Girls basketball: Look for Indian River in the Southeastern District

The Southeastern District is expected to be a top-heavy league again this season.

But even with King’s Fork star TaShauna “Sugar” Rodgers back, the Bulldogs are not expected to be one of the elite teams.

Instead, Nansemond River and Indian River appear to be the top contenders for the championship despite losing their top players from last season, when they finished second and third, respectively.

The Braves waved goodbye to Courtney Medley, and the Warriors bid farewell to LeCetra Arrington.

But both teams are expected to overcome their losses. In part, that’s because Nansemond River and Indian River share two strengths – depth and experience. “(We) are young and talented,” Indian River coach Gavin Harris said.

Nansemond River coach R. Calvin Mason, who is entering his third season with the Warriors, agrees.

“Indian River is going to be pretty good,” he said. “I would pick them as the favorite. I think we are a seasoned team. I think we have a chance to be right in the thick of things.”

Not many would argue in a league where the top teams seem to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

A look at each of the 10 Southeastern District teams in predicted order of finish:

1. INDIAN RIVER

Coach Gavin E. Harris

Last season 19-7 overall, 15-3 Southeastern District

Top players Shanel Williams 5-9 sr. F; Keiara Avant 5-11 sr. F; Chelisa Painter 6-1 soph. F; Leteshia Pledger 6-3 jr. F; Chelsea Gray 5-9 jr. G.

Outlook Courtney Medley is gone. But Avant is back, and that means the Braves still should be one of the top contenders in the Southeastern District. Avant has a strong supporting cast that includes Williams, who averaged 10.7 points per game last season. Harris says he is “very excited and optimistic” about the team’s prospects.

2. NANSEMOND RIVER

Coach R. Calvin Mason Sr.

Last season 20-5, 15-3

Top players Andrea Jones 5-9 sr. G; Trinese Fox 5-8 sr. G; Brittany Boyd 6-2 sr. C; Deshanna Honore 5-9 sr. F.

Outlook The team will miss LeCetra Arrington, the leading scorer from last season who averaged 16.6 points per game and has graduated. But senior guard Andrea Jones is healthy for the first time in two years after undergoing two ankle surgeries. Jones will try to help the Warriors reach the 20-victory plateau for the second consecutive season.

3. WESTERN BRANCH

Coach Troy Terry

Last season 16-9, 12-6

Top players Jessica Smith 5-9 jr. F; Lauren Johnson 5-9 sr. G; Jazamine Hardy 5-7 sr. G.

Outlook By the end of Western Branch’s first season under coach Troy Terry, the Bruins were one of the better teams in the Southeastern District. Expect them to be even stronger this year. Two players who averaged more than 10 points per game – Lauren Johnson and Jessica Smith – have returned to a team that will have a lot of firepower and even more depth. Many expect Western Branch to contend for the district title.

4. KING’S FORK

Coach Garry Murphy

Last season 23-4, 16-2

Top players TaShauna Rodgers 5-11 sr. G/F; Kiara Branch 5-3 jr. G

Outlook When discussing King’s Fork, the conversation begins and ends with TaShauna Rodgers, who has signed with Georgetown. She averaged 22.1 points per game as a junior and helped the Bulldogs win the district regular-season and tournament titles. Rodgers will have to carry an even bigger load this year due to the graduation of Southeastern District Defensive Player of the Year Ransheda Jennings.

5. GREAT BRIDGE Coach Lashelle Elliott Last season 9-13, 7-11

Top players Alexis Burrell 5-8 soph. G; Janesse Goodridge 5-11 jr. F; Amanda Lewis 5-11 jr. F; Keyosha Williams 5-6 jr. G; Jasmine Lewis 6-1 sr. F.

Outlook Two of the three leading scorers – Jessica Swoope and Adrena May – have graduated. But Janesse Goodridge, a talented junior, is back in the mix and should provide some stability in the frontcourt for the Wildcats, a team that will rely heavily on juniors and sophomores. The key to their success could hinge on Alexis Burrell, a sophomore point guard.

6. DEEP CREEK

Coach Anthony Edmonds

Last season 9-14, 7-11

Top players Jasmine Lamb 5-9 sr. G/F; Nekida Battle 5-10 jr. F/C; Dawn Terrell 5-8 soph. G

Outlook Deep Creek will need to recoup the productivity lost from the graduation of Ashlee May and Adrina Skyles, who together averaged more than 20 points per game. Fortunately for the Hornets, Nekida Battle is back. She averaged 9.8 points per game as a sophomore and figures to make an even bigger impact this season for a team that is expected to be very athletic.

7. OSCAR SMITH

Coach Early Beckwith Jr.

Last season 10-12, 9-9

Top players Danielle Brown 5-8 sr. F; Camesha Swift 5-7 jr. F; Ebony Spencer 5-7 jr. F.

Outlook Oscar Smith’s roster has been overhauled, and among the players the Tigers will have to replace is guard Alexis Green, who averaged more than 14 points per game last season. Oscar Smith will pin its hopes on several players who were minimal contributors. “Change is painful,” coach Early Beckwith said.

8. GRASSFIELD

Coach Mike Hyman

Last season 2-20, 2-16

Top players Morgann Piper 5-11 soph. F; Brandy McLeod 5-7 sr. F; Lindsey Stimeling 6-2 fr. C; Crystal Scott 5-6 fr. G

Outlook Grassfield’s inaugural campaign went exactly as expected: It was difficult. The fledgling program won only two district games and averaged just 33.75 points per game. The struggles on the court were compounded by injuries to Morgann Piper and former player Kelsey Bruan. But now that the first season is a distant memory, there is optimism at Grassfield, where the team will rely on both inexperienced players and veterans.

9. LAKELAND Coach Alan Jones

Last season 6-16, 5-13

Top players Terika Lunsford 5-11 sr. F; Kaylyn Chatman 5-7 sr. G; Ashley Johnson 6-0 jr. C; Tashah Woodus 6-2 soph. C; Porshe Gardner 5-8 jr. F.

Outlook It would be difficult to find a player who had a bigger impact on her team than Terika Lunsford had on hers last season. Lunsford scored 359 points – nearly half of the Cavaliers’ output last season. Fortunately for coach Alan Jones, she has returned, along with several other key contributors.

10. HICKORY

Coach DuBois Scott

Last season 3-18, 2-16

Top players Kassidy Earehart 6-0 jr. F; Megan Schick 5-10 jr. F; Rachell Kirby 5-5 soph. G; Kelsey Lewis 5-7 soph. G.

Outlook Forget and move on. That’s the approach coach DuBois Scott will take with his team after it slogged through a miserable season. Two key returnees – Schick and Earehart – will be relied upon to help the Hawks win a few more games. But expectations remain modest.