Coming off an impressive 18-7 season that included an undefeated 8-0 run through conference play, the Crestwood Red Devils enter the 2025-26 season with confidence and determination.
Despite graduating several key contributors, head coach T.J. Henderson, now in his fifth season at the helm, believes his team’s hunger, chemistry, and skill development will keep the Red Devils among the top contenders in the Chagrin Valley Conference once again.
“We may have lost a lot of varsity experience from last year, but this new group is hungry and ready to go,” Henderson said. “These girls have logged tons of minutes at the JV level, and the growth they’ve shown is incredible. We’ve got players who can step into key roles and give us a lot of different looks on the floor. It’s never easy to replace what we’ve lost, but this group is determined to make their own mark and build their own legacy. If we keep developing and learning together, we’ll have an exciting chance to compete every single night. With shooters at every position and the ability to attack the rim, we’re going to be a fun team to watch. This group works hard, plays with energy, and is ready to keep getting better every day.”
That balance of determination and adaptability could be the Red Devils’ greatest strength this winter. Henderson said the team’s shooting and athleticism have both taken big steps forward, giving Crestwood the tools to play fast and creatively on both ends of the floor.
“Our shooting has taken a big step forward, and we’ve got multiple players who can attack off the bounce,” he said. “We’re going to use our speed and quickness to push the tempo, play in the open court, and find our shooters for great looks. This group is confident, motivated, and ready to make things happen.”
While the team’s lack of varsity experience and smaller roster size could pose early challenges, Henderson is confident that his group’s resilience and work ethic will carry them through.
“Our biggest challenges this year will be a lack of varsity experience and overall numbers, but this team is ready to rise to the occasion,” he said. “We’ll be asking our girls to play big minutes and stay smart to avoid foul trouble, but experience comes with time — and every practice is an opportunity to simulate game situations and grow.”
Leading the way for Crestwood are returning starters Becca Brady and Liv Martini, two players who set the tone on both ends of the court.
Brady, a senior guard, connected on 58 three-pointers last season while contributing 50 rebounds, 30 assists, and 27 steals on her way to earning second-team All-CVC honors. “Becca continued to grow her game, becoming a scoring threat at all three levels,” Henderson said. “She has the ability to throw a ton of points at a team quickly but always looks to involve her teammates.”
Martini, a junior guard, brings dynamic energy and leadership to the floor. The first team All-CVC selection recorded 131 steals, 82 rebounds, and 39 assists last season and is just 31 steals shy of breaking Crestwood’s all-time career record.
“Liv is the ultimate competitor,” Henderson said. “She is going into her third year of varsity basketball and only getting better. She has worked hard to improve on her weaknesses but still continues to be a top-level defender. We are looking for her to really step up and help us play full court on both sides of the ball.”
Another key piece is sophomore Ava Lincon, a versatile 5’11” forward-guard who grabbed 101 rebounds and blocked seven shots as a freshman, earning honorable mention All-CVC honors.
“Ava was a big role player for us last year as a freshman and is looking to have a breakout season this year,” Henderson said. “She has a nose for the ball and has shown her ability to take over games. She is going to have to be aggressive on the offensive side for us and trust her ability to shoot the 3 to attack the rim off the dribble.”
Junior Madie Grace Gonczy will also take on a larger role this season after spending the past two summers fine-tuning her game.
“Madie Grace is one of our athletes who was able to take a year and develop while building her confidence, making over 15,000 shots the past two summers,” Henderson said. “She is an amazing defender and offensive threat. She can shoot it from the outside or off the bounce.”
Freshman Reese Harper rounds out the projected starting lineup and has already impressed with her energy and competitiveness.
“What Reese lacks in experience she makes up for in motor,” Henderson said. “She is continually fighting for every rebound and looking to win 50-50 balls. She has a great touch around the rim and can shoot the ball as well. She’s going to learn a lot this year, but look for her to help lead the team in rebounding.”
Several other players are expected to provide key minutes and depth throughout the season.
Senior Katrina Richards will anchor the post rotation with her communication and help defense, while juniors Piper Seibold and Jackie Blasiole bring defensive intensity and outside shooting to the perimeter. Sophomore Mia Divis adds toughness and court awareness and will see time in critical moments.
“Katrina is going to play a big role helping the post position rotations. She is a great communicator and focuses on help defense,” Henderson said. “Piper has had some varsity experience over the past two years and continues to get better. She will be a major part for us, specializing in motor and defensive ability. She also has the ability to knock down outside shots and run the floor. Jackie is an amazing athlete who has put in a ton of off-season work. She is coming off an injury and getting back up to speed, but she has the ability to defend anyone on the floor and can knock down major shots. She is going to be one who will help us on both sides of the ball. Mia is a scrappy defender and very intelligent player. She will be put into situations to help us win games this year.”
For Henderson, this season is about steady growth and building on last year’s foundation.
“Our team goal this year is simple — to keep growing and improving every single day,” he said. “We have a ton of talent and potential, and now it’s all about putting in the work to reach it. We want to step on the floor with confidence, knowing we can compete with anyone and make every game a battle.”
That effort starts on the defensive end, where Crestwood hopes to set the tone early and often.
“The keys to victory this season start on the defensive side of the ball,” Henderson said. “We need to create turnovers, get easy buckets in transition, and rely on our athleticism and skills to set the tone. If we can lock in on defense and crash the boards, we’ll be able to push the pace, run our offense, and find open shots that we can knock down.”
