Fairdale/High Potential Hooparama Showcase

November 22, 2003 at Fairdale, KY

THE LINEUP (Underlined team is the home team)

9 AM	Seneca (Coach Lou Sartori)	vs	Fairdale (Coach Larry Bruner)
11 AM	Bullitt East (Coach Chris Stallings)	vs	Holy Cross (Coach Charlie Just)
1 PM	Dawson Springs (Coach Norm Manasco)	vs	PRP (Coach Craig Webb)
3 PM	Jackson Co. (Coach Greg Parrett)	vs	Sacred Heart (Coach Donna Moir)
5 PM	Harrison Co. (Coach Mac Whitaker)	vs	Butler (Coach Stephanie Greathouse)

TOP DOZEN PLAYERS
Crystal Kelly	6-2/Sr	Louisville Sacred Heart, KY
Sarah Elliott	6-7/Sr	McKee Jackson Co., KY
Ashley Lewallen	6-1/Sr	Louisville Butler, KY
Carly Ormerod	5-7/Jr	Louisville Sacred Heart, KY
Anitha Williams	5-6/Sr	Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park, KY
Sara Eilers	6-2/Sr	Louisville Holy Cross, KY
Mandy Evans	5-8/Sr	Louisville Butler, KY
Megan Gray	6-0/Sr	Cynthiana Harrison Co., KY
Taylor Kopple	5-10/Jr	Louisville Sacred Heart, KY
Brooke Faulkner	5-9/So	Cynthiana Harrison Co., KY
Megan McGrath	5-9/Sr	Louisville Butler, KY
Ciare Ricketts	5-4/8th	Fairdale, KY
OTHERS TO WATCH (Listed alphabetically)
Brittany Bingham	5-8/Jr	McKee Jackson Co., KY
Brittany Caple	5-5/Sr	Mt. Washington Bullitt East, KY
Connie Ferch	5-6/Sr	Louisville Sacred Heart, KY
Ashli Lanham	5-8/So	Dawson Springs, KY
Alix Messersmith	6-1/Sr	Louisville Seneca, KY
Whitney Moore	5-3/Sr	McKee Jackson Co., KY
Abby Thompson	5-5/Jr	Mt. Washington Bullitt East, KY

Sponsored by:

High Potential Basketball Mini-Camp
www.basketball-camp.net

(click on Girls' Minicamp)

Camp Director is Rick Bolus (31 years experience)

These games will be played at Fairdale High School. Varsity and Junior Varsity teams will play at the same time in two different gyms at the same site.
Games will be two twenty minute halves for a total of 40 minutes with the clock stopping on dead balls, free throws, etc. (Note: Due to KHSAA rules, the scoreboard will be erased at halftime. )
MVPs for each team will be selected in varsity games only.
Coverage of this showcase will appear in Rick Bolus' High Potential Basketball Recruiting Service newsletters that go out to his college subscribers.
Questions should be directed to either Larry Bruner (502) 594-4005 or Rick Bolus (502) 543-7308.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Louisville Seneca

The Seneca Lady Redhawks are coached by Lou Sartori. Seneca finished 10-14 last season and plays in the very competitive 7^th Region. The Lady Redhawks will be led this season by 6-1 Sr. Alix Messersmith who will play at Missouri Baptist College next season. Messersmith is a post player who pulled down 7.6 rpg last season and works hard on both ends of the floor. She is aggressive in the paint and has good mobility. 5-7 Jr. Latasha Harrison adds quickness and athletic ability to the team. 5-7 Jr. Samantha Rohmann is expected to provide scoring help and 5-7 So. DeeDee Hereford will be a three point threat. 5-7 Sr. Katie Deely has improved and will provide help at the forward position. Seneca is expected to have decent quickness overall and hopes to generate points off their defense. The Lady Redhawks must be patient on offense and be aggressive on the boards because of their overall lack of size.

Fairdale

The Lady Bulldogs are coached by Larry Bruner. They finished 14-8 last season and play in the 6^th Region. 5-7 Jr. Amy Fink is expected to provide inside help and leadership. Transfer 6-2 Jr. Nina Phelps is expected to help provide inside muscle. 5-9 Jr. Latasha Cooke will add quickness and versatility both inside and out. Sophs. Robin Henderson and Rayien Saunders are expected to provide inside depth at center. The Lady Bulldogs expect to get outside shooting from Frosh 5-9 Whitney Briggs, 5-5 Erica Pashel, Sophs 5-8 Ashley Underwood, Tiffany Minter, and Erica Rogers. Coach Bruner has a star on the horizon in 5-4 8^th grader Ceira Ricketts. She is very athletic, slashes to the basket, and has the ability to shoot the jumper. 5-9 Jr. Sharonda Mangan is also expected to contribute for the Lady Bulldogs this season. Although the Fairdale coaching staff will miss the experience of the five graduated seniors and may worry about the relative youth of the squad, they have plenty of talent and potential on this team.

Bullitt East

The Lady Chargers are coached by Chris Stallings and finished 18-11 last season. Bullitt East plays in the 8^th Region. They return their starting backcourt of 5-5 Sr. Brittany Caple and 5-5 Jr. point guard Abby Thompson. Caple is a quick second guard who can either score off the drive or with a long-range jumper. Thompson is a very strong player who has the ability to get her teammates the ball. The post position should be capably manned by 6-0 players Kasey Harrod and Katie Followell. Both have the strength to work in the paint and both can shoot the ball. The backup inside players will be 5-8 Jr. Ashton Smith and 5-9 Fr. Stephanie Mueller. 5-9 Jr. wing Jacquelyn Bleemel has worked hard over the summer improving her shot and footwork and should be a big contributor this season. 5-5 Jr. Holly Huber can play either guard position and Jr. Erin Flynn and 5-6 Fr. Kathleen Thompson are expected to contribute. This team lost six seniors from last year but the JV and freshmen teams have been very successful and this success bodes well for the future of this program.

Louisville Holy Cross

The Holy Cross Lady Cougars finished 24-9 last season and are expected to be one of the primary contenders to battle Butler for the 6^th Region this season. Coach Charlie Just takes over this season as head coach and brings a ton of experience to the table. Just started his coaching career at Mercy, then coached women’s basketball at Bellarmine, and recently coached the men’s program four years at Bellarmine. 6-2 Sr. center Sara Eilers played in the shadow of Jenn Skaggs last season but should be in the spotlight this season. Eilers has the ability to score down low and will hit the boards. 5-4 Sr. Julie Bowman is expected to direct the offense this season.

Dawson Springs

Coach Norman Manasco guided the Lady Panthers to a 11-10 record last season and represented the 2^nd Region in the All “A” Classic. The Lady Panthers should be led this season by 5-8 So. Ashli Lanham, a combo guard who can shoot the ball. 5-7 Jr. Amanda Carlton is a sound wing player who appears to have recovered from a knee operation and is an extremely hard worker. 5-7 Sr. Lindsey Butler is a very steady performer who always comes to play. 5-8 Sr. Leslie Hamby is a strong player who always gives a good effort. 5-0 Sr. Amy Stallins is a “sparkplug” who is a tenacious defender. 5-7 Jr. Anna Marsili, 5-8 So. Lindsey Sisk, and 5-6 8^th grader Chelsea Mills are expected to contribute this season. 5-5 So. Brittney Chappell is also expected to be a steady performer for the Lady Panthers this season. 5-11 Jr. Beth McGregor adds size and is a physical inside player who works hard. Dawson Springs will once again be lacking in size but they return four starters and a veteran coach Norman Manasco who really enjoys working with this group.

Pleasure Ridge Park

Coach Craig Webb’s Lady Panthers finished 16-11 last season and play in the 6^th Region. PRP graduated star guard Kellie Peyton but returns 5-6 Sr. guard Anitha Smith-Williams. Williams averaged 14 ppg and 8 apg last season and is a true point guard who can handle the ball. She is extremely quick and creates well off the dribble. 6-0 Sr. forward Chelsea Bibelhauser averaged 8 ppg and 8 rpg last season and shot 55.5% from the field. 5-8 Jr. guard Alisa Pierce averaged 7 ppg last season and connected for 48% from behind the arc. 5-7 So. Janay Jones could develop into a major scorer with more experience. Other players expected to contribute include 5-10 forward Randi Carroll, 5-8 guard Andrea Bishop, 5-8 guard Kelly Thieneman, 5-9 forward Elizabeth Bocceri, 5-6 guard Quinetta Nelson, 5-7 guard Stacy Flatt, and 5-11 forward Bobbie Wilson. This team played together all summer and has a deep 11 player rotation. This team could continue to improve through the season and peak by tourney time.

Jackson County

The Jackson County Lady Generals are coached by Greg Parrett and finished 28-8 last season, playing in the competitive 13^th Region. This year’s senior class has experienced winning two All-A State Championships, and All-A State Runner-Up title, and a runner-up finish in the Sweet 16. Miss Basketball candidate 6-7 Sr. Sarah Elliott averaged 21 ppg, 12 rpg, and is an intimidating shot blocker in the paint. Elliott recently committed to play her college basketball at Kentucky. 5-3 Sr. point guard Whitney Moore handles the ball well and can shoot the three ball. 5-10 Sr. Kenni Lakes adds shooting and rebounding to the team. 5-10 Sr. Candrea Bingham and 5-9 Sr. Stisha Rose both rebound well and play good defense. 5-9 Jr. Brittany Bingham is an excellent three point shooter and 5-8 Jr. Danielle Roaden can score both inside and out. 5-4 Jr. Ashley Whitehead brings intensity and determination to the mix. Jackson County should start the season highly ranked and favored to capture the 13^th Region crown.

Sacred Heart Academy

Coach Donna Moir’s Valkyries finished 37-1 last season and captured their second consecutive Sweet 16 championship. They are favored to win the 7^th Region crown this season and should begin the season ranked No. 1 in the state. 6-3 Sr. Crystal Kelly, another leading Miss Basketball candidate, does it all for the Valkyries. Kelly is an excellent scorer and rebounder with her quick outlet passes triggering the fastbreak. Kelly controls the paint with her defense and ranks high at SHA in career steals. 5-8 Jr. guard Carly Ormerod is a very intense player who gets the job done on both ends of the floor. She can score off the dribble or nail the jump shot. 5-6 Sr. Connie Ferch is jet-quick, and excellent defender, and is an excellent shooter who has played in the shadows of her more heralded teammates. 5-10 Jr. Taylor Kopple is an outstanding athlete who can score, rebound, and defend. The Valkyries have several players who will contribute this season including 5-8 Jr. Jackie Distler, 5-9 Jr. Kelsey McCarty, 5-9 Jr. Meredith Wade, and 5-5 Jr. Allison Denbow. Sacred Heart won their third consecutive State AAU championship this summer and is poised to defend their Sweet 16 championship despite some formidable contenders.

Harrison County

Coach Mac Whitaker led the Fillies to a 20-10 record last season and they are expected to be one of the top teams in the 10^th Region again this year. They will be led this year by multi-sport star 6-0 Sr. Megan Gray. Gray averaged double digits in both scoring (16 ppg) and rebounding (10 rpg) and can shoot the outside ball. Gray also is and excellent shotblocker. 5-9 So. Brooke Faulkner is a swingman who plays well on both ends of the floor. Faulkner is a deadly long-range shooter. Faulkner averaged 13 ppg, 5 rpg, and shot 36% from the three point line. 5-5 Fr. point guard LaDonna Turley will look to pick up her scoring and 6-1 So. center Garyn Price is expected to help in the paint. Although the 10^th Region is balanced, Harrison County is expected to end up near the top.

Butler

The Bearettes are coached by Stephanie Greathouse. They were 21-11 last season and captured the 6^th Region crown but the best could be yet to come. The Bearettes will be led by 6-1 Sr. Ashley Lewallen, who averaged 21 ppg and 9.5 rpg last season. Lewallen plays inside but has all the tools to play forward at the next level. She has the ability to post and can also stroke the outside jumper. 5-8 Sr. Mandy Evans (8.3 ppg) is a slasher and penetrator who is difficult to defend on the floor. Evans is always hustling and is an excellent defender. 5-9 Sr. Megan McGrath (7.8 ppg) can nail the outside shot and also defends and hits the boards. 5-4 Sr. Jenna Hedges (6.8 ppg), 5-10 Jr. Racheal Cummings (4.1 ppg), and 5-2 So. Nicole Holman (7.2 ppg) are expected to be key contributors. The Bearettes hustling defenders averaged 14.8 spg last season. The Bearettes return all five starters and they have the talent to contend for state honors this season.

This should be an excellent day of basketball with some interesting matchups. The Jackson County vs. Sacred Heart game will match two of the leading contenders for Miss Basketball—Sarah Elliott (Jackson County) and Crystal Kelly (Sacred Heart). Ashley Lewallen, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated players in the state and I am looking forward to seeing her battle Harrison County star Megan Gray in the final scrimmage of the day.

RESULTS

Games consisted of two twenty minute halves for a total of 40 minutes with the clock stopping on dead balls, free throws, etc. The scoreboard was erased at halftime per KHSAA rules. I will, for the sake of clarity, give scores for both halves plus a combined score. Any stats included are not official but were recorded by me personally. Please understand that these are scrimmages and coaches are experimenting with substitution rotations and using this event as a teaching tool and to prepare for the upcoming season.

Game No. 1 Seneca vs. Fairdale

Seneca coach Lou Sartori started the following lineup: 5-10 Sr. Tanya Imam, 5-7 Sr. Katie Deely, 6-2 Sr. Alix Messersmith, 5-9 Jr. Latasha Harrison, and 5-7 So. DeeDee Hereford. Fairdale coach Larry Bruner countered with 5-9 Fr. Whitney Briggs, 5-7 Jr. Amy Fink, 6-2 Jr. Nina Phelps, 5-6 8^th grader Ceira Ricketts, and 5-8 So. Ashley Underwood.

Seneca took captured both halves today, the first by a 29-24 margin and the second half score was 41-28. Seneca held a 70-52 advantage in the combined score. Seneca’s Alix Messersmith was named game MVP for her team as she scored 24 points and pulled down several rebounds. Messersmith is an extremely hard worker who has improved each season. 5-8 Jr. Katie Gausepohl came off the bench to add 15 points. The game MVP for Fairdale was Ceira Ricketts who led her team with 12 points. Whitney Briggs added 10 points. Coach Bruner has a lot of young talent and should improve throughout the year.

Seneca	29	41	-	70
Fairdale	24	28	-	52

Seneca	(70)		Imam 7, Deely 3, Messersmith 24, Harrison 6, Hereford 5, Rohman 7, Gausepohl 15, Mitchell 2, Foster 3.
Fairdale	(52)		Briggs 10, Fink 0, Phelps 8, Ricketts 12, Underwood 3, Cook 4, Mangan 2, Weber 5, Pashel 8.

Game No. 2 Bullitt East vs. Holy Cross

Bullitt East coach Chris Stallings started the following lineup: 5-9 Jr. Jacquelyn Bleemel, 5-10 Jr. Katie Followell, 6-0 Jr. Kasey Harrod, 5-6 Sr. Brittany Caple, and 5-6 Jr. Abby Thompson. Holy Cross coach Charlie Just countered with 5-9 Sr. Valerie Shields, 5-7 So. Amber Wright, 6-2 Sr. Sara Eilers, 5-4 Sr. Jessica Pfeiffer, and 5-4 Sr. Julie Bowman.

Bullitt East captured both halves today, taking the first half 39-35 and gaining a 49-25 decision in the second half. The combined score was Bullitt East 88, Holy Cross 60. Holy Cross had no answer for Bullitt East’s outside bombing as the victors by my count nailed 16 three-point baskets. Bullitt East was led today by their game MVP Brittany Caple with 23 points including five three-point goals. 5-6 So. Jennifer Beichler came off the bench to add 17 points including five three-point goals. Holy Cross was led by their game MVP Julie Bowman with 16 points. Sara Eilers added 12 points.

Bullitt East	39	49	-	88
Holy Cross	35	25	-	60

Bullitt East	(88)		Bleemel 7, Followell 11, Harrod 8, Caple 23, Thompson 14, Smith 4, Huber 2, Beichler 17.
Holy Cross	(60)		Shields 8, Wright 4, Eilers 12, Pfeiffer 8, Bowman 16, Boggs 2, White 2, Skaggs 2, Parker 3, Burgess 3.

Game No. 3 Dawson Springs vs. Pleasure Ridge Park

Dawson Springs coach Norman Manasco started the following lineup: 5-9 So. Ashli Lanham, 5-7 Sr. Lindsey Butler, 5-8 Sr. Leslie Hamby, 5-6 Jr. Amanda Carlton, and 5-0 Sr. Amy Stallins. Pleasure Ridge Park coach Craig Webb countered with 5-9 Jr. Randi Carroll, 5-7 Jr. Alisa Pierce, 5-11 Sr. Chelsea Bibelhauser, 5-6 Jr. Quinetta Nelson, and 5-4 Sr. Anitha Williams.

PRP used their athleticism and quickness to overpower Dawson Springs 44-16 in the first half and held a 29-20 advantage over Coach Manasco’s scrappy squad in the second half. The combined score was Pleasure Ridge Park 73, Dawson Springs 36. Anitha Williams was named game MVP for PRP and she shared high score honors for her team with Chelsea Bibelhauser as each tallied 15 points. 5-5 So. Janay Jones came off the bench to add 11 points. Dawson Springs was led by their game MVP Ashli Lanham with 16 points.

Dawson Springs	16	20	-	36
Pleasure Ridge Park	44	29	-	73

Dawson Springs	(36)		Lanham 16, L. Butler 6, Hamby 7, Carlton 7, Stallins 0.
Pleasure Ridge Park	(73)		Carroll 2, Pierce 8, Bibelhauser 15, Nelson 9, Williams 15, Wilson 2, Jones 11, Bishop 7, Manning 4.

Game No. 4 Jackson County vs. Sacred Heart

Jackson County coach Greg Parrett started the following lineup: 5-10 Sr. Candrea Bingham, 5-8 Jr. Danielle Roaden, 6-7 Sr. Sarah Elliott, 5-9 Jr. Brittany Bingham, and 5-3 Sr. Whitney Moore. Sacred Heart coach Donna Moir countered with 5-10 Jr. Taylor Kopple, 5-8 Jr. Jackie Distler, 6-3 Sr. Crystal Kelly, 5-6 Sr. Connie Ferch, and 5-8 Jr. Carly Ormerod.

Sacred Heart turned up the defensive pressure and took the first half by a score of 48-24. However, Jackson County was very competitive in the second half as they dropped a 42-37 decision. The combined score today was Sacred Heart 90, Jackson County 61. This game was previewed to be a pre-season battle between the two ladies believed to be the frontrunners for Miss Basketball this season— Crystal Kelly (Sacred Heart) and Sarah Elliott (Jackson County).

Neither lady disappointed as they had good games and were named game MVPs for their respective teams. Kelly tallied 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals. She also scored a basket in the first half on a nifty spin move that left the crowd buzzing. Elliott scored 15, points, pulled down 12 rebounds, and blocked six shots. Elliott also displayed some nice moves, aggressively taking the ball to the basket.

One woman teams—right? Absolutely wrong—Sacred Heart was led in scoring today by Carly Ormerod with 22 points. Jackie Distler, Connie Ferch, and Taylor Kopple added 15, 12, and 11 points respectively. Jackson County was led today by Brittany Bingham with 20 points. Bingham can absolutely “light it up” from outside. Whitney Moore added 11 points and is also an outside threat. 5-4 7^th grader Courtney Tyra is a name to remember. She is a promising point guard with a bright future.

Jackson County	24	37	-	61
Sacred Heart	48	42	-	90

Jackson County	(61)		C. Bingham 4, Roaden 2, Elliott 15, B. Bingham 20, Moore 11, K. Lakes 4, Tyra 5, Whitehead 2.
Sacred Heart	(90)		Kopple 11, Distler 15, Kelly 18, Ferch 12, Ormerod 22, Denbow 1, Hess 3, Wade 2, McCarty 6.

Game No. 5 Harrison County vs. Butler

Harrison County coach Mac Whitaker started the following lineup: 6-0 Sr. Megan Gray, 5-9 So. Brooke Faulkner, 6-1 So. Garyn Price, 5-4 Fr. Mary Todd Seaman, and 5-5 Fr. LaDonna Turley. Butler coach Stephanie Greathouse countered with 5-8 Sr. Megan McGrath, 5-7 Sr. Mandy Evans, 5-10 Jr. Racheal Cummings, 5-4 Sr. Jenna Hedges, and 5-2 So. Nicole Holman. 6-0 Sr. Ashley Lewallen will not play tonight due to an injury.

Butler took the first half 28-26 behind the hot hand of Nicole Holman who scored 13 first half points. Harrison County roared back in the second half to outscore Butler 38-27 as Megan Gray and Brooke Faulkner combined for 27 second half points. The combined score for the evening was Harrison County 64, Butler 55. Harrison County was led by their game MVP Brooke Faulkner with 22 points. Megan Gray added 15 points including 13 in the second half. Gray was also very effective on the boards tonight. Nicole Holman was game MVP for Butler and led her team in scoring with 22 points including four three-pointers.

Harrison County	26	38	-	64
Butler	28	27	-	55

Harrison County	(64)		Gray 15, Faulkner 22, Price 6, Seaman 4, Turley 12, K. Kendall 3, Hendricks 2.
Butler	(55)		McGrath 5, Evans 7, Cummings 8, Hedges 8, Holman 22, Grunwald 4, Pratt 1.

Conclusion

This was an excellent day of pre-season basketball, with the JV teams playing in an adjoining gym, giving both squads a chance to get in the scrimmage time. The coaches did an excellent job of using this event as a teaching tool. There was some excellent talent on display today both veteran and underclassmen. Seneca’s Alix Messersmith continues to impress with her work ethic and her desire to improve her game. These traits have made her very effective in the paint. Fairdale has a very young team with some talented players.

Coach Stallings has a nice team at Bullitt East with some players that can consistently knock down the three. Holy Cross has a good coach in Charlie Just and a fine inside-outside combination in Sara Eilers and Julie Bowman. Dawson Springs is well coached by the veteran Norman Manasco. They are a Class A school that will have problems with the larger, athletic teams but they will compete very well against other Class A schools. Coach Craig Webb has a sparkplug guard in Anitha Williams who is very athletic and can get to the basket in a hurry.

Sacred Heart is, well…Sacred Heart. They have one of the leading Miss Basketball candidates (Crystal Kelly) this season and another (Carly Ormerod) for the next season. Coach Donna Moir will not let the Valkyries get complacent as they attempt to capture their third consecutive Sweet 16 title. You had better beat Jackson County early—Sarah Elliott is another leading candidate for Miss Basketball. Jackson County also has some deadly outside shooters, including Brittany Bingham who has excellent range and the size, 5-9, to shoot over defenders. Courtney Tyra is a promising young player (7^th grade) who will log a lot of minutes this season. Coach Parrett will have this team clicking at the right time.

Harrison County will need to get scoring from Megan Gray and Brooke Faulkner and they should be up to the task. Look for 5-5 Fr. LaDonna Turley to pick up her scoring this season. 6-0 Sr. Ashley Lewallen will add scoring and rebounding punch to Butler when she is healthy again and logs practice time again. Coach Stephanie Greathouse has a veteran and capable squad and 5-2 So. speedster Nicole Holman gives them another weapon.

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Rick Bolus and Larry Bruner for all their hard work in making this event work. Also, a special thanks to Bob Tonini of Sacred Heart for providing me with the computer stats for the Jackson County-Sacred Heart game.

*Please note that players’ heights vary from program to program.