Log in

WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps 2019-20 girls basketball preview

Posted 12/2/19

The girls basketball season is under way for all local high schools. Here’s what local coaches have to say about their teams a week after the regular season began.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
WEST VALLEY PREPS

West Valley Preps 2019-20 girls basketball preview

Posted

The girls basketball season is under way for all local high schools. Here’s what local coaches have to say about their teams a week after the regular season began.

DEER VALLEY SKYHAWKS

4A West Valley Region

2018-19 Record: 13-11 overall, 4-4 region (reached 4A play-in)

Coach: MJ Walker (second year as Deer Valley coach)

How many years have you coached girls basketball? I’ve coached for eight years and this is my third season at Deer Valley, second as varsity coach.

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We’ve got hustle on defense.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We need to execute at every aspect of the game. There is always room for improvement. We get stronger every day.

Who are your team leaders? Sara Roskelley (senior), Allison Howard (junior), Aalyna Silva (senior).

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Annie Lee (sophomore), Michaela Lee (freshman).

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament, or achieve the goals you have set this season? Communication and hard work.

ESTRELLA FOOTHILLS WOLVES

4A Southwest Region

2018-19 Record: 18-10 overall, 6-2 region (Reached first round of 4A playoffs)

Coach: Matt Johnson (10th year as Estrella Foothills coach)

Top Returnee: Tianna Reeder, Soph.G 5-9 (12.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.9 spg); Cheyanne Hubbard, Sr., W 5-6 (4.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.5 spg)

How many years have you coached basketball? I have been coaching since 1994 at the high school boys, men’s collegiate and this is my 10th season as the head coach of EFHS girls basketball with a 185-71 win/loss record and eight trips to the state playoffs in nine years.

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute this season has been the player work ethic and dedication.

Who are your team leaders? Tianna Reeder and Cheyanne Hubbard are returning starters and Olivia Neidzwecki (started as a freshman) returns after missing last season due to injury.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Several players will be asked to take bigger roles on varsity.  Samantha Stockton and Mary Winovich will share post responsibilities. Delilah Lunan and Kennedy Harper are new to the program and will provide depth at the wing.  Alyssa Gename, Alexandria Nickeson, Ruth Valdez, Kayla Campbell, Faith Ross and Jenae Beneschan will provide depth.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season? Gain game experience and develop understanding of who fills what roles necessary for us to be the most successful. We will have to develop our depth and gain a strong grasp on the offensive and defensive system to make a run the second half of the season.

GLENDALE PREP GRIFFINS

2A Central Region

2018-19 Record: 21-10 overall, 8-4 in region play (First round of 2A playoffs)

Coach: MJ DiPietro (first year at Glendale Prep)

How many years have you coached boys basketball? Six years.

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.