Despite a slew of injuries that started before the first practice and carried into the postseason, Queen Anne’s County High girls head soccer coach Mike Kern guided the Lions to yet another North Bayside title this season and a spot in the regional final.
Now, Kern and longtime assistant Jeff Anthony will try to do the same thing on the hardwood.
Injury wiped out star Bea Holthaus’ entire soccer season and is expected to keep her sidelined through the basketball and lacrosse seasons, as well. Though the defending Bayside Conference champions have talent, their longtime head coach is taking a different approach this season.
“Thunder and lightning,†Kern said. “We have a slow, big lineup, and then we have a fast, quick lineup, depending on who we play.â€
Slow or fast, Queen Anne’s will have juniors Laila Cole and Kariana Hickson in the backcourt for both speeds in an effort to repeat as North champions, though the race for the division looks to be a three-way battle with longtime rival Kent Island and Easton.
“Starting lineup will sit back in a two-three, get the ball inside,†Kern said of the scheme he thinks will provide more offense. “We’ll play a little bit slower, but probably have a little more experience. And then I’m going to throw in some quickness and just try to run teams.â€
Lacey Dauses and Armani Black should help Kent Island keep pace with the Lions, and Serenity Velez and Maia Bailey could do the same for Easton.
Kent County, North Dorchester and Colonel Richardson each hope to make runs at the Class 1A East Region I finals, while Cambridge-South Dorchester looks to again contend for a 1A Region II title despite the loss of North Bayside Player of the Year Le’Asia Todd.
A veteran core hopes to carry Saints Peter and Paul to another Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference final, while Gunston hopes to be competitive in a conference that appears to have gotten stronger across the board.
Here’s a look at this season’s teams.
CAMBRIDGE-SDHead Coach: Shamya Johnson.
Who’s Where: Nevaeh Adams (So., PG); Ja’Naya Stanley (Sr., SG); Jade Ballin (Jr., F); Montiasha Jackson (Jr., G); Skyla Ali (Jr., C/F); D’Asia Mack (Jr., G/F); Kennedy Bourne (Jr., F/C); Kamryn Bourne (Jr., F); Mariyah Smith (Fr., F/C).
Outlook: The Vikings lost the bulk of their scoring with the graduation of Todd (now at the University of the District of Columbia) and Tejanae Ballin and Destiney Johnson, who are both at Penn State-Brandywine.
“We are definitely rebuilding,†Shamya Johnson said.
Johnson thinks C-SD will be OK if certain things fall into place. Stanley the lone senior, figures to be among the scoring leaders. Johnson is also hoping to get scoring from Jackson and Ali, and the Bourne twins.
“I think they can really change the dynamic of the season because they’re natural athletes,†Johnson said of the Bournes. “And if we can get Skyla comfortable with scoring she can be a double-double machine like Le’Asia.â€
COL. RICHARDSONHead Coach: Tom Corsey.
Who’s Where: Ella Downie (Jr., F); Jaz Jackson (Sr., PG); Selina Austinville (Jr., F); Vida Jean (Fr., G); Eniyah Monroe (Fr., G); Sadie Prettyman (So., G); Brynne Harper (Jr., C); Jordyn Meeks (Fr., G); Abiana Beulah (Fr., F).
Outlook: Downie, Jackson and Austinville return to give the Colonels a solid core. Corsey thinks the additions of Prettyman and Harper should provide a boost, though he won’t have them for Friday’s opener because of a soccer commitment.
EASTONHead Coach: Lesley Staehli.
Who’s Where: Serenity Velez (Sr., G); Maia Bailey (So., SG); Ki’Maura Lewis (Jr., G/F); Damiya Henry (Sr., G/F); Lily Tiebosch (So., G/F); Madalynne Fisher (So., F/C); Lillian Johnson (Fr., G); Siana Vanable (Fr., F/C).
Outlook: Velez, who is 136 points shy of 1,000 for her career, and Bailey give the Warriors one of the conference’s top backcourts. Lewis returns, and Henry, who was at Easton as a freshman, is back after playing for Queen Anne’s last season. Staehli has plenty of options for the fifth starter, and said first-year player Fisher should get plenty of minutes.
“We’re young and we’re rebuilding but that’s also going to make the season exciting for us,†Staehli said. “All these young kids bring a lot of energy; they’re hungry. And they are all willing to learn. As long as we play disciplined basketball we’ll be fine.
KENT COUNTYHead Coach: Tyray Johnson.
Who’s Where: Talicia Wright (Jr., PG); Jayla Sisco (Sr., SG); Aaryona Wesley (Jr., F); Jane Cleary (Jr., F); Saniyah Jones (Jr., C); Asia Wilson (Sr., C); Abigail Wilson (Sr., C); Abigail Parr (Fr., G); Devynn Wiggins (Fr., G); Aaliyah Waits (Fr., F); Ariyana Green (Jr., F); Eniyah Wilson (Fr., C); Taraji Hart (Jr., F).
Outlook: The Trojans return experience with Wright, Sisco, Cleary and Jones in the starting lineup. A first-year player, Wesley rounds out the starting five and could help Kent make a push come the postseason.
“The way we’re looking I think we can make a run back to the 1A (East) Regional (I) final again,†Johnson said.
KENT ISLANDHead Coach: David Plumer.
Who’s Where: Lacey Dauses (Sr., F); Machaela Thomas (Jr., C); Armani Black (So., G); Aliyah Black (Jr., F); Savanah Hall (Jr., PG); Ashley Stevens (Jr., PG); Noelle Agee (Jr., C).
Outlook: Dauses, Thomas and Armani Black all started last season, and Plumer hopes Aliyah Black can fill the void created by Sydney Riska’s graduation. The question is at point guard, where Hall and Stevens have dueled for the starting role.
“We’re definitely young now,†Plumer said. “We have three that have minutes, but when the tip of the spear (point guard) is new, that’s got to be figured out. I think we’ll end up running a little more.â€
The 6-foot-1 Thomas figures to be one of the conference’s top post players.
“She’s always getting better,†Plumer said of Thomas. “She’s gotten better with her footwork and hands. We’ll lean on her when we’re not out to run.â€
NORTH CAROLINEHead Coach: AJ Jackson.
Who’s Where: MyKira Allen (Sr., F); Yariah Dowell (Sr., G); Irma Sanchez (Sr. G); Nevaeh Irby (Jr., G); Jayah Taylor (So., F); IvyLynn Porter (So., F); Braylin Cintron (Fr., F); McKenzie Hill (Fr., F); Abby Beauchemin (Fr., G); Mackinley Christenson (Fr., G); Isabelle Curler (Fr., G); Keeley Russell (Fr., G).
Outlook: The Bulldogs graduated eight seniors, including scoring leaders Jasiyah Henry and Ashley Kercheval. But Jackson thinks a talented incoming freshman class can help with the scoring load.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if all four are starting at some point in the season,†Jackson said of Hill, Beauchemin, Christenson and Russell. “They’re definitely going to fill the scoring void four our team. But the big thing that may get us is experience. They have to get adjusted to the varsity game.â€
NORTH DORCHESTERHead Coach: Dontele Pinder.
Who’s Where: Diamond Newbill (So., G); Remedy Wongus (Jr., F); Destini Wongus (So., F); Simir Holland (So., PG); Elena Minkosy (Fr., G); Kalaysia Rich (Fr., G); Shelby Seese (Jr., C).
Outlook: The Eagles are young but athletic, leaving second-year head coach Pinder thinking they can double last season’s win total of five and compete for the 1A East Region I title.
“Even before I set that goal for the whole team, that was their main goal when they walked into the gym from the offseason,†said Pinder, who has Newbill, Holland and the Wongus cousins all back from last season. Those four will team with first-year center Seese in the starting lineup.
QUEEN ANNE’SHead Coach: Mike Kern.
Who’s Where: Laila Coles (Jr., G); Kariana Hickson (Jr., G); Cheyanne Hollis (Sr., F/C); Keila Reed (Sr., F/C); Taylor Jordan (Jr., F); Lexi Kern (Jr., G); Kaylie Scearce (Fr., G); Dillon Simpler (Jr., G); Bre Kern (Fr., G); Finnley Rooney (Fr., G).
Outlook: In addition to Coles and Hickson, the starting lineup figures to also have Hollis, Reed and Jordan in the post. Scearce could be an impact player no matter what gear the Lions are in. When Queen Anne’s does speed up, Kern’s daughters could both be on the floor, or in a combination that includes Simpler and Rooney.
“One group can press the heck out of the ball so we can run the court well and just get out in transition,†Mike Kern said. “We’re pretty athletic when we want to be.â€
ST. MICHAELSHead Coach: Jonathan Matthews.
Who’s Where: Dior Moaney (Jr., SG); Maddisyn Roe (Sr., G); Rebeca Martinez (Sr., G); Kendall Rosenberger (Jr., C); Aleah George (Jr., SF); Kaiden Pabon (Fr., G); Kaelyn Hicks (So., SF); Tamiya Green (Fr., PF); Olivia Patrick (Sr., SG); Tess Weller (Sr., PG); Jordyn Beckett (Jr., PF); Hanna Corkran (Jr., PF); Nikyla Brummell (Fr., C).
Outlook: The Saints went winless last season, but Matthews enters his second season optimistic.
“We still have some learning to do but the girls from last year picked up the system pretty good and it’s just another building block,†said Matthews, who returns nine players. “So I got high hopes that we’ll be able to play fairly decent this year and maybe surprise a couple of people.â€
GUNSTONHead Coach: Brian Aiken.
Who’s Where: Layla Kent (Sr., G); Emma Walker (Jr., G); Kate Zottarelli (Jr., F); Maurina Wichlinski (So., C); Eleanor Owings (Fr., G); Ellie Roberts (So., G); Marie-Louise Trinker (So., F).
Outlook: Yes, the Herons have one of the Eastern Shore Independent Conference’s top all-around athletes in Kent, but with five freshmen and six sophomores it also has possibly the Mid-Shore’s youngest roster.
“We just want to be competitive in the ESIAC and I think we will as long as Layla stays healthy,†said Aikin, whose star player was shut down a quarter of the way into last season because of an injury.â€
SAINTS PETER & PAULHead Coach: Katie Murphy.
Who’s Where: Avery McCall (Sr., G); Lucy Rankin (Sr., F); Annie Albright (Sr., G); Emma Haine (Jr., PG); Kaylin Palmer (Jr., C/F); Bridget Gilman (Jr., G); Natalee Lyons (So., G); Caroline Jallade (So., F/C); Caroline Corson (Fr., G/F); Elsie Jaeger (Fr., G/F); Taylor Haine (Fr., G).
Outlook: The Sabres have the goods to make another run at the ESIAC title. McCall, Rankin and Albright provide a solid core, while Emma Haine and Palmer have developed their games during the offseason.
“They’re good,†Murphy said of her starting unit. “With a healthy Emma Haine and Kaylin, and the lead from the three seniors setting the tone, they’re a strong group.â€
The bench also looks strong, led by Corson and Jaeger.
“I think when they work together and trust themselves that they can get back to the championship again this year,†Murphy said. “I think that’s the biggest key is trusting themselves and trusting each other. Once they can get to that point that’s where the real magic happens.â€
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.