2022-2023 Streetsboro girls basketball preview
Here's a look at the 2022-2023 Streetsboro Rockets girls basketball team (with all quotes coming from coach Carl Singer):
Head Coach: Carl Singer (7th season)
Assistant Coaches: Ira Campbell, Scott Clark, Bryan Bedford, Julie Taylor
2021-2022 Record: 18-7 (10-4 Metro Athletic Conference)
Returning Letterwinners (7): Reanne Barzal, Ella Kassan, Maddy Hajec, Maiya Taylor, Cara Tiller, Naomi Benson, Sydney Abbuhl
Letterwinners Lost (6): Kennedy Danna, Mallory Rice, Mariah Embry, Megan Szczesinski, Savanna Estes, Raelyn States
Overall: The Rockets reached new heights last season, winning a program-record 18 games and capturing their first sectional title in many years. There's no reason Streetsboro can't reach similar heights in 2022-2023, thanks in large part to a loaded frontcourt led by 6-3 Naomi Benson and 5-11 Ella Kassan, both of whom had monstrous seasons last year. As Rockets coach Carl Singer noted, "It is hard to argue that size isn't one of our strengths." After all, four of the team's top players are 5-10 and above, which should cause all sorts of match-up issues throughout the season, especially since many of Streetsboro's tallest players are also "very athletic." The key for the Rockets will be finding answers in the backcourt after they graduated longtime starting guards like Kennedy Danna, Mariah Embry, Mallory Rice and Megan Szczesinski.
Backcourt: The Rockets have to "replace all of our starting guard spots from last season." Of their returners, Maddy Hajec and Cara Tiller "bring the most varsity experience" while Carlee Bedford and Maiya Taylor bring "size and versatility with the ability to play guard and forward." Olivia Johnson-Wilson is expected to bring an "intensity to our defense that will make a big impact," while Sydney Abbuhl can "score on all three levels."
Frontcourt: Naomi Benson "burst onto the scene" last season, averaging a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) as a freshman, but that was "not a surprise to people that had seen her play." The 6-3 center is as dominant as one would expect on the boards, but also boasts a nice shooting touch. Ella Kassan (10 ppg, 7 rpg) is a "perfect complement" to Benson with "her ability to score both inside and outside." Reanne Barzal, the team's lone senior, is a key leader.
The Road Ahead: The challenges start early for the Rockets, whether its their league and overall opener against longtime Metro Athletic Conference powerhouse Norton (Nov. 22) or a holiday swing through the Suburban American with games against Aurora (Dec. 20) and Roosevelt (Dec. 22). The Rockets are also slated to participate in the Classic in the Country, among the state's most prestigious tournaments, with Streetsboro set to square off against Toledo Central Catholic on Jan. 16.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 2022-2023 Streetsboro girls basketball preview
