Victories came early and often last season for the girls basketball programs at Greencastle-Antrim and Smithsburg.
The Blue Devils return to the court without the losses of two graduated All-Stars, including Commonwealth Division Player of the Year Haley Noblit, but bring back plenty of experienced players that should keep Greencastle competitive this winter.
As for Smithsburg, the Leopards are excited to get back on the court after a 17-8 season that saw the team make a run to the Class 1A Region II semifinals. They return many of the pieces from that team, including Claire Bono, who averaged more than 16 points as a freshman last winter.
While the Blue Devils and Leopards are looking to build off strong campaigns, five other local teams are looking to get back on the winning path this season.
In the days to come we will be shifting our attention toward previewing the wrestling and swimming seasons.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each of the girls basketball teams in the Local.News coverage area:
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Jamiur King
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Last season: Chambersburg is coming off a 6-16 campaign
Top projected returners: Riley Evans (Sr., Center/Forward, 6-2), Selena Warren (Jr., Guard), Marley White (Soph., Guard, 5-5)
Notable: Chambersburg will be without the services of Emily Forrester, the Trojans lone Commonwealth All-Star from last season, who transferred to Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, N.Y. … The Trojans are seeking their first winning season since 2006-07, when they went 14-6.
Opener: Saturday, Dec. 6, at Northern Tip Off
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Bill Monn
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: Greencastle played to a 15-7 mark last winter, with the Blue Devils’ season coming to an end with a 43-36 loss to Red Land in the opening round of District 3-5A Tournament.
Top projected returners: Eva Martin (Soph., Guard, 5-3), Lexi Nelson (Sr., Guard, 5-3), Callie Izer (Jr., Forward, 5-8), Meadow Gambacurta (Sr., Guard, 5-6), Ellie Bilger (Soph., Guard, 5-7), Shaina Overcash (Sr., Forward, 5-8)
Notable: Monn takes the reins at Greencastle after 12 years as an assistant coach, replacing Mike Rhine, who in 13 seasons was 224-86 as head coach … The Blue Devils will have to find a new plan of attack after the graduation of Colonial Division Player of the Year Haley Noblit, now playing soccer at Liberty University … Greencastle also loses the services of graduated Colonial Third Teamer Ainsley Swindell, but returns a Second Team selection in Martin … Overcash has been named team captain for this season.
Opener: Tuesday, Dec. 3, at home vs. Spring Grove
Waynesboro Maidens
Coach: Tyler Stoner
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: Waynesboro competed to an 11-11 record last season.
Top projected returners: Nikki Davis (Sr., Guard), Breanna McIlquham (Jr., Guard), Addie Shaull (Sr., Forward, 5-8), Marissa Hedin (Sr., Forward, 5-8), Genesis Alvarez (Sr., Forward, 5-11)
Notable: Stoner was named the Colonial Division’s Coach of the Year last season … Both Davis (Second Team) and McIlquham (Third Team) were Colonial Division All-Stars last season.
Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 4, at New Oxford
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Amy Hyder
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: The Knights played to a 9-13 overall record last winter, which includes a 2-10 mark in YAIAA III. Fairfield was eliminated from the opening round of the District 3-2A Tournament with a 47-34 loss to Millersburg.
Top projected returners: Cadence Holmberg (Sr.), Hannah Myers (Sr.), Karina Miller (Sr.), Olivia Sanders (Jr.), Sophia Klinedinst (Sr.), Erin Laird (Sr.), Mady Calore (Sr.)
Notable: Hyder takes over as head coach for Andrew Ditty, who was let go from his position at the end of last season … Fairfield moves on from the graduation of its lone YAIAA III All-Star, Breana Valentine.
Opener: Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Shalom Christian
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Todd Bono
Division: MPSSAA 1A West Region II
Last season: Smithsburg posted a 17-8 record last winter, with the Leopards’ season coming to an end in the Class 1A West Region II semifinals.
Top projected returners: Jill Malott (Soph., Guard, 7.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Furajter Carson (Jr., 1.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg), Maren McFarland (Sr., Guard, 3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Claire Bono (Soph., Guard, 5-9, 16.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 3.3 spg, 1.2 bpg), Macy Peters (Jr., Forward, 2.6 rpg), Kayla Hawbecker (Sr., 2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Molly Weaver (Sr., 5-8, 4.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Skyla Mastronardi (Jr., Guard)
Notable: The Leopards graduated their top scorer, Jamie Mastronardi, but return nearly everyone else from last year’s winning squad … Skyla Mastronardi, a guard for the Leopards, received a college offer from William & Mary in October … Smithsburg will be counting on point guard Claire Bono, who had a breakout freshman season last winter, averaging more than 16 points per game.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 6, at Brunswick
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Charles Burnett
Division: MPSSAA 3A West Region I
Last season: The Hubs were 4-18 last winter, with their campaign coming to an end with a 49-30 loss to Westminster in the Class 3A West Region I quarterfinals.
Top projected returners: Taniyah Flanigan (Sr., Guard, 5-5), Brooke McAfee (Sr., Guard, 5-6)
Notable: North Hagerstown will be angling for its first winning season since 2011-12, when the Hubs went 13-10 … The Hubs have a pair of 6-footers on the roster: Junior Eden Shupp (6-0) and Freshman Mya Henderson (6-2).
Opener: Monday, Dec. 9, at Smithsburg
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Vanity Jones
Division: MPSSAA 3A West Region I
Last season: The Rebels played to a 1-20 record last winter, with their season ending with a 72-9 loss to Linganore in the quarterfinal round of the Class 3A West Region I Tournament.
Top projected returners: Naomi Powell (Sr., 5-5), Kristen Gyamfi (Jr., Center)
Notable: South Hagerstown will be seeking its first winning season since 2013-14, when the team went 22-1.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 6, at home vs. Clear Spring
