LADY TIGERS LOSE NUCLEUS OF 19-7 TEAM

The Cape Central girls basketball team returns only one of seven players that saw much playing time last year during a 19-7 season.

"We lost the whole core of our team," said Central coach Paula Watkins. "It's a brand new world for us this year."

Gone from last year are graduated seniors Nichole Thiele (19 ppg), Laura Lukens (13 ppg, 8 rb), Elizabeth Kunz (10 ppg, 8 rb), Abby Harris (7 ppg), Ashley Skinner (3 ppg) and Brooke Spradling (4 ppg).

Those six players were the nucleus of past winning squads with Thiele a four-year starter, Harris a three-year starter and Kunz and Lukens starting the past two years.

"The good thing for the girls that come into this year is everything is wide open," said Watkins. "Spots are available right and left so they've all been working very hard in practice trying to earn a spot. It's been very competitive."

Only senior Amy Harris (5-8) returns with starting experience from last year. As a junior, Harris averaged five points and four rebounds a game.

"We'll look to her for a lot of leadership," said Watkins. "She's really the only player we have with a lot experience at the varsity level."

Classmates Sarah Brune (5-8) and Megan Watson (5-7) return with some varsity experience.

"Sarah's an intelligent player and works as hard as anybody," said Watkins. "Megan's a real good shooter."

Junior point guard Kim Aslinger (5-7) moved up from the junior varsity last year and helped out some late in the season.

"Kim's going to run the show," said Watkins. "She's good at penetrating and passing and she's good at creating offense for other people. She's a smart player."

Also looking to crack the starting lineup are sophomore Dionna Webb (5-7) and freshman Katie Dougherty (5-11).

"We'll be a young team," Watkins said. "We don't have a lot of size so we've moved up Katie to start as our center."

Webb, described by Watkins as "a tremendous athlete" will also move past the JV and into the Lady Tigers starting lineup.

Juniors Courtney Haman (5-9), Erica McDonald (5-7), Bonquita Cox (5-2) and Annie Christain (5-6) will fill out the roster.

"It's liable to be a year where we could have several different starting lineups," Watkins said. "Nothing's set in concrete."

Inexperience will certainly be a factor the Lady Tigers will have to overcome this season. Watkins is hopeful her team cam improve as the season goes along.

"We're going to be young so we might take our bumps early, but we do have some talent," Watkins said. "Some nights we'll step out on the floor and look really good and other nights we'll look really bad.

"Hopefully we'll be ready by the time the district tournament rolls around."

With nearly all of their offense graduated, balance will be important to the Lady Tigers on offense.

"I don't think we have anybody that's going to carry the load for us ... it's going to be a team effort," Watkins said. "We don't have a prolific scorer. Our scoring is going to be spread out among the team."

Besides, the Lady Tigers' defense is being stressed right now.

"We're hoping our best asset will be our defense," said Watkins. "We're working really hard on our defense because if you can play good defense, you don't have to score as many points."

Even with all the graduation losses, Watkins is still thinking about a district title.

"A lot of people aren't expecting much from this team, but I still hope to win the district tournament" said Watkins. "I think we can surprise some people."

The Lady Tigers open up the year in the normally competitive Oakville Tournament next week.