Big things are expected of Adna this season — so big, in fact, that The Chronicle’s preseason coaches poll resulted in a tie for the top spot in the Central 2B League.
Adna, bolstered by a pair of transfers, is the favorite to compete with Toutle Lake for the league’s top spot.
The Pirates return All-League first-team and All-Area forward Shanay Dotson, who led the team with 15 points and 7 rebounds a game last year. Adna took then-undefeated La Conner to overtime before losing in the regional round.
This year, Adna welcomes Napavine transfers Kenya Lorton and Devanie Kleemeyer to the fold, where they’ll join inside presence Sam Rolfe for what promises to be a potent mixture. Lorton, a junior guard, was an All-League and All-Area pick who averaged 14.5 points a game last year, while Kleemeyer is an athletic guard/forward who does a little bit of everything.
League MVP Sam Woodley returns to provide leadership and scoring for Toutle Lake.
“She can do it all, and makes it look easy,” Toledo coach J.B. Ewers said.
Throw in veteran center Makala Gardner — back from a late-season knee injury suffered last year — and the Ducks are the team to beat.
Napavine, despite losing two transfers, still has plenty of pieces with which to work. The Tigers didn’t have a senior on last year’s team, which made the State 2B tournament, and will be led by athletic 5-foot-10 sophomore forward Mollie Olson, forwards Karley Bornstein and Melissa Lee, and speedy guards Rylee White and Grace Hamre in coach Jeremy Landram’s uptempo offense.
Wahkiakum graduated the bulk of its starters from last year’s State 2B runner-up, but brings back veteran guard and long-range threat Peyton Souvenir.
Onalaska has an impressive roster of returning players, led by second-team All-League guard Nicolle Duryea and quick point guard Maddy Dalstead. Gabby Wright also returns, and Ronnie Kinsman — averaging 10 points a game last year before being sidelined with an injury — should add scoring punch.
Morton-White Pass brings back nearly all of its starters and has a new coach in longtime assistant Tom Griffith. He’ll have plenty of scorers to work with in veterans Sharon Hazen (9 ppg), Haley Kolb (8.3 ppg) and Jenessa Walton (7.9 ppg), and a big inside presence in senior Christine Robbins.
Toledo will be looking for offense this season, with forward Hailey Tauscher (4 ppg) the team’s highest-scoring returning player. Fast guard Courtney Moore returns to the backcourt, and Emily Barge and Josie Bowen will be looked upon to provide a presence in the frontcourt.
Mossyrock brings back just one starter in sophomore guard/forward Paige Moorcroft, and will try to develop throughout the season under first-year coach Darin Bullock.
Pe Ell welcomes back junior Railey Smith, who missed a chunk of last season with a knee injury, and starters Hailey Compton and Dakota Brooks.
Winlock will be led by all-around standout Rianna Whitehead, who averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists a game last season. The Cardinals return all five starters from last year’s 2-18 squad.
