There’s some nice underrated starpower in the Cedar Run District this year. Osbourn Park loses Shay Hagans but has developed a lot of talent on the roster. Battlefield still has the fantastic Kat Jenks. Stonewall has Hannah Williams and Zoe Kanti, one of the better backcourts around.
Patriot and Osbourn were very young last year and have clearly improved. Champe has about as experienced a coach as you can have in new coach Warner Dyke.
There’s no doubt this district has trended up of late and should continue to do so. The top four teams from last year average about nine returnees, so there’s a lot of returning experience.
STONEWALL JACKSON RAIDERS
Head Coach: Anthony Diggs (3rd year); 2018-2019 record: 20-7; Returnees: 8 (Amani Bonchu-Stokes, Anita Umana, Maryan Yusuf, Toyah Goines, Zo Kanti, Hannah Williams, Nataezja Gaskins, Esther Oyebade)
Stonewall was a somewhat quiet but impressive 20-7 last year. Diggs had to integrate several new pieces last season but now he has eight returnees, which should help a lot this season. Kanti and Williams are going to be very solid in the backcourt; Williams has a chance to be one of the area’s better scorers now that she knows the system.
Venus Hill transfers in from Potomac and she’ll make a difference immediately. Diggs speaks highly of the former All-Cardinal District selection, praising her shooting and passing ability, as well as her basketball IQ.
Forward Nataezja Gaskins is also back, like Kanti she was a second team All-Cedar Run player last season. Whether the Raiders are good or great may depend on Toyah Goines and Amanie Bonchu-Stokes. Both are still young players with limited court experience, but the talent is there.
JOHN CHAMPE KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Warner Dyke (1st year); 2018-2019 record: 7-15; Returnees: 4 (Reagan Moore, Haile Yi, Lexi Armstrong, Ellie Favis)
Warner Dyke has over 20 years experience coaching varsity elsewhere in the state, so the Knights have an experienced hand to guide them.
Unfortunately for Dyke there’s not much experience here. The senior Moore is a fantastic building block, however. She’s a versatile wing who can play inside and out and help the team score and rebound.
There’s reason for optimism with the young talent. How fast it matures to support Moore will determine how competitive the Knights are.
BATTLEFIELD BOBCATS
Head Coach: Ryan DeHaven (1st year); 2018-2019 record: 11-13; Returnees: 9 (Kat Jenks, Julia Mitchell, Jordan James, Monroe Bryant, Anna Tekampe, Sarah Smith, Kethia Negelza, Reese Burch, Mia Park)
It wouldn’t be shocking if Battlefield turns into a lot better team than some people might expect. Everyone knows about Jenks, a scoring guard that can pour in points even against defenses keyed to stop her.
But there are eight other returnees with varsity experience, which will help DeHaven tremendously as he integrates a new system. DeHaven is optimistic junior guard Monroe Bryant is ready to become a primary ball-handler and help Jenks with the scoring load. Sofia Miller is a freshman who may be able to help immediately.
Watch Battlefield closely. The Bobcats could be a dangerous team come February.
OSBOURN EAGLES
Head Coach: Paul Robinson (2nd year); 2018-2019 record: 4-16; Returnees: 5 (Love Delaney, Stephanie Taylor, Victoria Taylor, Kayli West, Fantasia “Small Fry” Payne)
There is absolutely zero program depth at Osbourn but we like what Paul Robinson is doing with the Eagles. Robinson was hired right before the season last year so this is almost like his first season, at least his first with a full offseason to prepare. The Eagles have shown flashes in Fall League this year of being able to take a step forward.
Still, it’ll be tough in this unforgiving district. The seniors, Love Delaney and Stephanie Taylor, will be key with their play on the court as well as with mentoring the young talent. And there is some of that. Robinson is high on freshmen Amiyana and Maia Williams, who he says will make their mark in the years to come. Sophomore post Kayli West has worked hard during the offseason and is now more of a threat offensively.
OSBOURN PARK YELLOW JACKETS
Head Coach: Chrissy Kelly (3rd year); 2018-2019 record: 19-5; Returnees: 11 (Maddie Scarborough, Jo Raflo, Hailey Kellogg, Katie Lemanski, Alex Harju, Hannah Osaro, Destinee Marzett, Kelsi Dickinson, Delaney Dunn, Sydney Nguyen, Aryanna Smith)
Karissa Highlander and Hagans depart but a very strong young base of talent remains. Scarborough was first team All-Cedar Run last season and Raflo was second team. Those tall guards lead an impressive stable of backcourt talent that will attempt to rain three-pointers on the opposition.
More talent is on the way as an impressive freshman class arrives. Osbourn Park will need Longwood commit center Hannah Osaro to get healthy to make a run at regionals–without her they are small and vulnerable inside.
PATRIOT PIONEERS
Head Coach: Antoinette Wadsworth (5th year); 2018-2019 record: 10-11; Returnees: 9 (Caitlin Blackman, Elena Bertrand, Taylor Booker, Kiley Smith, Nyah Prince, Mackenzie Banks, Briana Griffin, Lauryn Moore, Kayla Amoah)
Here’s another team that could do some damage both in the Cedar Run and around NOVA. Blackman, Bertrand, and Booker were All-Cedar Run last year, plus there’s six more returnees back.
Wadsworth is one of the better coaches around and the returning experience and talent gives her a lot to work with. They key will be who is able to step up around Blackman, Bertrand, and Booker. Wadsworth is high on the junior Moore who she says has been working to diversify her skills and is recognizing different options and ways to contribute. She’s also says Briana Griffin will be extremely important with her ability to control the post and play defense.
Versatile freshman Addisyn Banks should also get some run. This is a dangerous team that plays good defense and might be difficult to stop on offense because of its flexibility.
–Chris Jollay