With just one returning starter, Crestwood will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this winter.
But, don’t count out the talented Red Devils. They have the potential to improve upon their 10-13 record from last season.
“We’re super young with very little varsity experience,” said second-year head coach T.J. Henderson. “We’re going to compete but we will have to learn how to win at the varsity level. We have tons of potential. We will be successful if we come together as a team and trust each other.”
The Red Devils return just one starter, but even she is just a sophomore.
Hannah Ward, a 5-foot-10 guard, returns to the starting lineup after averaging 11.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.75 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as a freshman.
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Ward drained 63 3-pointers while shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc last season and is on pace to break Kylie Krupp’s all-time record of 105 3-pointers in a career set last season.
“Hannah is in a very special situation,” Henderson said. “She is returning as a sophomore starter and has the most varsity experience of anyone in the program. She will be our leader to help guide others to grow in the game. She has a much different role this year and I am looking forward to her growing into that role and taking the next step as a player.”
The Red Devils do have several others with varsity experience on the roster including projected starters Abby Guyette, Maddie Dustman, and Kelsey Downs.
Guyette, a 5-foot-5 guard, was first off the bench last season. Dustman, a 5-10 forward, and Downs, a 5-9 forward, will be counted on to provide quality minutes and to help the younger players settle into their roles.
“Abby played as our first guard off the bench last year as a freshman. She is the ultimate competitor and is always working on (defense),” Henderson said. “(Maddie is) a sophomore post player with the athleticism to spread the floor and handle the basketball. She will be a key contributor on the glass and create matchup issues for other teams. (Kelsey is) a senior post player that uses her length to change shots and grab rebounds. She is a team leader on and off the floor.”
Freshman Becca Brady, a 5-foot-6 guard, rounds out the projected starting lineup.
“(Becca) is a freshman coming in with great skills on both sides of the ball,” Henderson said. “She will be looking to help on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.”
Providing depth for the Red Devils are seniors Elaine Guyette and Febby White, juniors Lilly O’Bryant and Kaitlyn Huffman, and sophomore Emma Poling.
Guyette is a 5-foot-4 guard while White is a 5-9 forward.
“As a junior last year, (Elaine) helped come in and use her ability to play fast and focus on pressuring the ball full court. She is a great team leader and is always putting the team first,” Henderson said. “(Febby) is a senior post player with great athleticism. She will be a key component on the defensive side of the ball and pressuring in the full court.”
O’Bryant is a 5-7 forward, Huffman is a 5-2 guard, and Poling is a 5-5 guard.
“Lilly is a junior post player that loves contact. She will be all over the boards and help the team get key stops to get the ball,” Henderson said. “Kaitlyn is an aggressive guard that works hard on both sides of the ball. Emma is a super athletic sophomore. She will be super helpful on the defensive side of the ball and has the potential to get to the rim at will.”
Henderson is confident he has the talent to compete in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division and beyond, but he’s also a realist and knows his young players will have to grow up and gain confidence quickly.
“With very little varsity experience, and most of that experience coming from sophomores, we will have to learn how to compete and win games,” he said. “We will focus on leadership and the team coming together to help the team grow and compete.”
His game plan is to use his talent and spacing to create scoring opportunities.
“(We need to) use our shooters to allow us to spread the floor and attack the basketball with athletes and athletic post players,” Henderson said. “(We need to) be aggressive and play fast and try to pressure others into getting easy baskets on turnovers.”
The Red Devils also will play an intense and aggressive style of defense with an eye on winning the turnover battle.
