The girls side of the NECC is wide open. And we mean wide open.
Who will rise to the top and challenge for a title in a field that graduated a lot from last year’s fun race at the top, ultimately won by Fairfield, who went on to win a historic state title.
While we don’t expect any state title winners this year in the NECC, it could still be interesting to see how parity shapes this conference.
THE FRONT RUNNER
EASTSIDE
After spotting up in third in the NECC last season, Eastside is bringing back a wide array of upperclassmen for the 2023-24 campaign. That is headed by junior Paige Traxler in a deep back court after averaging 10.2 points and a pair of assists last season. Traxler is joined by classmate guards Sydnee Kessler (7 ppg/4.2 rpg) and Lily Kreischer (4.6 ppg). Also back will be a trio of seniors with 5-10 Haley Wies (2.6 ppg/3.1 rpg) needing to pick up what was lost on the interior to graduation, alongside Aly Baker. Jayci Kitchen (3.5 ppg) is the third returning senior as she joins that backcourt depth.
Eastside coach Mike Lortie expects three players up from the JV to see time in junior forward Avery Wilson and sophomores Addison Moughler and Adelaide Elden. Freshmen guards Taylor Mack and Lucy Kitchen will also join the lineup in Butler.
“With our program it all starts with defense. We must defend to slow opponents down offensively, which will then lead to transition baskets. We took 25 charges last year that were call, we will need more of that this year,” Lortie said. “We lost some height to graduation so we will need to rebound the basketball well to compete in games. With that said we will be a quicker team that teams will have to deal with. We fully expect to compete for an NECC Championship and a Sectional Championship this year.”
THE CONTENDER
ANGOLA
Angola, like everyone, has some players to replace as they try to rebuild a program that faced some disarray. They made a good hire in the offseason, bringing on assistant Dave Panning to take over the program and keep some consistency in the program. They have the talent to compete for a title if that consistency takes hold.
Part of that is the return of very varsity experienced guard Kylie Caswell. She has been a solid, quick and consistent presence for the Hornets and has high end experience. Also back is Macy Oberlin, who can score on all three levels and is a tough defender. What does help is that Lexi Stillman returns after an injury of he own; she is a player who can make a lot of things happen defensively. Junior center Bailey Holman could bring big energy and a defensive presence for the Hornets. If Holman can be a tough interior presence, there may not be many teams in the NECC that contend with her size around the rim on either end of the court. Also back for the Hornets are Ava Rinard, Aspen Sutton, Anna McClure and Karleigh Gillen.
Isabelle Rinard will contribute after not playing last year. Alana Miller, Isabella Robertson and Sara Smith will be up from the JV.
“Our team has the potential to be very good. Playing for each other and with each other, trusting each other and trusting a new process will be a big key to our success. We will have to bring energy into every game and to do that we need to bring it into every practice. Keys to our success will be limiting turnovers, rebounding well, transitioning the floor, and applying defensive pressure,” Panning said.
THE OTHERS (ALPHABETICALLY)
CENTRAL NOBLE
The Cougars will have the unenviable task of replacing two of the top players in program history this season, but it has been done in the program before, so why not again? They benefit greatly from the return of Makenna Malcolm, who averaged five points, 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last season. Not only is she one of the top returners for Central Noble, Malcolm has extensive high level experience both in this program and at Garrett beforehand. Center Grace Swank showed breakout potential multiple times last season; the 6-foot post averaged five points and six rebounds per game. The Cougars will return a trio of guards with varsity experience in Kierra Bolen (3.9 ppg), Kyleigh Egolf and Taylor Custer.
The new faces are going to be solid for Central Noble as well. JV leading scorer Abby Pliett moves up, as does 5-10 forward Megan Carnahan. Kennedy Vice will join the team after being injured last season and formerly homeschooled Melissa McCoy will join the team.
“I am excited to watch this team develop new roles and build on the success of the 2022-23 season,” said head coach Sam Malcolm. “This year’s team will need to conquer the obstacles and embrace the challenges of losing three valuable players to graduation and battle every opponent from the tip to the final buzzer.”
CHURUBUSCO
Churubusco looked last season like they can rebuild their program around the 2025 class with a pair of talented Brooklyn Sinclair and Bridget Timbrook. Sinclair averaged 7.3 points and 1.4 steals per game while Timbrook was good for 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game; they are the top two returning scorers.
Sophomore Patty Wigs saw some varsity action last year and will be a player to watch for the Eagles.
FAIRFIELD
A year after winning a State Title, Fairfield will undergo a whole host of changes with former Bishop Dwenger standout Kyle Hartman taking over as head coach after assisting on the boys side with the Falcons. Kaylee Dillon will be the most significant returner from the state championship team; her three steals and five rebounds were a massive part of the state title win. Eva Herbert played as the key player off the bench for the championship team and will now take on a bigger role, as will Natalie Whitaker who saw time for Fairfield last season. Jayslynn Hall and Savannah Cronin also each have a bit of varsity experience.
Madison Jones joins the lineup as a freshman while Hartman and the Falcons will also see forwards Haddee Herbert and Macy Worthman move up from the junior varsity level to bolster the post.
“We’re all stepping into new roles this year. My first year as a head coach and some of these girls are going to be asked to do more than they’ve been asked of in the past. I’m excited to see that. They put in a lot of hard work this summer and we’ll need to continue that work, day in and day out, for this season to be successful,” Hartman said.
FREMONT
Coach Shae Thomas has some interesting things brewing at Fremont. There is a little bit back for the Eagles, but the most intriguing pieces have yet to step foot on a high school court. Freshmen Grace Scharlach and Mya Turner have all kind of focus and interest wrapped around them heading into their high school careers. They will be part of four new varsity faces for Fremont this season, joining sophomore Claire Foulk who did not play last season and Rhiannon Gebhart, who is up from the junior varsity.
Addy Parr coming off a solid season and will return to lead Fremont. Joining Parr as a key returner is backcourt mate Brayleigh Moss. The Eagles take a bit of a hit with senior Mckenzie Parnin graduating early and not playing this season. Fremont won eight games last season, the first under Thomas, with the best winning percentage since 2019-2020.
“We have to handle the ball better this year and keep turnovers down. We also need to become
more of a threat from the three point line. We also need more balance scoring this year,” Thomas said.
GARRETT
The Railroaders have been a team at the top of the NECC for a long time and even after a fifth place finish in the conference last season, they still won a Sectional title. But gone is coach Bob Lapadot and one of DeKalb county’s best ever Bailey Kelham. In however is well proven championship coach John Bodey, who returns to Garrett (he coached the boys for 7 seasons) after big time stint with the Central Noble boys.
Kelsey Bergman will be the top returner for the Railroaders and averaged a monstrous 8.4 rebounds per game to go along with 5.6 points and two blocked shots per game. Combo Sarah Depew will also be back to help center Delaeni Hixson and Bergman in the post with a trio of returning guards: Emma LaPato (4 rpg/2 apg) and Brooklyn Jacobs. Up from the junior varsity is Madison Freeze and freshman Rilyn Flotow will compete for minutes.
“Our success depends on how we handle our new roles. Everyone on our team is in a different
role than they were in last season,” Bodey said.
LAKELAND
Things are going to change drastically for Lakeland with a new coach and the replacement of two of the top players in recent memory for the Lakers. Senior Olivia Oman will be a big piece for the Lakers; the combo shooter averaged 10.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Takya Wallace is back as the leading interior defender with 5.1 rebounds; she also averaged 3.8 points per game last season. Cara Schakow is back and could help bolster the interior play while sophomore Dulce Canado also returns.
New head coach James Benson will have many new faces to join his four returners with four key players up from junior varsity time last season. Senior Jaden Moore will be one of those, joined by juniors Briana Poe and Arlene Thompson and sophomore Katelyn Ryan. Like many schools in the NECC, Lakeland may see some freshmen in the lineup with Zoey Bowman and McKenzie Carlson looking to compete.
“It’s extremely difficult to replace two All-NECC players (Peyton Hartsough and Alivia Rasler). It’s going to take some time for us to gel and play together in the system that we want. We do return 3 girls that have started at least one game, and those girls have seen what it takes to play winning basketball,” Benson said. “We have a team of hard workers, who will do the right things on and off the court and that’s what makes being here at Lakeland so much fun. I am super excited to watch these girls as we lay down the foundation for what we want our culture to be. If we do those things the right way, the wins will follow.”
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS
The Panthers are looking to move forward in their rebuild after a really tough season last year. They will have six players back from that team who gained invaluable experience a season ago. Emily McCrea was a consistent presence for the Panthers averaging 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. McCrea’s work in the post pairs nicely with combo Ava Boots (6.7 ppg). McKinlee Kain averaged 6.7 rebounds last season so her work inside next to McCrea is important. Breonna Glasgo, Olivia Boots and Sarah Park all return in the backcourt.
The Panthers will add two guards to their lineup with Avery Wagler up from the junior varsity and Britney Hostetler will play after not participating last season.
“After a year of gaining varsity experience last year, I will look to our 6 returning varsity players to lead our group to the next step. Our next step will involve playing fundamentally smart and at a fast pace. We do not have much size so we will need to use speed to our advantage. Defensive intensity will be vital to our success,” said Prairie Heights coach Bill Morr.
WEST NOBLE
Program great Haley (Richardson) Holliday will take the reigns of the West Noble program that will return six players with varsity experience. 5-10 center Alayna Long will be the top returners after averaging 4.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season. She will pair nicely with the return of point guard Lexi Mast (6.5 ppg/2.2 apg). Also returning in the backcourt are JaLynn Baker and Cloie Ulrey while forwards Chloe Sprague and Kayle Jordan are back as well.
West Noble could see an influx of new faces, something always possible with a new head coach. Juniors Isabella Stringfellow and Meta Springfellow and sophomores Stella Venturi, Addison Chordas and Melissa Ledesma could all battle for time, as could a quintet of freshmen.
Also of note for West Noble, former varsity head coach Dale Marano will return to the bench as a varsity assistant.
“We have a good group of girls that are working hard and improving every day,” Holliday said. “They have really bought into the process and what we do as a team. We are very excited to get started and get the season rolling.”
WESTVIEW
The Warriors’ turn around last season laid great ground work for what can come for the program, going 10-15 with their best record since 2018-19; they will return six players from that team. Included in the return is a senior who had a tremendous season and a sophomore who is on the verge of breaking out big time.
Andrea Miller is graduated after starting at point guard for three seasons, but return senior Hope Bortner, who is just a lights out shooter and hit 58 triples last season while averaging 8.6 points per game. Audrey Taylor returns as the only other player in the Westview senior class. Morgan Riegsecker (3.6 ppg), Shanna Miller and Karis Weinberg are all juniors back with the team. Mykayla Mast had a great freshman season and leads the sophomore class with another big year and bigger breakout expected after averaging 9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. Four other sophomores – JJ Whetstone, Bre Cory, Madison Grossman and Janissa Lehman are expected to add depth.
“This year’s team will have different roles that need to be filled on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor,” Westview coach Ryan Yoder said. “We will also have size in the post and we have been adjusting to playing with a post presences on both ends of the floor. We should have depth at all positions that will allow us to play at a higher level for 32 minutes.”
NECC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Eastside
2. Angola
3. Westview
4. Central Noble
5. Fairfield
6. Fremont
7. West Noble
8. Garrett
9. Churubusco
10. Lakeland
11. Prairie Heights
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