Last year’s record: 20-1 (out in semifinal round against Laconia)
Head coach: Brian Troy (first year)
Captains: Senior guard Megan Wheeler, senior guard Grace Chadbourne, senior guard Daria Aho
After back-to-back years of dominance, many around the state predict that the Conant girls are due for a down year. And that’s just the way senior tri-captain Megan Wheeler and the Orioles like it.
“I like the challenge,” Wheeler said. “A lot of people aren’t expecting much of us this year … I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year.”
Conant’s 48-game winning streak that was snapped by Laconia in last season’s semifinals, and the Orioles are back to 0-0 with a new slate of players and a brand new head coach, Brian Troy. Troy, who played at Keene High and then at Rivier before returning home to coach the Blackbirds and assist at Keene State, is no stranger to the hallowed Conant basketball tradition.
“I’m definitely proud to be a part of it and I’m excited to get underway,” Troy said. “[Conant]’s always been a winning culture even back when I played. Conant was always a school that were winners, a group of winners.”
This year’s group of winners is relatively young, and Troy expects “some growing pains.” But, they have a trio of experienced seniors leading the way.
Wheeler’s work ethic is second-to-none, and she will run the show at point guard.
“She’s tough, she’s gritty, she’s a great point guard, she communicates well – she does everything well in all aspects of the game,” Troy said.
Joining Wheeler as a tri-captain is fellow senior Grace Chadbourne, a deadly shooter who Troy calls his “Voice of Reason” for her ability to calmly assess the situation and adjust accordingly. Chadbourne played on a title team with her sister Katie in 2015 and watched sister Madison play for the title in 2010 and appreciates the honor of Conant captaincy all the more for it.
“It’s very impactful to be on the same floor,” Chadbourne said, “and now I’m in their shoes. We’re going to have to work for every single game, I think that’s going to be good for us and especially good for the younger girls too.”
Conant’s third captain is senior Daria Aho, who just moved back to the area after a few years away.
“She’s a great slasher,” Troy said. “She can shoot the three, she’s one of our most athletic players that we have on the team, she brings a lot of energy and a lot of toughness to our team. I think she’ll be a real weapon for us this year.”
The Orioles are very guard-heavy, but sophomore Mariah Chamberlain will provide a needed paint presence, and Troy expects a big season out of her.
Junior guard Taylor Banish is getting more consistent with her jumper, the missing piece in her hustle-oriented game. She’s got experience and should get lots of minutes this year.
Freshman guard Silas Bernier is a raw talent who poured it in last season for JRMS and likely will shine once she acclimates to the varsity game. And, guard Delaney Beaven brings a lot of toughness to the table, Troy said.
“I think we’re going to be fun to watch,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to be small and athletic and we’ll be able to play defense and run with the ball — it should be a fun way to play.”
Conant starts their year at Newport Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
Last year’s record: 0-18 (missed playoffs)
Head coach: Deb Riley
Captain: Senior center Hannah Reinfrank
The ConVal girls are ready for a culture change. After a winless season last year, the Cougars are back with renewed energy and a better attitude.
It starts with senior captain Hannah Reinfrank, who will lead by example and push her teammates to new heights. In years past, Reinfrank said, she’s seen teammates give up when the Cougars were losing.
“We’d be down and we’d feel like we couldn’t get back up,” Reinfrank said — something that simply can’t happen on her watch.
“We have to be more positive toward each other and if we miss a shot or if we’re down we have to boost each other back up,” she said.
The senior center will be a “major anchor” for ConVal this season, said head coach Deb Riley.
“Her footwork inside is so much better, confidence is so much better, she’s been a great leader so far,” Riley said. “She’s going to be a big part of us.”
Along with Reinfrank, a duo of sophomores have the ability to push ConVal in the right direction.
Lindsey Carey, a guard/forward, might be the Cougars’ best scorer.
“Lindsey is the epitome of working hard in the offseason,” Riley said. Carey plays AAU relentlessly, even during soccer season, and isn’t cowed by taking the ball to the rack; she’ll need to improve her defense and become an all-around player to make the leap.
Alongside Carey is fellow soph Rachyl Parslow, a fiery string bean who never backs down and can bring the ball up in a pinch. That might be necessary, as the Cougars are still working to find their starting point guard. That battle is between athletic senior KJ Ammon and eager sophomore Kallie Taylor.
With no JV team and 15 varsity players, positional battles like that are going to be hard-fought, with playing time at a premium.
“If you want to play, you’re going to have to work to get that spot,” Riley said.
Angelina Davis is probably going to pull some minutes as a power forward and can swing down to a three due to her good shot. Natalia Hautenen should find some time in the frontcourt as well. And, freshman Emma Hixson looks like she can be a contributor in her first year.
ConVal’s season starts at home on Dec. 9 against Monadnock at 6:30 p.m.
Last year’s record: 1-17 (missed playoffs)
Head coach: Kevin Rines (first year)
Captains: Senior forward Autumn Firmin, senior forward Meagan Brand, junior forward Jordyn Babin
It’s a new era of Mascenic girls’ basketball, and the Vikings are ushering it in with a smile.
“I am definitely excited,” said senior tri-captain Autumn Firmin. “I think we’ll be pretty good this season.”
The Vikings have a new head coach in Kevin Rines, they’ve moved down to Division IV, and they are ready to start scoring some points.
“We are going to shoot, shoot, shoot,” Rines said, stressing that he’d rather have his team put up a high-volume of shots rather than stall for the perfect look at the hoop — after all, you win if you score more points than your opponent.
Senior tri-captain Meagan Brand said her team is already looking good in their scrimmages, competing all the way against new foes like Farmington, giving them newfound confidence on the eve of the regular season.
“I think this is going to be a good start for our basketball team this year,” Brand said. “We’ve been pretty complacent in the past because we weren’t one of the best teams.”
Junior tri-captain Jordyn Babin is fired up, too, about the attitude her teammates are bringing to games.
“You can definitely tell the passion for the game is there,” she said. “Everybody is working really hard and that has an effect on the game.”
Jordyn will start at small forward, with her younger sister, Shelby, a promising freshman, at guard. Sophomore speedster Maddie Labrie completes the backcourt.
Brand will hold down the power forward/center positions, depending on the lineup, as the final spot is likely to be matchup-dependant. Need to press? Maddie Pare can jump into the lineup. Want to slow it down and play in the paint? Firmin can take over at center. Or, all-around player Sydney Letters can take on multiple roles. Plus, there’s always Julianna Tucci waiting in the wings.
Mascenic’s season gets underway at Epping Friday at 7 p.m.
Last year’s record: 10-9 (out in first playoff round at Woodsville)
Head coach: Joy Burge (first year)
Captains: Senior guard Caitlyn Wittenauer, junior guard Cheyanne Hall, sophomore forward Abby LeBlanc
New Wilton-Lyndeborough head coach Joy Burge played for Denny Claire back in the mid-2000s, and she sees a lot of that Warriors team in the 2016-17 version. They are scrappy, speedy, they hustle and they work hard, which was enough to get Burge’s Warriors into the playoffs in her playing days.
The one thing those Warriors have that these don’t? More than seven players on the roster, which will be the biggest obstacle for Wilton-Lyndeborough to overcome this year.
“It’s going to be hard running a lot and having to play full games,” said senior tri-captain Caitlyn Wittenauer. “It’s definitely exciting. I think if we get in good enough condition we’ll be able to outrun some teams and that will put us in the wins.”
“We’ll get in pretty good shape,” added soph tri-captain Abby LeBlanc. “It will be a good experience.”
“I think if we work hard we can do pretty well,” junior tri-captain Cheyanne Hall chimed in.
Burge has her hands full, but she’s hoping to recapture the Warrior spirit that propelled her to a college basketball career at NHTI.
“I’m hoping to bring some pep to the girls and bring some heart back,” Burge said.
Wittenauer will be the driving force behind the team this season. She’s a gym rat who shoots every day and gets to practice early for extra work.
“She could go a long way this year,” Burge said. “She’s a good point guard, a good leader. She’s dedicated, she has a big heart.”
LeBlanc’s sarcastic personality helps bring a little levity to Burge’s tough practices, and her strong post play should give the Warriors plenty of offense, too.
“She’s a great forward and very strong down low,” Burge said.
Hall is a combo guard with an improving shot and an unbreakable focus.
“She has a lot of drive,” Burge said, “very smart girl. She brings a lot to the table.”
Beyond the tri-captains, WLC’s players are underclassmen and unknowns at this point. Between Rama Koudsi, Allison Davis, Jailyn Gilchrist and Kaitlin Lovernae, Burge will need to cobble something together and hope that her players mesh into a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
“We try to make use of the speed, and I think that’s what we want, to focus on fast breaks and the speed of the team,” Burge said.
WLC gets its first taste of action Friday night at Hinsdale at 6 p.m.