The reigning Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division champion Edgewood Warriors return three starters from last season.
With three other returning varsity players, the Warriors hope to overcome their relative youth this season.
“I feel we will be competitive in our games this year,” said sixth-year head coach Randy Vencill. “We have a hard-working team that is improving with each practice. I believe we have a high basketball IQ and a good mix of athleticism and experience that we hope lead us to success. A lot of the girls haven’t gotten many varsity reps so there will be a learning curve there.”
The Warriors finished last season 20-2 overall and 13-1 in league play.
A lot of that success was due to returning starters Annie Johnston, Avery Vencill, and Leigha Guyton.
Johnston is a 5-foot-4 junior guard who was named second-team all-conference and all-county. Vencill is a 5-foot-4 senior guard, and Guyton is a 5-foot-5 senior forward.
“Annie is one of our leaders. She handles a lot of the ball handling and scoring for us and we expect her to be a big part of our team’s success,” Coach Vencill said. “Avery is one of our senior leaders and knows the expectations that we’ve set as a program. She does a good job of being an extra coach on the floor. Leigha is a senior leader that leads by example and is one of our hardest workers. We expect a much bigger role from her this year.”
Rounding out the projected starting lineup are sophomores Faith Vencill and Carly Kray.
Vencill is a 5-foot-10 forward who earned honorable mention All-CVC honors while Kray is a 5-foot-6 forward.
“Faith is a very gifted athlete who excels at whatever sport she is playing. She is a difference maker when she is on the floor,” Coach Vencill said. “Carly showed huge improvements from last year to this year. She has stepped up into her starting role and we expect big things from her this season.”
Seniors Jay Philip and Neveah Beals, juniors Heaven Rivera and Emma Warner, and sophomore Ava Tiscenko will provide the Warriors with depth.
Philip is a 5-foot-4 guard, Beals is a 5-foot-5 guard, Rivera is a 5-foot-6 forward, Warner is a guard, and Tiscenko is a 5-foot-7 center.
“Jay will be our sixth man and play a big role helping on defense and scoring the ball,” Vencill said. “Nevaeh is a senior leader who has helped our team become a cohesive group this season. She is a hard-working guard who can hit the open three. Heaven is a hard-working forward who does all the little things to help the team. Emma is one of our best team defenders and one of our quickest girls. We look for her to help us on the defensive end of the court this season. Ava will play a role rebounding the ball and being a steady presence inside.”
The Warriors hope to defend their conference and sectional titles this winter, but it won’t be an easy task.
“Our keys will be to get after it on the defensive end and take care of the ball on the offensive end of the floor, play as a team, and leave it all on the floor.”
