Trinity opens the defense of the Chagrin Valley Conference title it won last season and with four returning starters, the Trojans are poised to repeat.
Last winter, Trinity finished the season with an 11-1 record overall and a 9-0 mark in league play.
“We have goals to win the conference, district, and regionals,” said seventh-year head coach Kevin McNamara. “I feel we are talented enough to achieve them all.”
Trinity’s talent allows McNamara to employ an up-tempo offense and aggressive defense and four seniors in the starting lineup provide the Trojans with the experience they need to make a deep postseason run.
The seniors include Mauria Stanley, Maciaha Irving, Rani Thigpen, and Jocelyn Corporan.
Stanley, a 6-foot-2 wing, is a threat inside the paint on both sides of the floor.
“The defensive glue to the team, Mauria is an outstanding athlete and shot-blocker,” McNamara said. “She is also our best shooter which gives us the mismatch to bring the other big girl outside.”
Irving is a 5-foot-8 guard, Thigpen is a 5-foot-9 guard, and Corporan is a 5-foot-7 guard.
“Maciaha has all the tools to make us successful. Her leadership is where she can help the most; a smart player and excellent athlete,” McNamara said. “Rani has a knack of being in the right spot all the time. (She is an) outstanding athlete who can dominate on both ends. Jocelyn has been named a captain for her consistency on and off the floor. She loves her school and team and has earned their respect.”
Mahogany Cottingham, a 5-foot-9 junior, is projected to start at point guard. She averaged 18 points per game last winter and is on target to reach 1,000 career points.
“Mahogany has all the flash and charisma of a star,” McNamara said. “One-on-one, nobody can guard her. Her first step is extraordinary and when she is locked in there is nobody better.”
Sophomore guard De’oshianna Bennett will provide quality depth.
“A player coming into her own,” McNamara said. “She can play at a speed which gives the opponent trouble. She’s only going to get better.”
