-TABC Love!- John Jay Lady Mustangs are ranked 3rd in the preseason by TABC. Wagner returns only one starter from last year and are respected enough to earn the #13 spot. Southwest also made the cut coming in at #21.
Do not be surprised if a couple other SA teams crack the Top 25 before it is all said and done.
-Reagan is my darkhorse to surprise a lot of people this year. Terry Barton takes a backseat to no one in the city in regards to the X's and O's. This season may be the Rattlers year to challenge for city wide supremacy. Linda Kuster, Moriah Mack, Sabrina Berry and Wendy Knight may be as athletic a group as any in the city. Add an experienced leader and good shooter Marissa Rodriguez and this team is poised for a big run.
- Steele is another team that should end up ranked among the Top 25 in the state. While they most likely will not make it back to Austin this year, they should challenge Wagner for a district championship and contend for tops in the city.
Season Opening with a Bang- The top two ranked teams and finalist for last seasons regional championship will kick the season off going head up. Mike Floyd and Christina Camacho deserve a lot of credit for scheduling the season opening clash on November 9 at Wagner High School. Coach Floyd visiting the Thunderbird's house the first game of the season signifies his intentions. He wants to send the statement to the entire city that he runs from no one and he is the top dog. Coach Camacho invites him to bring it on, as she looks avenge the bitter defeat at UTSA.
These two are showing all of SA of how it should be done!
- Jay follows up the Wagner game with games against Judson(11/23), Churchill(11/30) and Roosevelt(12/7). Throw is the ultra competitive Pasadena event which features eight Top 25 Teams in the TABC(# 20 Bellaire, # 8 Cy-Fair, #9 Cy-Falls, #11 Timberview, #15 North Crowley, #19 Northshore, #2 MacArthur, #3 Jay). Hopefully star guard Destiny Amezquita will return to full capacity soon. For Jay to survive this type of schedule, they will need Destiny.
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Big Paws on a Puppy!!!- For numerous teams to have the type of year that they are hoping for, freshman players will have to contribute early and often.
-Ashley Ross will play a huge role for Wagner. Her athleticism and finishing ability will be needed for Wagner to contest for state.
-Antania "T" Newton will have to help shoulder the burden of Amezquita's absence. Talk about being thrown in the fryer, Newton will have to step up big against some of the best back courts in the state.
- McKenzie Calvert can make Steele one of the teams to beat. Taylor Calvert, Elena Gumbs and Lauren Zoldey are proven at this level. However, the young Baylor commit has the potential to be unstoppable in the open court. If she is allowed to go to work in transition, Steele will score in droves.
- Carlie Heineman from Marshall can help her squad make the playoffs in a tough district. Heineman is savvy enough to play some point guard but her ability to stretch the defense will open up the floor for her teammates.
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Breakout Players- These veteran players should have a strong year.
Katherine "KK" Saenz 2013(Marshall)- Nice guard with strong handle and a fast first step. Can knock down the open jumper. Plays for a coach(Erin Albrecht) that allows her guards freedom to create.
Alison Salmon 2011(Smithson Valley)- Salmon can hit wide open 3's as good as any in the city. In her senior year, this is the time for Salmon to put it all together.
Linda Kuster 2011(Reagan)- It is hard not to play in the shadow of a player the caliber of Jessica Kuster. Try living in the same household. That is the predicament of Linda as she tries to establish her own rep in the city. Her athletiscm should make her a double double kid this season.
Incarnate Word Backcourt- "Mo" Zuniga and Tori Villareal will give Coach Patterson one of the best backcourts in the city. Zuniga tranfered from Antonian this past summer. She is a heady point guard that can hit the 3ball. However, Villareal is the deal! The strong framed lefty should be a contender for area Super Team honors this season.
Jackie Anderson 2013(Antonian)- The cupboard is bare at Antonian with the departure of Zuniga and the graduation of leading seniors. The 5'10 slasher should have a big year. With her first step and strong handle ,she is going to have to put up big numbers with games scheduled against Wagner, Judson, Reagan, and the Katy ISD Tournament.
Ebony Easter 2012(O'Conner)- With the graduation of volume shooters, Arlene Cisneros and Tina Chapa, it is Easter's time to shine. An undersized post in the past, Easter has the skill set to play her eventual college position on the perimeter. Her strong frame and good jump shot will make her a headache for opposing guards to contain.
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Quick Hitters-
Super Teamer Shana Holmes(Southwest) has been cleared to play. The areas leading returning scorer is back from an ACL injury
Coach Breck Ross is no longer at Antonian. Ross led the Lady Apaches to the state semi finals in 3 out of the last 4 years.
Churchill has a lion for a new coach, or better yet a WOLF! Cal Wulfsberg still holds the assist record at the University of Iowa. Wulfsberg's intensity is already apparent. His 1-3-1 trap is indicative of a Lute Olsen disciple.
Johnson freshman Recee' Caldwell has taken unofficial visits to the University of Texas and Baylor this past month. She has scheduled visits at Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State over the next two months.
Jay post Raven Reyes is drawing a lot of interest from Kansas State, Tennessee Tech, New Mexico State and Southern Illinois.
