By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information
The conference head coaches have voted Owens Community College as the runaway selection to win the 2015-16 women's basketball Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championship.
Owens received seven of the eight first place votes among conference coaches, while Columbus State Community College received the other first place vote. Owens, which won the conference by three games last year over second place Columbus State, defeated Columbus State in the Region XII District I championship last season and ultimately finished third in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament.
Cincinnati State, which finished 9-5 and in third place last year, received four second place and four third place votes this year to become this year's preseason pick to finish in second place. Columbus State was picked to finish third after receiving one first place, two second place, two third place, two fourth place and a fifth place vote.
Rounding out the predicted order of finish are Sinclair Community College (4th), Lakeland Community College (5th), Cuyahoga Community College (6th), Edison Community College (7th) and Lorain County Community College (8th).
In terms of averages, the voting predictions were as follows: Owens (1.13), Cincinnati State (2.5), Columbus State (3), Sinclair (4.25), Lakeland (4.88), Cuyahoga (6), Edison (6.38) and Lorain County (7.88).
Team Capsules
OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (34-2 OVERALL, 14-0 OCCAC)
The three-time defending conference champion returns four players from last year's team, including one starter in point guard Briana Williams, who finished seventh on last year's team with 6.4 points per game and second with 3.6 assists per game.
The program loses its top six scorers, including five to four-year schools - two to NCAA Division I schools, two to NCAA Division II schools and one to an NAIA school. Reigning OCCAC Player of the Year Sierra Harley signed with NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast University and top post player Ashley Tunstall signed with NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University, but Owens has brought in an NCAA Division I transfer in Lakyn Gulley, who played at Cal State Fullerton last year and NCAA Division I University of Detroit Mercy commit Ariel Bethea of Ann Arbor Huron High School to form a tandem of Division I guards.
CINCINNATI STATE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (19-12 OVERALL, 9-5 OCCAC)
A perennial contender in the conference, Cincinnati State's top returner is Samia Carter, a guard who averaged 10.5 points and a league-high 6.1 assists per game last year. Their top newcomers include Montrail Roberts, a 6'2" transfer from NCAA Division II West Virginia State University, and Brooke Jenike, who initially committed to NCAA Division II Florida Southern College before heading to Cincinnati State.
"We're young this year with only two returners from last season and one sophomore transfer," said Cincinnati State head coach Sonya Beeler. "We are looking to improve upon last season and stay healthy."
COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (21-5 OVERALL, 11-3 OCCAC)
The defending league runner up's top returner is Brooke Pothast, while their top newcomer is Keyvona Davis of Columbus South High School. Pothast averaged 0.8 points per game in very limited minutes as a freshman.
"We have a very young, but hungry and talented team that is working extremely hard on improving every day," said Columbus State head coach Joel Renner. "The OCCAC is recognized as one of the best JUCO women's basketball leagues in the country and our players understand the mental toughness needed to compete every week."
SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE (19-12 OVERALL, 8-6 OCCAC)
The Tartans will be led by Victoria Jones, who took over as head coach midway through last season.
"My team is a team full of new beginnings and we are striving to 'win the day' in everything that we surround ourselves with," Jones said. "We are excited to compete and we look forward to this new era."
The team's top returner is Alona Skipper, who finished fourth on the team last year with 9.4 points per game. After losing five of its top six scorers, Jones brought in Madison Schroeder, a 6'1" post player who averaged 7.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for NCAA Division II Ursuline College last year.
"We are expecting Madison to help us both on the defensive and offensive ends," Jones said. "She is indeed a good recruit who we caught late in the recruiting period. We are excited to have her as a Tartan."
LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (14-16 OVERALL, 7-7 OCCAC)
The Lakers will be very young, but feature top newcomer Aloneet Durden, a member of the Division I state title team in 2011 at Twinsburg High School. Head coach Amanda Blazetic is excited for this upcoming season.
"We will be very young, but we have a lot of talented young ladies who are dedicated to do well," Blazetic said. "This should make for a very exciting season."
CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (7-16 OVERALL, 4-9 OCCAC)
Led by head coach Derrick Williams, the Challengers will feature seven sophomores and seven freshmen. Among the returners are the team's top three scorers including Keri Hill (11.9 PPG), Destini Turner (10.9 PPG) and Tashanae Duncan (9.7 PPG). Donnae Waters, the team's fifth leading scorer last year, also returns after averaging 6.4 PPG. The team has three players who are at least 6'0" or above, led by 6'4" freshman center Ebony Young of Shaker Heights High School. Transferring in from Mercyhurst North East Community College is sophomore Erin Burbank.
EDISON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (4-20 OVERALL, 2-11 OCCAC)
The Chargers will return the league's top scorer, Brooke Dunlevy, who averaged 21.2 points per game last year. Krista Blankenship, who averaged 4.5 points per game, also returns for a team that will go from nine players last year to 13 this year. Chloe Warvel, who averaged 2.5 points per contest over 13 games for NAIA Lourdes University last year, transferred into the program this year, as well.
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (5-24 OVERALL, 0-14 OCCAC)
The Commodores, led by head coach Vincent Granito, return Onyx Lopez, who finished 13th in the conference last year at 11.2 PPG. The top newcomer is Madi Bonner of Keystone High School, who led her team to a school record 17 wins last year.
"We have a solid group of returning players who should make us more competitive, but the lack of depth and adapting to a new system under a new coach might cause for some growing pains early in the season."