Last year was a remarkable season for girls basketball in Lenawee County.
Blissfield and Lenawee Christian both played at the Breslin Center, Tecumseh won 20 games and a district title and Clinton and Hudson both had their best seasons in years.
With each of those teams bringing back several players, the 2023-24 season is shaping up to be just as strong.
Here’s a preview:
ADDISON
2022-23: 6-16
Coach: Joel Hutson, first year
Returning starters: Seniors Taylor Jezierski, Laci Patterson and Kayli Trumble, junior Molly Brown.
Other returning players: Seniors Izzy Durkee, Sayra Hernandez, Kate Huston, and Lexi Patterson; junior Stephanie Hernandez.
Outlook: The Panthers have experience after being very young for the last couple of seasons. Lexi Patterson returns after taking last season off and can play all five positions. Jezierski (9.3 points per game last year) is the starting point guard who can create scoring opportunities for herself and teammates.
Coach says: “It’s a privilege to coach these girls at the varsity level after being along their side over the past nine years and seeing them develop as basketball players. We have goals to run efficient offenses and aggressive defense. I have full confidence that this team will fulfill these goals while holding such a strong team chemistry and will for success.”
ADRIAN
2022-23: 4-18
Coach: Steve Moore, second year, 4-18
Returning starters: Seniors Makenna Johnson, Ciara Ernst and Elaine Gordon; Junior Izzy Morris; Sophomore Ella Salenbien.
Other returning players: Junior Allie Duvall and sophomores Chloe Carey and Rylee Lahring.
Newcomers: Sophomores Tatum Borton and Alya Tindall; freshman Amor Sanchez.
Outlook: All five starters return. Salenbien (6.6 rebounds per game last year) was the team’s top scorer and rebounder a year ago. Johnson is the Maples’ floor leader, while Ernst is the team’s best 3-point shooter.
Coach says: “Our team has eight players with varsity experience, and the team really gets along well together. In order for our team to be successful, we need to communicate well at both ends of the floor, as well as take care of the ball, make stops on defense, rebound, and make free throws.”
BLISSFIELD
2022-23: 27-2, reached Division 3 state finals.
Coach: Ryan Gilbert, 16th season, 239-91.
Returning starters: Seniors Avery Collins, June Miller, Abrie Louden.
Other returning players: Seniors Addison Martinez, Maycie Valasek, Natalia Wilson; junior Peyton Tennant; sophomore Leigh Wyman.
Newcomers: Juniors Ella Bailey and Libby Welsh; freshman Evie Brown.
Outlook: Collins is the returning player of the year in Lenawee County and is the sparkplug that makes Blissfield go. She averaged 11 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 steals last season. Wyman was the team’s best scorer in the postseason and is healed from off-season knee surgery. Tennant is primed for a big season in the post.
Coach says: “We have great guards in Avery and Leigh that can make plays. We’ll rely on them to do that and hopefully make things happen off it. Our girls have been in a variety of situations and understand the big picture of a basketball season. I think we’ll get grittier as the season progresses and improve each week as we learn to play together.”
BRITTON DEERFIELD
2022-23: 7-18
Coach: Kimerly Gall, third year, 13-33
Returning starters: Seniors Alivia Salenbien, Alyna Salenbien and Cameryn Prielipp.
Other returning players: Seniors Lily Watson and Elloisa Guzman; junior Haven Crots.
Newcomers: Juniors Ava Bower, Aubrey Appleman, Sophie Witt and Brooklyn Hilyard; sophomore Kurina Dotson.
Outlook: This group of juniors and seniors have a lot of experience playing together. BD was playing its best basketball of the season late last year, winning three straight games before dropping the district championship game to Summerfield.
Coach says: “This is a fun group who gets along with each other and works hard. We need to continue to work hard each day and demonstrate improvement. And we need our players to stay healthy and injury-free.”
CLINTON
2022-23: 16-7
Coach: Will Bennett, fifth year, 31-52
Returning starters: Senior Kendall Phillip; juniors Kaylee Livingston, Kaylee Kranz and Zoey Sierer.
Other returning: Seniors Kyleigh Ramos, Anna Vincent and Lauren Roberts; juniors Eden Frederick and Mieah Rodriguez.
Outlook: Livingston was one of the top scorers and shooters in the county last year, averaging 11.9 points a game and making 58 3-pointers. She also shot 82% from the free throw line. Kranz averaged 8.2 rebounds a game and blocked 45 shots. Pretty much everyone on the roster has experience.
Coach says: “I really like the chemistry the girls have as well as their experience playing together. The key for us to have success this year will be our ability to limit our turnovers. We must be able to create turnovers on defense as well as share the ball on offense.”
HUDSON
2022-23: 15-7
Coach: Anthony Barron, fourth year, 28-29
Returning starters: Senior Dinah Horwath; junior Teagan Arredondo and sophomore Taylor Kopin.
Other returning players: Juniors Malia Grayer, Samantha French, Jewel Sinclair; sophomore Sam Anderson.
Newcomers: Juniors Keegan Shaffer, Haedyn Borck and Bralyn Borck; freshman Alexis Swanson.
Outlook: Hudson had a nice season last year and returns three starters from a 15-win team. Horwath averaged 10.1 points a game last year and made 40 3-pointers. Kopin averaged 2.8 steals and 2.0 assists a game.
Coach says: “We have a lot of returning players that come with some great experience. I am excited to see the growth of all of them over the summer and see what we can accomplish this year. They work extremely hard and are willing to go to battle for each other.”
LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
2022-23: 18-11, Reached Division 4 semifinals.
Coach: Emilie Beach, second year, 18-11.
Returning starters: Seniors Hannah Baker and Izzy Brooks.
Other returning players: Seniors Ally Day and Gabby Bryja; juniors Callie Anderson and Brielle Parker.
Newcomers: Senior Sophia Samonek; juniors Emilia Yatzek, Emmerson Holsopple, Ila Stewart and freshman Brynn Davis.
Outlook: Baker was on her way to a breakout season last year when she suffered a season-ending injury. Coach Beach called her the hardest worker she knows. She averaged 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. This group of girls have had tremendous success in multiple sports and are close. Sarah Clymer would have been the team’s point guard but was hurt in the fall. This is the first season for LCS in the Tri-County Conference, meaning a totally new schedule for the Cougars.
Coach says: “This team works so hard in all that they do. We are constantly reminding them they are champions in all they do. Hannah and Selah have been to the state semifinals three times in their high school careers between volleyball and basketball. Many others have been twice. They have the drive and experience. We are excited to watch this team come together.”
MADISON
2022-23: 7-15
Coach: Javon Jenkins, third year, 17-26
Returning starters: Seniors Jamairah Powers and Caylan Sower; juniors Nevaeh Parish and Kelsey McCarty.
Other returning players: Senior Gabby Whiteley, junior Desteniey Paul and sophomore Marianna Carbajal.
Newcomers: Freshmen Jaeda Parish, Camylie Sower, and Alexis Velasquez
Outlook: The core of last season – Parish, Sowers and Powers – all return. Parish is a three-year starter and keeps improving her game. She averaged 9.6 points a game last season, while Powers averaged 8.3 rebounds and Sower made 20 3-pointers.
Coach says: “I like the mix of experienced players and the newcomers. I believe that we will be better than we were last year. We will be a lot more competitive. They all are receptive to coaching and want to come in and work hard.”
MORENCI
2022-23: 18-5
Coach: Ashley Joughin, third year, 31-13
Returning starters: Senior Leah Rorick; juniors Alyssa Gibbs; sophomores Emersyn Bachelder, Addyson Valentine and Evelyn Joughin.
Other returning players: Seniors Madilyn Wilkins and Claire Gibbs.
Newcomers/Others to the team: Senior Lauren Harsh; Junior Emily Zuvers; Freshman Colbie Ekins.
Outlook: Morenci started off the season 14-0 a year ago but injuries took its toll down the stretch. They still won 18 games and return five girls who started at times last season. Gibbs was first-team All-TCC last year, averaging 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Rorick made 22 3-pointers, and Joughin averaged 3.2 assists a game and 3.0 steals a game.
Coach says: “We have the bulk of the team returning but lost some leadership with graduating seniors. I’m looking to have a few of the younger players step up and fill that role as floor generals. We have team goals and know we came up short despite a successful season last year. We want to make it deeper in the post-season and with buy-in, daily effort at practice and confidence when facing tough opponents, we know we can get there.”
ONSTED
2022-23: 4-18
Coach: Jon Hovermale, first season
Returning starters: Senior JayElle Christian; sophomores Karlie Kimerer and Hannah Hill.
Outlook: Christian averaged 6.3 points and 8.3 rebounds a game last year. Kimerer was the top scorer at 9.2 points a game.
Other returning players: Seniors Ainsley Brazvai, Maddie Borders, Ava Ruttofsky.
Newcomers: Juniors Lexie Klotz and Alyssa Sims; freshman Kayla Gerken.
Outlook: Hovermale is a former player at Siena Heights University who started his own travel ball program in the county. He expects a fast turnaround from a 4-18 season. Hill and Kimerer gained a lot of experience last year on the varsity team as freshman. Klotz is a great athlete playing basketball for the first time and should be a key player for the Wildcats as the season goes on.
Coach says: “This is a special group of girls who love to compete at a high level. They are willing to put in the work to earn the results that come. We have some really good athletes who play hard on every possession. We look to play tough and physical with basketball IQ on both ends of the floor. We believe we have something special building here at Onsted. Not just with our varsity team, but with our JV team as well.”
SAND CREEK
2022-23: 12-12
Coach: Wayne Perry, third year, 20-25
Returning starters: None.
Returning players: Seniors Denae Covey, Tanana Emmendorfer and Scout Robinson.
Newcomers: Senior Raigen Woods; Juniors Carley Allen and Faith Beardmore; Sophomore Payton Steinke; Freshmen Sydney Marks and Jalyn Snyder.
Outlook: Perry has nearly an entire new group of girls with which to work. Covey and Robinson return with experience, while Emmendorfer didn’t play last year. Everyone else is new.
Coach says: “This group will get better with each practice and game. They are a very coachable group. We have to stay healthy with low numbers. For us to stay competitive we must be solid on the defensive end and limit teams on the glass. We will get better on the offensive end as the season goes on.”
TECUMSEH
2022-23: 20-5
Coach: Kristy Zajac, seventh season, 87-38.
Returning starters: Juniors Alli Zajac and Ashlyn Moorehead; sophomore Chloe Bullinger.
Other returning players: Junior Lauren Kilbarger and sophomore Makayla Schlorf.
Newcomers: Junior Faith Wiedyk; sophomore Sophia Torres; freshman Addi Zajac.
Outlook: Both Zajacs have received statewide and sometimes national attention from their summer travel seasons and are heavily recruited to play at the next level. Bullinger, Schlorf and Moorehead are all great shooters from long distance. The younger Zajac should fill the role Chesney Wilkie had last year with her inside scoring and rebounding. Tecumseh doesn’t have a senior on its roster.
Coach says: “Alli is coming off a great summer, but what’s going to help her this season is to have several key players around her. It’s going to be a fun year. We have lots of kids putting in the work in the off season and really wanting to get better. They all work well together, and any one of them could be the leading scorer, rebounder on any given night. We hope to have a chance to win the SEC title this season and be playing our strongest moving into the postseason.”
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