston
Pick:
WCI
The Vikes
will continue their WCSSAA win-streak on the road at Preston today.
Eastwood @ Southwood
Pick:
SSS
Fresh off a
victory at Eastwood’s tournament, the Sabres will now get a chance to be unkind
hosts as well --- they should upend ECI at home today.
