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District 10-5A Girls Basketball Predictions
BY Kevin Hageland, Matt Welch and Richard C. White, Staff Writers
1. Plano West
The Lady Wolves are not just the favorite to capture their sixth district championship in seven years, but have asserted themselves as one of the state's premier Class 5A programs in recent years.
Meshing its well-oiled machine of suffocating ball pressure, persistent tempo and dead-eye shooting, West has outscored opponents by an average of 16.6 points in its 24 wins thus far. Only two setbacks have dampened that mark, with two losses against the state's top team in Duncanville.
The Lady Wolves have state championships aspirations in 2012-13 and that starts with a commanding run through 10-5A; a building block West appears primed to replicate yet again.
2. Plano Senior
Experience is firmly on the Lady Wildcats' side entering district play, returning four of five starters from last year's playoff squad.
The results have been on Plano's side as well, with the team racing out to a 16-6 start on the year. Granted, last season's team lost just two games during non-district play before breaking even at 7-7 in district but the continued development of the Plano core should lead to a team better equipped at handling the district grind.
Seniors Grace Mitchell, Wilma Afunugo and Haley Wray are among that returning unit, while sophomore Kara Mitchell keyed arguably the team's best win of non-district with a game-winner for a 61-60 win over Flower Mound.
Plano also boasts a roster that stacks up among the tallest in 10-5A, led by 6-foot-1 senior Lucy Gentry and junior Ogo Obinabo.
That size, depth and experience will be enough to assert the Lady Wildcats among 10-5A's best.
3. Allen
In the midst of a three-year absence from the postseason, the Lady Eagles appear poised to finally take that next step.
Allen flashed shades of a playoff contender last season when a roster that featured just three seniors finished just two games shy of a playoff berth and with the bulk of that roster still intact, the dividends have proven promising for the Lady Eagles thus far.
Allen is averaging 56.6 points on the year and when clicking, possesses one of the district's deadliest perimeter shooting attacks. Juniors Anna Horowitz and Ericka May, plus sophomores Kayla Bise and McKenzie Martin are all capable of stretching the floor while senior Rachel Piles could wind up among the district's top rebounders when all is said and done.
On paper, the Lady Eagles have the ability to soar as high as No. 2 in 10-5A but fully realizing that potential may be a year away, although a return to the playoffs should come sooner.
4. McKinney
McKinney is hitting its stride at just the right time.
After alternating between wins and losses for much of the first half of the season, head coach Debbie Harris' crew has hit a hot spot of late. McKinney has won five of their last six and seven of their last nine heading into their district slate. The Lionettes (13-10) begin district play with a tough test though, in the form of Plano Senior (16-6) Friday on the road.
Leading the way for McKinney this season has been a trio of skilled players. Junior guard Mariah Mitchell, junior forward Jazsmin Nelson and senior guard Nicole Quincy have been a primary reason for McKinney strong turnaround over the last month.
The Lionettes' recent string of success is all the more impressive considering they have one of the smaller rosters in the district, with only nine players on the team.
5. Plano East
After spending the past three seasons as a playoff staple, the Lady Panthers are facing what may well be a transition year for the program.
Already facing an uphill battle after returning just two players from last season, East's progression has been decimated by injuries that have forced the team to call up a number of reinforcements from the junior varsity ranks.
Senior Jasmine Caston is among those bitten by the injury bug, an absence that the Lady Panthers can ill afford this season. When healthy, the Texas Tech commit has shouldered the bulk of the scoring load and extended both her shooting range and playmaking ability.
In addition, the likes of freshman Daria McCutcheon, junior Azia Lacy and senior Kennedy Munson have helped steer the Lady Panthers along but if East has any playoff aspirations, it won't just be a question of whether Caston or senior Jordan Welch can lead an inexperienced club that far, but if the duo will even be on the floor long enough to do so.
6. McKinney Boyd
After starting the season 3-1, the McKinney Boyd Lady Broncos have struggled to find their way. The team heads into its Friday district opener at home against 10-5A favorite Plano West with a 9-12 mark. The Lady Broncos have lost 11 of their last 17, due in part to the numerous obstacles they've battled along the way.
Head coach Rochelle Vaughn understands that patience is needed for any coach that's new to a specific program as it naturally takes time to implement a new system. In addition to the team enduring the expected growing pains of a new system, the Lady Broncos have also been forced to play through injuries to several key players.
Vaughn hasn't had a consistent starting lineup for weeks, but team has refused to accept any setbacks as excuses, resulting in their steadfast perseverance and resiliency.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
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