The Beast of the CCC again this year will be the Lady Vikings from Miami East. Not only are they the pick to slice through the CCC again like a hot knife through butter for their third consecutive conference crown but the expectations are there for another successful post season run. There are a bevy of experienced CCC coaches, with one new coach with some serious street cred’, who would like to give the Vikings a challenge for their 3-peat.

Let start with the favorite and list the rest in alphabetical order.

Miami East
Head Coach: Preston Elifritz, JV Coach: Brian Kadel, Varsity Assistant: Kelly (Lyons) Cash (name sound familiar Bethel fans?)
Returning Players: All CCC players: 5’ 7” Sr., Guard, Katie Mengos (10 PPG), CCC Player of the year, All Ohio Selection; 6’2” Sr., Ashley Rice (10 PPG); CCC Special Mention, 5’10” Sr., Rebecca Leffel (10 PPG); Honorable Mention, 5’8” Sr., Sarah Skidmore (10 PPG); Returning Lettermen, 5’6” Jr., Callie Boitnott, 5’10” Jr., Lottie Hageman; 6’1” Sr., Morgan Rice.

With Mengos, East will have the best point guard in the CCC and in Division III in the SW region of the State. Last year she looked for Katie Denlinger to be the benefit of her assists but she will be looked upon to be more of scoring threat her senior year. Look for East to utilize more of their size inside with the Rice sisters roaming the paint along with Leffel. Leffel has the tools to be used anywhere on the floor and could be an outside shooting threat as well. Skidmore will see more of the tougher defensive assignments but will see streaks of scoring opportunities. Look for Boitnett to develop as a scoring threat from the perimeter as the season progresses.

Ansonia Tigers
Head Coach: Dave Westfall
Returning Players: 5’2” Sr. Stacie Schmidt; 5’2” Sr., Gina Billenstein; 5’4” Sr. Ashley McEldowney; 5’6” Sr. Melissa Mestmaker; 5’8” Jr. Sara Mayo; 5’ 4” Jr. Ashlyn Hemmelgarn; 5’ 11” Jr. Emily Berger; Key Contributor moving up; 5’8” So., Sarah Amspaugh

Dave Westfall returns for his 3rd year as the ring leader in the Tiger Den and brings a quick, experienced team with him that is picked to finish in the top of the CCC standings. Look for the Tigers to exploit their team speed from baseline to baseline as they will look to run ball on offense and use full court pressure on defense. Concerns will be competing with all the ‘Bigs’ in the CCC this year in rebounding the basketball. As Coach Westfall noted, it is hard to be a running team if can’t get the defensive rebound!

Arcanum Trojans
Head Coach: Steve Christ
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’4” Sr., Angie Cates (9.8 PPG); Special Mention, 5’7” Sr., Emily Shellhaas (9.2 PPG); Honorable Mention, 5’7” Sr. Devon Meyer (9.1 PPG); 5’5” Sr., Maci Kramer (4.6 PPG); 5’5” Sr. Cora Waymire; 5’6” Sr., Betsie Printz;. Key contributors moving up; 5’3” Jr. Jessica Rakuscher; 5’6” Jr. Amanda Falknor; 5’6” Jr. LaKeisha North

Second year coach (second term) Steve Christ brings back everyone from last year’s team and is looking to improve on their 6-6 record in the conference and 8-12 overall. The Trojans will be similar to Ansonia above in utilizing their team quickness and defense to be effective. Offensive output will improve with the experience and getting back Betsie Printz who was out after the 6th game last year with a torn ACL.

Bethel
Head Coach: Ed Quincel (3rd year),
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’8” Sr., Brittany Lewis; CCC Honorable Mention, 5’9” So., Emily Elerbrock; 5’8” Jr., Kendal Banks; 5’5” Sr., Ashley Swackhamer; 5’7” Jr., Kylie Kopp, 5’5” Sr., Carrie Clendening

Athletic. Anytime you put that key label on a basketball team it spells danger for opposing coaches. Coach Ed Quincel hopes that the 3rd year is a charm as he takes the speed from the soccer field and the track and unleashes it with some basketball sense. Key contributers return from last years team that finished 8-4 in the standings, lead by All CCC, Brittany Lewis. Look for the Bees to finish in the upper part of the standings again this year.

Bradford
Head Coach: Holly Hollinger
Returning Players:. 5’3” Sr., Alaina Swabb, 5’5” Sr., Alie Dross and 5’11” Jr., Marissa Wirrig. Key Contributors coming up from JUNIOR HIGH: 14 Freshman!

The Roaders bring up 14 freshman into the basketball program with 6 upper classmen to round the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. As of now three other upper classmen join the returning 3 above and they are Amy Smith, Caitlin Goubeaux and Samantha Radar. One freshman, Chelsy Broughman, is listed on varsity and she’ll be leading the show at point guard. 13 freshmen that saw success at the Jr. High level will round out the Junior Varsity team.

Covington Buccs
Head Coach: Chris Besecker, JV Coach: Steve Burnett
Returning Player: All CCC, 5’6” Sr., Renee Otte (13 PPG); Honorable Mention, 5’8” Jr., Alyssa Angle; 5’5” Sr., Katie Dickey; 5’7” Jr. Halley Roberts; Key contributers moving up: 5’4 So., Carrie Spurgeon; 5’4” Jr., Erin Waterfall; 5’11” Fr., Julianna Simon; 6’1 Fr., Shelby Kihm and 6’1: Fr., Caitlyn Crawford. Out for the season: All CCC Special Mention, 5’9” Jr., Shelby Hobbit

After gaining momentum at the end of last season, the 08-09 Buccaneers were one of the top picks to challenge the Vikings this season, but the injury bug has bite them hard. Not only have they lost their second leading scorer and rebounder Shelby Hobbit for the season, but their leading scorer and point guard Renee Otte’s season is in jeopardy as well. Look junior Alyssa Angle to play the point in Otte’s absence. The Buccs are hopeful that Otte can return, but her status is unknown at this time. The good news is that the Buccs are under helm of Chris Besecker and he has 3 freshmen that are tall and athletic. This season may be a mirror of last season as they started out slow and gained momentum at tournament time. Once the Freshman ‘Bigs’ get some experience you may not want to be on the schedule come January.

Franklin Monroe
Head Coach: Ned Gray; JV Coach: Kip Gray
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’5” Jr., Sierra Bruner (9 PPG); 5’7” Jr., Tiffany Kossler; Key contributors moving up; 5’6” So., Hayley Deardourff, 5’2 So., Natalie Bowling; 5’8” Brandy Fourman; 5’2” So., Kate Kenworthy; 5’7” So., Ashley Pfahl; 5’ 11” So., Monica Heckman; 5’8” Jr., Kesley Anthony

With Mara Howell now playing college ball at Rio Grande, no players remain from the 2005 Regional Runner-up team. Ned Gray leads to the floor in his 10 season for the Jets the youngest team in recent memory. All CCC player Sierra Bruner provides the nucleus for a young team that will continue to improve and be force to be reckoned with by the season end.

Mississinawa Valley
No Preview returned
Returning Players: Jr., Kirsten Jessup and Jr., Jodi Schmitz

Hawks lose some senior leadership from last year’s team but are looking to return a competitive team that can improve on their 3-9 conference record from a year ago.

National Trail
Head Coach: Troy Ferguson; JV Coach: Shawn Laird; Assistant Coach: Joy Yeasel
Returning Players: All Special Mention, 5’ 10 Sr., Alyssa Joyce; Honorable Mention, 5’7” Sr., Stacey Joyce; 5’5” Sr., Sarah Little; 5’9” Sr., Rachel Clark; Key Contributors: 6’2’ So., Kate Yeazel; 5’7” Jr., Kaitlyn Stephens; 5’8” Jr., Nicki Howard; 5’5” Fr., Makayla Abner.

The Blazers bring back their two leader scorers in Joyce and Davis. Joyce the teams leading rebounder from a year ago may finish her senior year in the career top 10 in rebounds, points and assists. Davis who can light up from the outside will probably finish the year as one of the top three in 3 points made. The Blazers will have a presence in the middle with 6’2” Kate Yeazel. The keys for the Blazers will be reducing turnovers and a balanced scoring attack. Rounding out the starting rotation will be junior Kaitlyn Stephens and freshman Makayla Abner.

Newton
Head Coach: Steve Fisher; JV Coach: Mindi Shardo; Assistant Coaches: Scott Davis
Returning Players: All CCC, 5’7” Sr., Kaitie Stewart (4 yr starter); 5’5” Jr., Keeley Booher; 5’8” Jr., Angela Schipper; Key Contributers; 5’10 Sr., Jenna Bradley; 5’7” Jr., Angela Schipper; 5’4” Fr., Marina Snipes; 5’4” Sr., Kyra Lavy; 5’5” Jr., Heather Hines

Veteran Coach Steve Fisher returns to the CCC to lead the Lady Indians. Fisher has 4 CCC boys championships and one State Championship with the 2001 Bethel Bees. Fisher takes a rebuilding job that begins with changing the culture that believes in producing results. The youth programs to the varsity level started using the same terminology and drills as one step in the process. Fisher has All CCC Kaitie Stewart and Keeley Booher as his only returning starters from last year. Stewart enters her senior year as a 4 year starter and 6th in career scoring. Fisher notes that for the Lady Indians to be successful they must play D, rebound and control the tempo.

Tri-County North
Head Coach: Dan Music
Returning Players: All CCC, Sr., Rachel Heindl; Special Mention CCC, Sr., Sarah Whitaker. 5’6” Sr., Emily Ervin; 5’8” Jr., Abbey Schlater; 5’6” So., Sara Bierly. Key contributors from JV: 6’0” Fr., Mallory Ullery; 5’10” So., Carly Schriever; 5’2” Fr., Kindra Mullins.

Many of the coaches are picking TCN to finish high in the standings and the senior guard duo of Rachel Heindl and Sarah Whitaker are two of the main reasons. North finished 6-6 last year in the CCC and 11-9 overall. TCN is hoping to build on the success of back to back winning seasons. Coach Music hopes that the depth and team speed enables them to run the floor and press full court on defense as much as possible. Music notes that they have an unselfish team and they have 4 diferent players capable of leading the scoring on any given night.

Tri-Village
Head Coach: Brad Gray; JV Coach: Mike Fisherback; Assistant Coach: Amelia Frazier
Returning Players: 5’4” Jr., Kaila Burns; 5’2” Hillarie Frech; Key Contributor from JV and JH: 5’2” So., Chelsey Royer; 5’10” Fr., Kayla Linkous; 5’4” Jr. Bre Abney; 5’5” Adrianna Finkbine; 5’5” Jr., Kylie Thomas; 5’7” Jr., Brittani Abney

Head Coach Brad Gray calls this year a rebuilding year for the Lady Pats with no seniors on the team and 3 point specialist Kaila Burns as only one returning starter. Losing 3 seniors and a starter to a transfer, the Pats won’t be pounding inside this year to Tina Allison and will look to utilize the outside shooting and quickness with a running game. Good decision making with the running game will be critical to their success. The Pats will start 5’10” freshman in Kayla Linkous in the middle and as she continues to develop, she will be a focus of the opposing defense as the season progresses.

Twin Valley South
Head Coach: Glen Mabry; JV Coach: Connie Wells and Jennifer Bambeck
Returning Players: Special Mention All CCC, 5’6” Sr., Whitney Wysong; 5’7” Sr., Lindsey Voge; 5’5” Sr., Brooke Burns; 5’9” So., Adelle Gates; 5’7” So., Tayler Creech; Key Contributers: 5’9” So., Laura Ingram; 5’8” Sr., Beth Bambeck; 5’5” Sr., Katie Boebel; 5’8” Jr., Katelyn Hoskins.

TVS starts their second year under Glen Mabry that finished 8-4 in the conference and 12-8 last year. The South Panthers return a den of players with varsity experience and will start the 08 – 09 campaign more prepared. Coach Mabry notes that this year’s team has better overall speed and keys include playing consistent basketball and maintaining the team effort to finish the game with a win.