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Centennial High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Southern Idaho Conference
Classification: 5A
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Head Coach: Cassie Bro
Years as Head Coach: 4th Season
Previous Experience: Assistant at Air Force Academy and Barry University
Record Last Year: 21-6
Assistant Coaches:
Vince Tullock
Shambric Williams
Returning Players:
Dominique Williams – Senior Guard
Tori Williams – Junior Guard
Aly Carlson – Senior Forward
Lauren Brocke – Junior Guard
Ayana Amaechi – Junior Point Guard
Kate Elder – Junior Forward
Amiperia Ti’a – Sophomore Guard
Returning Players with Honors:
Tori Williams (pictured) – 1st Team All SIC Team
Dominique Williams – 2nd Team All SIC Team
“Key Players” lost from last year:
Olivia Haney (Post) – Rebounding, inside presence, always there to pick up her teammates
Marissa Ingersoll (F) – Rebounding, hustle, and a willingness to do whatever the team needed
Incoming “impact” players:
Asha Tullock – Senior Guard
Jamie Leitzinger – Senior Guard
Emily Veins – Senior Guard
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Photo By: Steve Conner - #3 Tori Williams |
Team Preview
Written by: Ryan Lee
The Centennial Patriots got over the hump last season and qualified for the state tournament, but faltered in their first game against Rocky, and ended up losing to conference foe Eagle in the state consolation game. It was a disappointing ending to the season for a Patriot team that entered the state tournament as the 5A Southern Idaho Conference champions.
Entering the 2015-16 season the Patriots return seven players from last year’s 21-6 team. Returning for Centennial are sophomore guard, Amiperia Ti’a, junior forward, Kate Elder, junior point guard Ayana Amaechi, junior guard Lauren Brocke, junior guard/first team All SIC team member, Tori Williams, senior forward, Aly Carlson, and senior guard/second team All SIC member, Domnique Williams.
Domnique Williams committed to play at Weber State during the offseason, and her teammate Tori should be right behind her next year in committing to a Division-I school.
Tori Wiliams and Domnique Williams (no relation) led the Patriots in scoring last season, and they will need to do that again if they want to get back to the state tournament and have a chance at a state title. Centennial is led again by fourth year head coach Cassie Bro.
“We will have great guard plays again this season that are very fast, physical, and fun to watch. With all the returners we have coming back we hope to build off our successes and disappointments and come together as a team to reach that next level,” said Coach Bro.
Offense:
There is no question that the Patriots will have the fire power and the talent this season to compete with anybody offensively on a nightly basis. They will be one of the tougher teams to guard this season in the state with their depth and versatility.
One area Centennial hopes to improve is being more aggressive. During a course of a game there are many ups and downs, and one area Coach Bro wants her team to work on is keeping their aggression and edge up throughout the game and throughout the season.
Defense:
Defensively, Centennial will be without Olivia Haney and Marissa Ingersoll (graduation). Both were great leaders, defenders, and rebounders last season, and this will be something the Patriots will have to replace. Hoping to fill that void are three senior newcomers in Asha Tullock, Jamie Leitzinger, and Emily Viens. All will play the forward/Center position and hope to replace the communication, leadership, and rebounding that the graduating seniors brought to the team.
Wrap-Up:
Centennial should be one of the four teams to qualify for state from the 5A Southern Idaho Conference, and will have the talent, ability, and experience to compete for another conference championship, and possibly a state title.
A goal for the Patriots this season is to be more balanced on both ends of the floor and play to their full potential individually and collectively. If they can learn from their disappointments the last couple of seasons and come together as a unit, being Champions again will be a strong possibility for these lady Patriots.
GAMES TO WATCH: My game to watch this season is between Centennial and Mountain View on January 5, 2016. This game will feature some of the best guards in the state and should be very fast paced and high scoring.
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