Howard County high school girls basketball 2023-24 season preview: Great competition expected throughout the league
Howard County girls basketball showcased its strength last season with Howard winning the Class 3A state title and River Hill reaching the state quarterfinals.
The county is more wide open this year after the Lions’ recent dominance. Howard graduated standout performers Gabby Kennerly and Samiyah Nasir, while star post player Meghan Yarnevich transferred. The Hawks once again return a strong group led by senior Taylor Shane, junior Dylan Watson and sophomore Camille Nesmith. The trio gives the Hawks key varsity experience, while Atholton, Hammond and Oakland Mills are also bringing back key returners.
Regular season play begins Tuesday and runs through Feb. 22. The playoffs begin Feb. 28 with the season ending March 15-16 with state championships at the Xfinity Center at the University of Maryland.
The Howard County public schools are spread between three classes and four regions. Reservoir is the county’s lone team in 4A South Region I, while Glenelg, Howard, Marriotts Ridge and Mt. Hebron are each part of 3A South Region I. Atholton, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, River Hill and Centennial make up 3A South Region II, while Hammond and Wilde Lake are in 2A West Region II.
Here is a look at each of the county teams. Note: Not all teams responded to requests for information.
Atholton
Coach: Steve Anderson, first season
Last season: 15-9, 3A East Region II finalist
Top returners: Senior Kendi Caldwell; junior Gisiah Griffen
Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Mikele Griffen
On the court: Caldwell and Keagan Williams give the Raiders great athleticism at the guard positions. Gisiah Griffen, Mikele Griffen and Taylor Coughlan are three other players who will play an integral part in the rotation this season.
Coach’s outlook: “With solid leadership and a veteran backcourt, the Raiders are poised to avenge their regional loss and contend for the title. New head coach Steve Anderson hopes to push his team to the top of the Howard County rankings and beyond with toughness, grit and intensity.”
Centennial
Coach: James Stefan, first season
Last season: 3-18
Top returners: Senior Nicole Bumbray; juniors Adria Welsh, Julia Braganca, Ayana Moore, Hannah Fapohunda and Abigail Porter.
Newcomers to watch: Sophomores Abigail Hitzelberger; Bea Petrlik and Ava Rudy; freshman Tatiana Machiz.
On the court: Welsh was honorable mention All-County last season and figures to be a key factor in the post for the Eagles. Braganca and Moore bring added experience at the guard positions, while Centennial has lots of youth around that trio.
Glenelg
Coach: David Ebbe, sixth season
Last season: 12-11
Top Returners: Seniors Maria Garbis and Reese Holden; junior Jordan Henggeler; sophomore Emmy Dello Russo.
Newcomer to watch: Sophomore Skyler Mitchner
On the court: The Gladiators have a wealth of experience throughout the floor with a lot of depth. Dello Russo started every game as a freshman and gives Glenelg great size and length in the post. Garbis, Holden and Henggeler are other players expected to play key roles this season.
Coach’s outlook: “We have seven seniors on our roster this season and nine returning players overall, so we should have a lot of varsity experience. We finished tied for fourth in the county last year, after finishing sixth the season before, and we are hoping to take another step in a positive direction this year.”
Hammond
Coach: Ayanna Jones, second season
Last season: 16-5
Top returners: Senior Nia Green; junior Sara Yarnell
Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Alexis Wright
On the court: Green returns after being named first team All-County as a junior, a leader for the Golden Bears on both ends of the floor. Yarnell provides great size in the frontcourt with the ability to extend out and shoot 3s. Senior Asia Mitchell is stepping into a bigger role in the post after Hannah Chambers graduated.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are senior heavy and with that, a sense of experience. Last season we were able to showcase our talent and exceed expectations. This season we’re on a mission to prove we have what it takes to stay among the top rated teams in the county.”
Howard
Coach: Scott Robinson, 13th season
Last season: 26-1, Class 3A state champions
Top returners: Senior Oluwadamilola Daniel (F); junior Riley Watson (G); sophomore Alana Harrison (G).
Newcomers to watch: Sophomore Raymah Quist-Therson; freshmen Charlotte Mager and Allie Masterson.
On the court: The Lions experienced a ton of roster turnover from last year’s state championship team. Of those returns, Daniel and Watson have the most varsity experience and will look to share that expertise with the younger players. Meanwhile, Quist-Therson, Mager and Masterson will look to provide a spark as varsity newcomers.
Coach’s outlook: “We have almost an entirely new team and I have been very impressed with the work ethic so far.”
Long Reach
Coach: Keith Williams, fifth season
Last season: 3-18
Top returners: Junior Morgan Enlow; sophomores Sydney Nance and Jaiden Bryant.
Newcomers to watch: Junior Jiselle White; freshman Madison Dicks.
On the court: After starting at point guard last season, Nance gained valued varsity experience and now enters her sophomore season stronger on both ends of the floor. Bryant was one of the Lightning’s top scorers last year from her small forward position and once again figures to be a key part of the offense.
Coach’s outlook: “Long Reach is returning eight players from last year’s roster. This team is young in terms of court time, however they are battle tested, and have weathered some significant storms together. Most of the girls have been working hard during the offseason and are excited and ready to compete this season.”
Marriotts Ridge
Coach: Sarah Miller, seventh season
Last season: 9-11
Top returners: Juniors Lamees Bazzi and Olivia Ober.
Newcomers to watch: Senior Anna Hendrickson; freshmen Peyton Albert and Katie Leader.
On the court: Marriotts Ridge welcomes almost an entirely new group. Both Bazzi and Ober served in more of reserve roles last year and now will be looked upon as leaders of this year’s group. Hendrickson brings a lot of athleticism from her soccer background, while both Albert and Leader will look to bring added depth in their freshman seasons.
Coach’s outlook: “We have a lot of growing to do this season. We only bring back two players from last year’s squad. That means we have nine new individuals that need to learn our system and how to play with each other. But the great thing about our kiddos is that they work their butts off in practice and are always willing to learn. I see us being able to be really competitive in the second half of the season.”
Mt. Hebron
Coach: Tierney Ahearn, sixth season
Last season: 12-8
Top returners: Senior Leen Jawhar; sophomore Pearl Prasartkarnka
Newcomers to watch: Freshmen Michelle Nzelibe and Jaelyn Peters.
On the court: Prasartkarnka led the Vikings offense last season and will looked upon to do it again in her second varsity season. Jawhar anchored the defense last season, finishing as the team’s steals leader. Nzelibe and Peters provide an infusion of youth to Mt. Hebron’s returners.
Coach’s outlook: “With a solid group of returners and two strong freshmen, I am hoping to have a solid season in county. We have a lot of youth, so we will need to make it a priority to get better every day.”
Oakland Mills
Coach: Michael Coughlan, first season
Last season: 14-7
Top returners: Juniors Destiny Macharia and Heaven Alexander; sophomores Adey Alexander, Chloe Grenway and Jeriah Shipp.
Newcomer to watch: Freshman Lena Smartt
On the court: The Scorpions are a young team with a freshman and four sophomores in their rotation. However, there’s plenty of experience, bolstered by the presence of Macharia and Heaven Alexander, with Macharia coming off a second team All-County selection.
Coach’s outlook: “Amazing girls; very high achieving in the classroom. Hold leadership/mentor type positions in the school, a few National Honor Society members. Role models for their peers.”
Reservoir
Coach: Deb Taylor, ninth season
Last season: 8-15
Top returners: Senior Gabi Burian (G); juniors Alissa Young (G) and Jasmin Shelton (F).
Newcomers to watch: Junior Daniella Timothy (F) and freshman Lynan Meadows (G).
On the court: Young returns after being named All-County as a sophomore with a team-leading 12.4 points per game. She’s also a strong rebounder from the guard spot averaging 6.8 a game. Shelton gives the Gators a strong post presence as she averaged over nine rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Guards Nia George and Leah Lauer provide added athleticism and shooting, while senior Paige Malwitz also returns as Reservoir’s strongest defender, also an effective rebounder.
Coach’s outlook: “We are very excited and encouraged about this year’s varsity. We have been rebuilding the program since the pandemic, each year improving a bit. This year, we believe we have the players, the skill sets and the depth to put us back in the conversation to compete for counties, regionals, etc. The most exciting part of that is the growth that the players have achieved. If we have the success, we think we are capable of, it will be with the same players who have continued to buy into the program and to put the work in. It’s exciting to be a program who develops players and not to rely on transfers or newcomers.”
River Hill
Coach: Teresa Waters, 26th season
Last season: 21-7, 3A state quarterfinalist
Top returners: Senior Taylor Shane; junior Dylan Watson; sophomore Camille Nesmith.
On the court: The Hawks are one of the county’s most experienced teams, bringing back a trio of All-County selections. Watson averaged a team-high 11.8 points per game last season, also a force defensively averaging 6.4 steals a game. Nesmith anchored River Hill in the post averaging a double-double (11.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg), while Shane also averaged double digits. Isa Bundy-Garcia, Kirsten Parykinski and Gabby Shane are also returning varsity players.
Coach’s outlook: “Play defense first, grow as a team/unit, defend first, one game at a time.”
Wilde Lake
Coach: Rhonda Corkeron, sixth season
Last season:1-20
Top returners: Senior Deja Williams; sophomore Quinn Corkeron.
Newcomers to watch: Juniors Jordyn Bennett and Elizabeth Addie; sophomore Sharon Aydemi.
On the court: Quinn Corkeron, honorable mention All-County as a freshman, will once again be the focal point of the Wildecats. As the point guard, she will look to lead a mostly inexperienced team with several new players.
Coach’s outlook: “I look forward to seeing all of the girls develop and build confidence in themselves to just play without reservation. We will grow exponentially this year.”