Standing on the sidelines prior to a recent preseason warmup at Choctawhatchee High School, veteran coach Kevin Craig of South Walton bemoaned his team’s assignment that night.
“We have to play the University of Choctaw,” said Craig with a smile.
Craig’s assessment of Choctaw’s girls’ basketball team was said in jest, but it was an obvious sign of the respect that opposing coaches have for the Indians, who return five starters from a 25-2 playoff team.
For Choctaw head coach Don Brown, the respect is nice, but it won’t mean much unless the Indians deliver this season.
“I think the sky is the limit for this team,” said Brown. “With five starters back, we should be more mature, should be able to handle adversity better. To get to where we want to go, we need to grow as a basketball team in all areas.”
Choctaw’s five starters returning include Florida State commitment Brittany Brown, along with Lakisha Clay, Lauren Day, Brittany Washington and Kinesia Matthews.
Having lost just twice last season, both times to perennial power Pensacola, the Indians enter the new year as one of the favorites in Class 6A.
While Choctaw is undoubtedly one of the top teams in the Daily News area, the field of teams gunning for big seasons in 2012-13 is deep. While Craig’s praise of Choctaw was deserved, the same could be said of his own team. At 21-9 last season, Craig’s South Walton team went further in the postseason than any team in the area, reaching the regional finals in Class 1A. With three starters back, the Seahawks are primed for another deep run.
“I think we can be pretty good,” said Craig of a Seahawk team that brings back seniors Morgan Kennedy, Eve Heffron and Taylor Menard. “You never know what you have until the season starts, but I like this group of players.”
The same can be said by Baker head coach Brian Wagner, who returns four starters from a 21-4 squad. A year after earning Daily News Small School Coach of the Year honors, Wagner enters the new season with the bulk of a team that had a 14-game winning streak returning. Led by Kathryn Quigg and Bethany Chestnut, the Gators are among the favorites in District 2-1A.
New coaches abound in the area this season, as Kathy Combest takes over in Crestview, Greg Boozer returns in Navarre and Marvis Hodges will be on the bench in Niceville.
Youth will be the order of the day for an always-strong Paxton and at Fort Walton Beach. In Paxton, head coach Steve Williams returns just one starter from a 22-5 team, but that doesn’t change the mentality.
“We have a very young team with just one senior, so we have some growing up to do,” said Williams. “But the expectations in Paxton don’t change. We told them that. We said ‘We’re not going to change the standards to fit this team. The team has to rise up and meet those standards.’”
FWB head coach Holly McDaniel will also be dealing with a young roster, as the Vikings have just one senior. Still, underclassmen Katie O’Neal, Mercedes Claybourne and Malaya Evans all bring experience and talent to the table.
At Walton, veteran coach Jerry Hester also brings back four starters, including high-scoring forward Taliah Moore.
“I think we have a chance to be pretty good,” said Hester. “We can shoot the ball pretty well, we just have to work on rebounding and taking care of the basketball.”
CHOCTAW
Head coach: Don Brown
Last year’s record: 25-2
Starters returning: 5
Seniors lost: 1
Key players: G Brittany Brown, guard Brittany Washington, G Lakisha Clay, F Lauren Day, F Kinesia Matthews
Coach speak: “I think we will be a little better, a little smarter this year. With five starters back, we’ll be more mature. We’ve done a lot of work in the offseason and played a lot of basketball. Defensively, I think we can be better. I think the sky can be the limit for this team.”
Outlook: Returning the bulk of a 25-2 team, the pieces are in place for a special season at Choctaw.
SOUTH WALTON
Head coach: Kevin Craig
Last year’s record: 21-9
Starters returning: 3
Seniors lost: 2
Key players: Morgan Kennedy, Eve Heffron, Casey Perot, Taylor Menard
Coach speak: “We’ve got three starters back, so we feel good about that. I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good. You never know until the season starts, but I like the group of players we have.”
Outlook: After reaching the Class 1A Regional Finals a year ago, head coach Kevin Craig returns with plenty of depth and experience, perhaps enough to make another deep postseason run.
BAKER
Head coach: Brian Wagner
Last year’s record: 21-4
Starters returning: 4
Seniors lost: 2
Key players: G Katheryn Quigg, PF Bethany Chestnut, SF Cassidy Anderson, PG Haley Wagner
Coach speak: “We have a lot of seniors and we certainly have high expectations for this group. Hopefully all that experience will translate to on-the-court success. I really like this group.”
Outlook: With so much returning from a playoff team in 2011-12, the Gators have the ingredients to be a major player in Class 1A.
CRESTVIEW
Head coach: Kathy Combest
Last year’s record: 15-9
Starters returning: 3
Seniors lost: 2
Key players: PF Kerrie York, C Ashante Gandy, SF Malia Gandy, SG Arianna Simms, PG Jasmine Horne, PG Genesis Coleman
Coach speak: “I’ve been coaching for more than 20 years, and I’ve had teams where we had a few very good athletes. This team has six great athletes. They’ve got a lot to learn and we’ve got a long way to go, but I think there’s a lot of potential here.”
Outlook: With a veteran coach on the sideline, Crestview’s athletic team will have a chance to make noise in Class 6A.
FORT WALTON BEACH
Head coach: Holly McDaniel
Last year’s record: 15-10
Starters returning: 2
Seniors lost: 3
Key players: Katie O’Neal, Mercedes Claybourne, Malaya Evans, Katie O’Neal, Mercedes Clayburne, Malaya Evans……..have young group….only 1 senior….either freshmen or juniors
Coach speak: “We’ve had a really good preseason, and this teams plays well together. We are young, but we’ll be looking to those three (O’Neal, Claybourne, Evans) for experience and leadership.”
Outlook: With one of the youngest rosters in the area, FWB sports only one senior. Still, the Vikings are a talented group.
PAXTON
Head coach: Steve Williams
Last year’s record: 22-5
Starters returning: 1
Seniors lost: 8
Key players: PG Emily Murray, Chrissy Currid, Bethany Neal, Quinn Williams
Coach speak: “We have a very young team with just one senior, so we have some growing up to do. But the expectations in Paxton don’t change. We told them that. We said ‘We’re not going to change the standards to fit this team. The team has to rise up and meet those standards.’ ”
Outlook: Though young, the Paxton program has a reputation for reloading quickly, and this year should be no different.
WALTON
Head coach: Jerry Hester
Last year’s record: 15-7
Starters returning: 4
Seniors lost: 2
Key players: F Taliah Moore, F Te’Ondira Guice, PG Caretha Paul, F Sierra Contreras
Coach speak: “We are excited. I think we have a chance to have a pretty nice club this season. As a whole, we shoot the ball well, we just need to make sure we rebound and take care of the basketball. Those two things will tell the story for us.”
Outlook: Boasting one of the most experienced rosters in the area, the Braves have a chance to make an imprint in Class 4A.
NAVARRE
Head coach: Greg Boozer
Last year’s record: 5-18
Starters returning: 2
Seniors lost: 5
Key players: F Lybia Brunet (leading scorer from last year), PG Jessica Reyes
Coach speak: “I didn’t take over the team until the summer (previous coach at 2004-08). We’re just trying to get the program moving again after a couple of tough seasons and we’re trying to be as competitive as we can be. It’s a challenge but these girls are high character people and they’re working hard. I’ve been very pleased with them so far.”
Outlook: With a new coach on the bench, the Raiders are a good bet to improve on last season’s record.
Niceville
Head coach: Marvis Hodges
Last year’s record: 5-20
Starters returning: 3
Seniors lost: 3
Key players: Dani Douglas, Jaci Hodskins, Michaela Mitchell
Outlook: After a winless District 2-6A campaign, the Eagles have the talent to improve on last year.
ROCKY BAYOU
Head coach: Tatisha Bowles
Last year’s record: 2-19
Starters returning: 3
Seniors lost: 0
Key players: C Rachel Mosley, PG Lauren Wright
Coach speak: “My expectations for the team of course are to do better that last year because we are a rebuilding program…We need to do better job with the personnel and we have to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor.”
Outlook: With Mosley in the post, the Knights look to improve on last year’s 2-win mark.
FREEPORT
Head coach: Mike Myrick
Last year’s record: 6-20
Starters returning: 4
Seniors lost: 0
Key players: PG Shadia Mitry, G Charity Head
Coach speak: We’re just trying to survive the year (after losing 70 percent of our scoring and four of the eight players from the summer). But we’re still pretty good, we have a lot of returners and they played hard all summer.”
Outlook: With four returning starters, Freeport is likely to build on last season’s 6-win effort.
LAUREL HILL
Head coach: Scott Varnum
Last year’s record: 9-16
Starters returning: 3
Seniors lost: 4
Key players: Maeson Piper, Rudy Williams, Jhanae Griffin
Outlook: With three underclassmen leading the way, Laurel Hill looks like a safe bet to improve on its nine-win total from a year ago.
