LAKE GIRLS
Coach: Denny Meyer, fourth year.
Last year: 22-2 (12-0 SLL).
Key players: Hannah Cox, 5-5, Sr., PG; Hunter Johnson, 5-8, Sr., F; Alyssa
Shaffer, 5-9, Jr., F; Sumer Woodruff, 5-7, So., F; Lindsay Hoffman, 5-0, Sr.,
G; Jordyn Taylor, 5-4, Fr., G.
Forecast: The Flyers made the most of their final season in the Suburban
Lakes League last year, clinching their third straight league title and third
straight sectional title. The goal this year is to win the inaugural Northern
Buckeye Conference championship, and coach Meyer said his team has the
firepower to do just that.

“There are a lot of good teams in our league this year and the competition
should be very good each night out,” he said. “We were picked by the
coaches to win the league and our expectations are always the same. We
expect to always be at the top competing for league championships. A key
for us this year will be to play very tough perimeter defense, and we will
need to shoot the ball well.”

Lake does not have a lot of depth, and it lacks size, so staying injury-free
is crucial, according to Meyer. The Flyers also will be without the services of
the SLL's best player, four-year starter Kaysie Brittenham, who led the
Flyers in scoring (19.7 ppg.) and rebounding (7.6 rpg.).

Carly Huston, who was second on the team in scoring (9.8 ppg.) and
rebounding (6.2 rpg.), also graduated.

“Kaysie and Carly will both be missed,” Meyer said. “Our program has lost
very good players each year and the remaining players have always
adjusted their roles for the team and helped continue our winning tradition.”

Cox returns after averaging 8.3 points a game last year as a junior.

“Hannah was a very good shooter for us and is a great defender,” Meyer
said. “This year her role has changed in that she has to be a captain and
leader of the team.”

Shaffer and Johnson averaged 4.6 and 3.3 points per game, respectively,
last year. Woodruff, who lettered last season, averaged 1.5 points.

“Hunter Johnson is injured right now and she will probably need surgery
on her legs,” Meyer said. “We're hoping she'll be back later in the season.
She is a very good defender and she brings toughness to our team. Alyssa
Shaffer was a great role player last year. She rebounded well and played
good defense. This year her role has to change and she has to become
more of a scorer for us.”

Woodruff played on the junior varsity team most of last year but started
getting more minutes on the varsity squad later in the season.

“She played guard last year,” Meyer said, “but she will have to play in the
post this year with the injury to Hunter.”

Hoffman and Taylor will also be looked upon to provide key minutes. Hoffman
played on the JV team as a freshman and sophomore but did not play last year.