Girls Pre-Season Power Poll

T- #1 KC Metro Mavs, KS
Last Year’s Gateway Regional Champions
Last Years Finish: 2nd
Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-Americans: Taber Spani (1st team), Tanis Spani (2nd team), & Whitney Schwab (3rd team)
The Metro Mavs will be heavy favorites to make a return trip to the national championship game this March. Led by Taber Spani who last year led her team the championship game despite a fractured vertebra. Taber is currently #13 in the 2009 class by Glen Nelson of ESPN HoopGurlz Article

and was ranked the best player of summer 2008 by ESPN’s Chris Hansen of HoopGurlz .
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T- #1 HCYA Warriors, TX
Last Years Finish: 3rd
Returning Starters: 4
Returning All-Americans: Emily Frazier (2nd team), Sarah McLeod (2nd team), Kristin Huff (Honorable Mention), and the addition of Elizabeth Arnold (1st team) from the FEAST Patriots.
Last year HCYA took the Metro Mavs to overtime in the national semi-final. This year the warriors will be looking to top the Mavs and with the warriors returning almost their entire core which includes the sophomore duo of Emily Frazier and Sarah McLeod. Additionally HCYA will be making the key addition of 1st team All-American Elizabeth Arnold from the San Antonio Patriots. This huge addition took HCYA from a championship contender to co #1 in this poll.

#3 THESA Riders, TX
Last Years Finish: 1st
Returning Starters: 1
Returning All-Americans: Anna Parish (1st team) and the addition of Sarah Blair (Honorable Mention) from the HSAA Blue Angels.

The THESA Riders are the two time defending national champions. THESA will look to rebuild this year after losing 4 All-Americans. With all four graduating starters playing college basketball this year the Riders will be facing an uphill battle to make their fourth straight championship game. But THESA is not completely rebuilding this year with the return of 1st team All-American Anna Parish and three key additions which include All-American Honorable Mention Sarah Blair & one of the top 14 year olds in the country. THESA certainly will not be a team that any coach will want to see on their side of the bracket in March.

#4 Okc Storm, OK
Last Years Finish: 4th
Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-Americans: Lauren Parks (2nd team) & Chloe Farmer (3rd team)
The Storm girls will be returning three starters including two All-Americans from last years final four team. After spending the 2006 & 2007 National’s in 5a the Storm surprised almost everyone with their final four appearances. With a respectable 51-39 loss in the national semi-final to THESA the Storm will look to build on this as they return 6 of their top 8 players. This team will certainly be right back in the mix again and will hope to make consecutive final four appearances.

#5 KC East Lions, KS
Last Years Finish: 5th
Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-Americans: Molly Brewster (1st team)
Last years 5th place finisher KC East Lions will be looking to Molly Brewster to lead the way to their first ever final four appearances. The Lions are one of the most consistent girls programs as they consistently find themselves in 6a. With a gut wrenching 39-31 loss in a very hard fought game against the Storm last year this is a team that will be on a mission. In the consolation game last year KC East made a strong statement with a 68-45 victory over SWMO.

#6 SWMO Eagles, MO
Last Years Finish: 6th
Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-Americans: Kylie Williamson (3rd team)
The Eagles will be looking to build off their first ever 6a appearance. With the return of 3rd team All-American Kylie Williamson SWMO will be a legitimate final four contender. The eagles will have some opportunities to shake up the rankings this year and certainly will have the talent to do so. Additionally the Eagles have at least one key addition from the Springfield Knights.

#7 Austin Royals, TX
Last Years Finish: 7th
Returning Starters: 3
Returning All-Americans: Abigayle Banda (3rd team)
Last year Royal’s qualified for their first ever 6a appearance and after a 70-44 loss to eventual national champions THESA Riders the Royals lost a 56-55 battle to KC East and managed to pull out a 40-39 win to earn their first ever win in 6a. Bottom line with the Royals is that this team will be looking to build off the momentum of their first 6a victory. With the return of last years 3rd team All-American Abigayle Banda and some key young players this will be a team to keep an eye on.

#8 HSAA Blue Angels, TX
Last Years Finish: 8th
Returning Starters: 2
Returning All-Americans: Janell Beacham (2nd team)
The Blue Angels last year made their first appearance in 6a in awhile. This year they will look to build off that and will look to get their first win in 6a. HSAA’s first game in 6a last year they drew KC Metro and lost a respectable game 65-52. After that HSAA lost a nail biter to SWMO 47-44 and then lost another heart breaker 40-39 against the Austin Royals. The good news for the Blue Angels is that 2nd team All-American Janell Beacham returns and will look to lead HSAA to consecutive 6a appearances.


#9 North Atlanta Flight, GA
Last Years Finish: 10th
Returning Starters: 2
Returning All-Americans: Danielle O’Donnell (Honorable Mention)
The Flight this year will have their mind set on fighting their way into 6a. Last year they came up just short of winning the 5a championship but ran into San Antonio in the finals. Last year Danielle O’Donnell was named All-American Honorable Mention and she will look to lead the North Atlanta Flight into 6a this year.

T- #10 SATCH Mavericks, TX
Last Years Finish: 11th
Returning Starters: 4
Returning All-Americans: 0
Last year the Mavericks finished 3rd in 5a and will be looking to build of their highest ever finish at nationals. This year SATCH returns 4 starters and with last years experience they will hope to turn that into a run all the way into 6a this year. It will not be an easy task but it is certainly within reach.

T- #10 Cincinnati Landmark Eagles, OH
Last Years Finish: 12th
Returning Starters: 5
Returning All-Americans: Anna Davis (3rd team)
Cincinnati Landmark returns all 5 starters from last years 4th place 5a finish. With the return of 3rd team All-American Anna Davis and the experience of a team that played all year together last season this is yet another team that has their sights set on 6a and will be right in the mix to make their first ever 6a appearance.

In Alphabetic Order here are the other teams that received consideration:

Central Missouri Saints, MO
Huntington Eagles, IN
Indianapolis Trailblazers, IN
MHEA Eagles, TN
Tulsa NOAH, OK
WCHSA Royal Eagles, WI