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CVC-champ Bombers get new role players
(by Tony Lange - November 30, 2011)
CVC-champ Bombers get new role players
By TONY LANGE
The Kenston girls basketball team is returning from a 19-3 record including a perfect 10-0 Chagrin Valley Conference season, but will defend its title with new role players this season.
The Lady Bombers graduated their conference MVP along with three other starters.
Earning the CVC top honor, Ali Read was an all-around player last season averaging eight points, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Having to fill four starting roles, the Bombers will expect to be balanced among six returning letter winners, head coach Kevin Hinkle said.
"I think all of our girls do a great job of leading by example, but I think our three seniors are going to be more verbal this year and lead us vocally," he said.
Seniors Katie Ross, Tess Ferguson and Kaitlin Meyer along with juniors Grace Moran, Mandy Marchant and Catherine Rachek will have to step up their games, Hinkle said.
Ross and Rachek earned CVC honorable mention last season.
"They filled a gap of what we needed last year, but this year they're going to have to take on the role of scoring and rebounding," Hinkle said. "I think we do have some experience, but that experience has to translate into still new roles with the girls learning how to score and learning how to play more minutes."
Two other varsity players from last season are on the injured list, Hinkle said.
Rebecca Deuley, junior, broke her leg during the soccer season and likely will not return to basketball this season, he said.
Jasmine Gentry, junior, suffered a concussion and just got the OK to start jogging last week, he said. It could be a month into the season before she gets to practice full-tilt.
During their season opener against Ravenna last Saturday, the Lady Bombers were defeated 46-42. They trailed 15-9 after the first quarter.
Moran led the scoring department for the Bombers with 11 points, while Rachek had nine and Ferguson and Tara Teeples, junior, scored eight each.
The early-season focus is to be fundamentally sound, Hinkle said.
"We want to be sound and really understand the offense and defense we're running," he said. "We're trying to get good at the things we do now and then just add as the season goes on. We're being more attentive to detail."
The Lady Bombers will tip off their conference opener at 7:30 p.m. today (Dec. 1) at home against Orange.
During the 2010-11 season, the Bombers beat Orange 51-35 in their first meeting and 54-29 in their second.
"Our goal is always to be at the front-running of the conference," Hinkle said. "We don't think ahead. We do it one game at a time. But we always set the goal at the beginning of the year that that's the main priority is to handle our business in the conference."
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