Lincoln point guard Chynna Brown remembers the frustration of watching her team from the sideline because of injury. She missed most of her freshman season after tearing the ACL in her left knee.
So when teammate Kimetria Hayden went down two weeks ago with a torn meniscus, Brown made a vow.
"When I was hurt, she held it down for us. I'm going to do the same for her until she comes back," Brown said.
Hayden, expected to miss most of the season, was SportsDay's girls basketball MVP and Lincoln's leader in its state-title run last season. Lincoln, which allowed opponents only 34 points per game last season, enters this season seeking its fourth title in 10 years. It is ranked No. 15 in the ESPNRISE.com preseason national poll.
Brown and forward Britney Gowans are senior leaders, and post Raven Smith could have a breakout season. Coach Michael Ensley has high expectations for freshman guard Camesha Turner.
"Our goal is to repeat," Ensley said, "but we know it's going to be more different because of the bull's-eye on our back and with the loss of [Hayden]."
• • •
Odyssey Sims uttered words that may scare the bravest girls basketball player.
"I don't consider myself good yet," said Sims, Irving MacArthur's junior point guard. "I'm all right, but I know I have a lot of stuff to improve on this year."
Humble words for a player featured in TexPreps Basketball magazine as one of the top five in the state. ESPN HoopGurlz considers her the No. 5 overall player and No. 2 point guard in the Class of 2010.
"It's a great honor, but it still shocks me when I hear that," Sims said.
Sims, who averaged 25.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season, refuses to take all the spotlight. MacArthur (22-11 last season) also features all-district senior Jenise Gentry. Highly touted freshman guard Alexis Jones, a southpaw like Sims, may be the area's biggest surprise.
• • •
Frisco coach Bob Rose has watched his program grow up after enduring difficult situations.
The 2006-07 season ended in the 4A state semifinals when sophomore Shay Cooney-Williams missed a last-second layup in a 61-59 loss to Dickinson. Last season ended when Lincoln made a last-second layup to win the 4A Region II semifinal, 47-46.
"Things didn't come out the way we wanted, but I think they've all taken something from it and learned a lot," Rose said.
Cooney-Williams, a senior who has committed to Pepperdine, will run the offense. Junior Tiffany Moore is expected to be a top recruit next season. Makenzie Simon, an Abilene Christian commitment, has started every game since her freshman year, Rose said.
"You can see it in practice. They make each other better because of how hard they push each other," Rose said.
| Team | Coach | 2007-08 |
| Cedar Hill | Andrea Robinson | 23-11 |
| NOTABLE: Former FW Dunbar coach takes over |
| DeSoto | Larry Goad | 39-2 |
| NOTABLE: Eyeing return state trip after loss in 5A final |
| Duncanville | Cathy Self-Morgan | 33-5 |
| NOTABLE: Team's depth could be biggest asset |
| Euless Trinity | Sue Cannon | 29-7 |
| NOTABLE: Young talent, veterans make for solid tandem |
| Garland Naaman Forest | Derik Short | 30-7 |
| NOTABLE: Hoping to make another state-tournament trip |
| Irving MacArthur | Suzie Oelschlegel | 22-11 |
| NOTABLE: Team is much more than Odyssey Sims |
| Mansfield Summit | Tammy Lusinger | 30-8 |
| NOTABLE: Perennial power could return to Austin |
| Mesquite Horn | Christina Bradford | 26-9 |
| NOTABLE: Won 15 of its last 17 games last season |
| Plano West | Don Patterson | 21-13 |
| NOTABLE: Team is a year older, a year better |
| Skyline | Cassandra McCurdy | 26-9 |
| NOTABLE: Scrappy group is defensive-minded |
| |
| Team | Coach | 2007-08 |
| Arlington Seguin | Courtney Phillips | 27-10 |
| NOTABLE: Team's athleticism meshes well with depth |
| Bishop Lynch | Andy Zihlman | 32-8 |
| NOTABLE: TAPPS power going for eighth consecutive title |
| Frisco | Bob Rose | 36-4 |
| NOTABLE: Experience, talent could be key to success |
| Frisco Wakeland | Darilyn Krempin | 30-5 |
| NOTABLE: Former 3A standout moves up in class |
| Kennedale | Vance Hughes | 30-5 |
| NOTABLE: 3A state finalist will be good but young |
| Lincoln | Michael Ensley | 29-4 |
| NOTABLE: Has won three 4A state titles since 1999 |
| Mansfield Timberview | Candi Harvey | 35-3 |
| NOTABLE: Made the 5A Region I semifinals last season |
| Rockwall | Jill McDill | 31-7 |
| NOTABLE: Drop from 5A shouldn't be a problem |
| Roosevelt | Carmen Hardcastle | 27-7 |
| NOTABLE: Looking to build on regional-final berth |
| West Mesquite | Howard York | 24-10 |
| NOTABLE: Undersized squad will rely on quickness |
| Name | Team | Ht. | Cl. | Pos. |
| Chynna Brown | Lincoln | 5-8 | Sr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Helped Lincoln win third state title since 1999 |
| Shay Cooney-Williams | Frisco | 5-7 | Sr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Pepperdine commitment eyeing state again |
| Starr Crawford | Mansfield Summit | 6-0 | Sr. | F-P |
| NOTABLE: Last season's 4-5A MVP headed to TCU |
| Shauntal Nobles | Justin Northwest | 6-3 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: Texas Tech-bound; avg. 19.5 pts, 15.5 rebs |
| Odyssey Sims | Irving MacArthur | 5-8 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Considered one of the nation's best guards |
| |
| Name | Team | Ht. | Cl. | Pos. |
| Peyton Adamson | Rockwall | 5-6 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: 139 3-pointers was No. 2 nationally |
| Alex Adekunle | Arlington Seguin | 5-10 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: Athlete plays taller than her height |
| Trudy Armstead | Roosevelt | 6-0 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: Has been a scoring and rebounding machine |
| Kelsi Baker | Mesquite Horn | 6-0 | Jr. | F |
| NOTABLE: A legit two-sport star (basketball, track) |
| J'Tierra Brown | West Mesquite | 5-7 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Averaged 7 assists per game last season |
| Khristina Clemmons | Frisco Wakeland | 5-10 | Sr. | F |
| NOTABLE: Named last season's 9-3A MVP |
| Tiffany Dale | Nevada Community | 5-11 | So. | F |
| NOTABLE: Averaged a double-double as a freshman |
| Jasmine Davis | Duncanville | 5-8 | Sr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Team leader committed to SMU |
| Keuna Flax | Haltom | 5-10 | Sr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Sharpshooter committed to Oklahoma State |
| Carrie Forcier | Richardson Pearce | 6-5 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: Inside presence headed to UT-San Antonio |
| Jasmine Godbolt | Garland Naaman Forest | 6-0 | Sr. | F-P |
| NOTABLE: UNT-bound star was 10-5A MVP |
| Britney Gowans | Lincoln | 5-9 | Sr. | G-F |
| NOTABLE: Experience, blue-collar style a positive |
| Alexa Hardick | Bishop Lynch | 5-8 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: TAPPS 1-6A Offensive MVP last season |
| Keena Mays | Mansfield Timberview | 5-8 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: SportsDay third-team all-area selection |
| Nikki Moody | Euless Trinity | 5-7 | So. | G |
| NOTABLE: Last season's 7-5A Newcomer of the Year |
| Tiffany Moore | Frisco | 5-10 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Ranked among the nation's top juniors |
| Nicole Peavy | Roosevelt | 5-3 | Sr. | G |
| NOTABLE: One of the DISD's most consistent scorers |
| Kelsey Smith | Coppell | 6-2 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: All-district player headed to Missouri State |
| Sequeena Thomas | Rockwall-Heath | 5-11 | Sr. | P |
| NOTABLE: A consistent double-double threat |
| Kelli Willingham | DeSoto | 5-5 | Jr. | G |
| NOTABLE: Averaged almost 5 assists, 3 steals |
Key dates
Today: First day of UIL games
Feb. 13-14: SPC Tournament, Houston
Feb. 14: TAPPS playoffs begin
Feb. 16: UIL playoffs begin
Feb. 27-28: TAPPS state tournament
March 5-7: UIL state tournament
