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St. C. Girls Can Shoot, Lack Size

By KIM NORTH

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — As Stacey Agnew enters his fourth season as head coach of the St. Clairsville girls’ basketball team, he came up with a unique way in describing last season.

“We’re like a donut. We have four or five good perimeter shooters, but right now we have a hole in the middle,” he acknowledged.

Much of that is because of the loss of Katie Bradshaw and Ari Reager to graduation. Both were forces on the inside last winter.

“They both battled back from some nagging injuries to receive postseason honors,” Agnew said. “Ari was second team all-district and Katie was honorable mention. They are a big loss for us inside.”

St. Clairsville has 17 players on the roster this season.

“Our numbers were up a little more last year, but we’ve got a nice quality of girls out this season,” he said.

The Red Devils do return five letterwinners from last season.

Leading that group are returning starters in seniors Maria Vincenzo (5-foot-4) and Rileigh Simpson (5-6), and junior Keri Klinkoski (5-8). Junior Katie Strama (5-7) and sophomore Macy Malin (5-6) round out the group.

“Maria is a four-year starter at point guard for us,”Agnew said. “She came on really well at the end of last year, so we’re hoping that carries over to this season. She’s our primary ballhandler, but we’re also looking for her to do some more scoring. She’s a very good shooter from behind the three-point line. She’s streaky, but when she’s hot, she’s hot. She’s also a great defender.

“Rileigh will be a three-year starter. We’re looking for her to up her scoring a little more this year. She’s also a great defender,” he noted.

Klinkoski is the tallest Red Devil.

“Keri was our most improved player last year. She worked really hard,” Agnew said. “She can drive to the bucket and use either hand. She also has 3-point range.”

Strama also battled injuries last year, but played well when healthy.

“Great athlete. She always goes one speed and that is fast, but she needs to slow down a little and let her talent and mind get on the same level,” Agnew said. “She’s an explosive offensive player.”

Malin is the lone sophomore on the roster.

“Macy may move to the point this season,” Agnew said. “She could do a lot of the ballhandling and allow Maria to get open for her shots. She had a good summer. She is capable of shooting from the outside, but she can also take it to the hole. Another very good defender.”

Agnew said he wants to up the tempo a little more this season due to the lack of height.

“We’re going to get out and press. We’re going to open it up on offense,” he said. “I think we have three, four maybe five girls that can shoot the three, so we should have better scoring overall. We won’t be as strong inside, but our outside game should be pretty good.”

Other members of the varsity squad are senior Kassidy Stephens (5-7); juniors Olivia Robinson (5-5), Emily Vera (5-5) and Emma Haley (5-10); and freshmen Shae Brookover (5-5) and Alexis Thoburn (5-7). Vera is sidelined with an injury sustained in soccer.

“Kassidy played last year, but she didn’t letter,” Agnew recalled. “However, she’s really improved her game this year.

“Olivia had a good summer and has carried that over to this winter,” Agnew said.

“Shae is a quick, stocky player who also has three-point range,” Agnew continued. “Alexis is a really good shooter, but being freshmen, they have to adapt to the speed of the game and the things that we are trying to do. They’ve come a long way though. A long way.”

The roster is completed by freshmen Mylie Gardner (5-4), Annie Stroud (5-5), Kadaira Fordyce (5-5), Destiny Heatherington (5-10), Daishanay Easter (5-10), Sydney Miller (5-6) and Dekotah Namack (5-9), who is sidelined with an injury.

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