Thursday, December 6, 2007; VA21
Around the Area
Two-time defending region champion Edison (30-2), which lost by one point in each of the past two state finals, is still the cream of the region with senior forwards Adria Crawford (Georgetown) and Chasity Clayton (Florida State), who combined to average 27 points and 17 rebounds last season. . . .
Dwight Trimmer, formerly of Fairfax, Robinson and Herndon, is the third coach in as many years for Mount Vernon (13-11), Edison's primary challenger in the National District. The Majors have four starters back, including sophomore guard Tracy King (13.6 ppg). . . .
Yorktown senior forward Billette Ripy (10.3 ppg) helped the Patriots (18-8) to a second-place district finish last year. Yorktown (Kim Cordell), Falls Church (Nadine Hetman) and Washington-Lee (Michelle Miller) are National teams with new coaches. . . .
T.C. Williams (19-9), now coached by Jim Lewis, formerly of the Washington Mystics and George Mason and Fordham universities, inherits All-Met junior guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (22.7 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 assists), an experienced supporting cast and a new gym. Lee (18-4) is another front-runner. . . .
West Springfield (18-7), the last Northern Region team to win a state title (1999), got 27 points from junior guard Sam Landers in a game last week. . . .
South County (15-10) lost eight of its top nine players. West Potomac (Pete Stephan) and Lake Braddock (Carl Harris) are Patriot teams with new coaches. . . .
In the Concorde District, three-time defending champion Oakton (27-3) is retooling, but senior guards Jackie Shewmaker, Mandy Johnston and Erin McGartland started on last year's state semifinal team. Junior guard Brianna Johnson, a Paul VI transfer, should help, and freshman guard-forward Zora Stephenson scored 21 points in a game last week. . . .
Westfield (20-7), with senior guard Amanda O'Neill, could improve dramatically as the season goes on: Coach Pat Deegan has kept five freshmen on varsity for the first time in his 28-year career. . . .
Centreville (14-7) brings back three starters off its first winning team since 2000-01. . . .
Chantilly (12-12), with Shepherd signee Melissa Furr (12.7 ppg), shows promise. . . .
Herndon lost by only three points at Madison in the first round of regionals last year. Robinson earned a spot in the region coaches' preseason top 10 poll. Fairfax has a new coach (Marcus Konde).
Madison (21-6) brings back its top six scorers, all seniors, including Holy Cross-bound center Marygrace Jay (11.6 ppg) and versatile guard Katie Wimmer (10.8 ppg). . . .
Marshall (23-5) won the past two Liberty titles but lost its top four scorers. . . .
W.T. Woodson (11-12) boasts 6-foot-3 Iona-bound Sarah Schoof (12 ppg), but its top guards graduated. McLean (12-13), with senior guard-forward Jessica Stillman (34 three-pointers), qualified for regionals for the first time in 14 years, but many Highlanders are taking on new roles. . . .
Langley (9-13) and South Lakes (4-17) boast talented young guards -- sophomore Kristen Cody and junior Kelcyn Manurs (15.8 ppg), respectively.
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