Editor’s Note: This article focuses on Princeton Senior High School’s varsity and junior varsity girls’ basketball teams. Next week, photographs of the team and the schedules will be presented.



PRINCETON — Last season, the Tigerettes had five senior starters, and the team enjoyed a great season, winning the Mountain State Athletic Conference championship and playing in the state tournament.

Those seniors have moved on to college. They accounted for 90 percent of the team’s scoring and 78 percent of the rebounding last season.

As Debbie Ball, the head coach, prepares for her 27th season at Princeton and her 29th as part of the basketball program, she said, “This season will be one of the youngest and most inexperienced squads I have had.”

The cupboard, however, is not bare. The senior class returns three players who saw considerable action last year. In addition, five talented members of last season’s junior varsity return, and a skilled sophomore transferred to Princeton Senior High School.

This year’s freshman class is one of the most impressive classes in the history of the girls’ basketball program. Seven of the eight freshmen were members of Princeton Middle School team that compiled a 41-consecutive-win streak, including a 20-0 mark last year.

“We need to get much better on both offense and defense. As the season progresses and the young players gain experience, we should be a considerably better team near the end of the season,” Ball said. “This team should be a better rebounding team than last year’s squad. Also, this team has a better balance between size and speed than last year.”

She is encouraged by the fact that the team is beginning to pick up some of the basics of executing the school’s vaunted fast break.

Listed below are thumbnail sketches of the members of Princeton’s 2009-10 basketball teams, including Ball’s comments. They are presented alphabetically by class.



SENIORS

• Brittany “CD” Lankford is a 5-foot, 11 1/2-inch frontcourt player. She averaged three points and five rebounds last season. She grabbed 13 rebounds in two games last year. She had a high game of 10 points.

“Last season, Brittany did a very good job rebounding and playing defense,” Ball said. “This season, we need her also to be a consistent scorer around the hoop.”

Lankford was co-captain of the soccer team.

• Cheyanne Walker is a 6-foot center. An injury early last year cut her playing time and slowed her progress. She averaged a point a game and three rebounds a contest. She had a high game of seven points. Her season best in rebounding was six.

“Cheyanne has good size and is motivated to make a strong contribution to the team,” Ball said.

• Krystle White is a 5-foot, 8 1/2-inch shooting guard. She injured her ankle during volleyball season and is still rehabbing. Last season, she led the team in field goal shooting (46 percent). She averaged four points a game. She had a high point game of 15.

“Krystle is a very good shooter and handles the ball well,” Ball said.

White was co-captain of the volleyball team and also plays softball.



JUNIORS

• Brandi Moore is a 5-foot, 2-inch guard.

“Toward the end of the junior varsity season last year, Brandi stepped up her game considerably. She plays very hard,” Ball said.

Moore also plays soccer and softball.

• Mary Beth Miller is a 5-foot, 11-inch frontcourt player. She saw limited action last year with the varsity. She averaged almost a double-double with the junior varsity last year. She led the team in both categories.

“Mary Beth is a strong rebounder and is tough around the basket,” Ball said.

She also plays tennis.

• Chelsy Walker is a 5-foot, 9-inch frontcourt player.

“Chelsy is intense, but steady and consistent,” Ball said. “She is a solid defensive player.” During one junior varsity game last year, she hauled in 17 rebounds.

Walker also plays volleyball.

• Kim White is a 5-foot, 11-inch frontcourt player.

“Kim is a hard worker and a good rebounder and capable player around the hoop,” Ball said.

She also plays volleyball.



SOPHOMORES

• Cydney Graham is a 5-foot, 10-inch frontcourt player. Presently Cydney is rehabbing her ankle after injuring it while playing volleyball. Last season, she paced the junior varsity basketball team in field goal and foul shot percentages.

“Cydney rebounds well and has good potential,” Ball said.

• Kendria Perkins is a 5-foot, 9-inch frontcourt player. She played basketball last year with the Mercer Christian Academy.

“Kendria can score and rebound. She runs the floor well,” Ball said.

Perkins also plays volleyball.



FRESHMEN

• MacKenzie “Zee” Akers is a 5-foot, 4 1/2-inch point guard. She set the Princeton Middle School career scoring mark last year.

“MacKenzie is a hard worker, quick learner, and has high potential,” Ball said.

She also plays soccer.

• Amanda Cook is a 5-foot, 8 1/2-inch frontcourt player.

“Amanda is a hard worker who plays good defense,” Ball said.

Cooke also plays volleyball.

• Jessica Inman is a 5-foot, 5-inch guard.

“Jessica is a very versatile and smart player, who can play either guard position,” Ball said.

She also plays soccer.

• Marisa Mullens is a 5-foot, 2-inch guard. She is the lone freshman from Glenwood Middle School.

“Marisa is capable of playing point guard or shooting guard,” Ball said.

• Khadija Payne is a 5-foot, 5-inch guard.

“She plays good defense and runs the court well,” Ball said.

• Hannah Preservati is a 5-foot, 6.5-inch guard.

“Hannah is quick, has good basketball instincts, and handles the ball well,” Ball said.

She led the soccer team in scoring.

• Rachel Surface is a 5-foot, 11-inch center.

“Rachel has good basic skills. With more experience, she can be an inside force,” Surface said.

• Maranda Wimmer is a 5-foot, 7.5-inch forward.

“Maranda is a very hard worker and rebounds well,” Ball said.

Ball remarked that she expects several players to play on the junior varsity as well as the varsity. She stated that during the season that the varsity starting lineup and rotation might change considerably from game to game.

“If I were to choose a starting lineup now, it would be composed of Brittany Lankford, Cheyanne Walker, Chelsy Walker (no relation), Krystle White, and MacKenzie Akers,” she said.

Ball will be assisted again this season by her brother, Skip Ball. Also assisting with the squad are two of Coach’s Ball former players-Tamara Scott and Tina Six. Both ladies were on teams that went to the state tournament.