With four starters returning from last year’s Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division championship team, the Cuyahoga Heights Redskins have high expectations for the 2017-2018 season.
The Redskins, who finished 18-6 overall and 12-2 in league play, are a bit undersized under the basket but they have plenty of talent to make another run this winter.
“We return four out of five starters and five of our top seven,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “We have experience and good chemistry. Our girls are unselfish, smart and will compete hard.”
The Redskins will suit up two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore in the starting lineup.
Senior point guard Lexi Martin returns after averaging 5.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game on her way to earning all-league, all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio honors last winter.
Emma Lipkowski, a senior wing, posted 9.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last winter. She also set a new school record with 62 3-pointers made in a single season on the way to being named all-league and all-district.
“Lexi is an excellent defensive player and leader,” Al Martin said. “Emma is a clutch shooter and good help defender.”
Junior wing Sarah Kepchar and junior post Brooke Wilson also earned all-league honors.
Kepchar averaged 2.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while Wilson dropped 7.8 points with 6.23 rebounds per contest.
“Sarah is a good shooter and offensive rebounder,” Martin said. “Brooke is an excellent athlete who can shoot the 3 and drive to the basket.”
Sophomore post McKayla Spicer rounds out the projected starting lineup. She averaged 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and a steal per game as a freshman.
“McKayla can score from the perimeter and also score in post-up situations,” Martin said.
The Redskins opened the season on Saturday with a 62-51 win over Lincoln West.
