Expectations are high in Mantua as the Crestwood girls’ basketball team returns four starters and eight others with varsity experience from last season.
The Red Devils, who finished last season 14-11 overall and 6-4 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division, raised the stakes at the end of the 2023-2024 campaign and seek to win a conference title and make a deep postseason run.
“We are more versatile than in years past,” said fourth-year head coach T.J. Henderson. “Our size inside and out with the ability to score at all three levels is going to be a major factor. We will look to play fast and share the ball to make it difficult for teams to take away one or two options. If we can continue to come together as a team and take care of the basketball, we will have a lot of fun this season and compete.”
The Red Devils are more experienced and deeper than in years past.
“Bringing back multiple starters that have three or more years of experience is going to help us in pressure situations,” Henderson said. “We will be able to lean on our experienced players while supporting them with very talented younger players throughout the game. We have the ability to pressure the ball and get out in transition while also having the skill to slow the game down and execute in the quartercourt.”
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That deep roster will force Henderson to pull the right strings at the right time to maximize his squad’s potential.
“With so many different options, we have never had the ability to bring so many athletes off the bench and change the way our team can play,” Henderson said. “We will have to manage the athletes and use them all in different situations to help us be successful and win.”
Among Crestwood’s returning starters is senior Hannah Ward, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward who earned first-team All-CVC, second-team all-district, and honorable mention All-Ohio honors last season after averaging 15 points per game with 47 3-pointers.
Ward is 173 points away from the 1,000-point milestone and needs just three blocks to set a new school record of 110.
“Hannah looks to continue her growth of the game and has put in a ton of work this offseason,” Henderson said. “She has added muscle and worked to be healthy. Her court vision and basketball IQ is going to help the team on both ends of the floor.”
Becca Brady and Liv Martini both earned second-team All-CVC honors last winter.
Brady, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, averaged 7.6 points per game while Martini, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, recorded 109 steals as a freshman.
“Becca has worked hard this offseason and hopes to have a breakout season on the offensive end. She looks to continue her growth scoring the basketball and help us have a great option from the outside,” Henderson said. “Liv continues to be a great defender and worked hard to improve her skills on the offensive side of the ball. She will be leaned on to create pressure in the full court and turn defense into offense.”
Senior Maddie Dustman, a 5-foot-10 forward, was an honorable mention All-CVC selection last season.
“Coming back after last year’s injury, Maddie will bring a calming presence to the team,” Henderson said. “She is super versatile and has the ability to play multiple positions. She will be a big factor for us on the glass and will be leaned on to handle pressure situations throughout the year.”
Senior point guard Abby Guyette, a 5-foot-5 footer, rounds out the projected starting lineup. She recorded 40 steals in just five games of an injury-plagued junior season.
“Abby looks to bounce back after missing most of last season,” Henderson said. “She is the floor general that helps start our offense and defensive rotations.”
Sophomore Grace Harper returns after earning honorable mention All-CVC honors last season. The 5-foot-10 forward averaged four points and six rebounds per game last season off the bench.
“Grace stepped up big last year after injuries and looks to continue growing,” Henderson said. “She has a great sense around the rim and led our team in rebounds last year.”
Adding depth for the Red Devils are Alyssa Luczywo, Lilly Stoots, Madie Grace Gonczy, Piper Seibold, and Ava Lincoln.
Luczywo is a 6-foot senior forward while Stoots is a 5-foot-9 senior forward.
“Alyssa has worked hard is going to be used in situations to help protect the rim and use her size to deflect shots,” Henderson said. “Lilly is a very athletic post player and will help in the full-court pressing situations.”
Gonczy is a 5-foot-4 sophomore guard, Seibold is a 5-foot-2 sophomore guard, and Lincoln is a 5-foot-10 freshman forward.
“Madie Grace has the ability to score and cause havoc on the defensive side of the ball. We look to help her work on her confidence and use her talents to help win ball games,” Henderson said. “Piper is a fantastic defender that will help us put tons of pressure on teams in the full court. Ava is a very versatile forward with the ability to shoot from the outside, put the ball on the floor, and finish around the rim. She does a good job defensively changing shots. We will look to see how she does getting used to the speed of varsity basketball.”
Crestwood’s goals are within reach if the Red Devils stick to their keys to victory this season: play fast, take care of the basketball, trust each other, and keep the opposing team thinking.
“All of these keys will allow us to use our strengths and put us in the best possible situation to be successful,” Henderson said. “If we can accomplish these, our goals will be within reach.”
