By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Whatever the 2020-21 season brings, the Skyline Lady Tigers will be ready.
With all but one player back from a 20-win team, Skyline’s eager to return to a familiar place: The state playoffs.
“This season could have many challenges,” said Skyline coach Kevin Cheek, who has won over 500 games in his 22 years at the school. “I think we’re built to handle a lot of these challenges. If we can keep improving each day, we could have some fun in February and March.”
Skyline will again have a relatively young team but does not lack varsity experience.
The Lady Tigers return four-all conference players: point guard Miranda Quennoz (first team), forward Justine Barb (first team), forward Emma Crawford (second team) and guard Alyee Gunter (second team).
Quennoz, a junior, is one of the top point guards in the area and has played varsity since her freshman season. She averaged nearly 16 points per game as a sophomore, along with 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
“She’s very skilled on the offensive end,” Cheek said.
Barb (5’9”) nearly averaged a double-double (15.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg) as a sophomore.
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“Most nights, she plays harder than anyone else on the floor,” Cheek said.
Crawford (5’8”) is a versatile player who does a little bit of everything. As a junior last season, she averaged 9.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
“She’s a great shooter and sees the floor well,” Cheek said. “She has a high basketball IQ.”
Gunter established herself on varsity as a sophomore, where she averaged nine points per game. But the 5’6” guard makes her biggest impact on the other end of the floor.
“She’s great on defense and much-improved offensively,” Cheek said.
Skyline welcomes back two more seniors with varsity experience in guard Riley Conly and forward Abby Nothnagel. Both bring strong intangibles to the team.
“Riley always brings the effort coaches dream about,” Cheek said. “Abby’s a great team play and will help us defensively.”
In the junior class, Skyline also brings back guard Maryn Curnett and Breanna James.
“Maryn and Breanna continue to improve on both ends of the floor,” Cheek said.
Skyline has three sophomores who saw varsity action as freshmen.
Forward Grace Edge averaged six points and six rebounds over 24 games, before a broken foot ended her season prematurely.
Emily Edwards (2.4 ppg) provides an offensive spark. Shayla Lynn has a defensive mindset, Cheek said, and improved on offense during the offseason.
“We have a good mix of players who play together,” Cheek said.
Skyline finished 20-8 overall last season.
For the first time since the 2011-12 season, Skyline did not reach the postseason.
Skyline’s streak of seven straight district championships ended with a 57-41 loss to Miller in the Class 2 District 13 Tournament finals.
The Lady Tigers did earn an outright Mid-Lakes Conference championship, though, thanks in part to an upset win on Strafford’s home court in late February.
Strafford hadn’t lost a conference or home game since 2015. Skyline last won conference in 2010.
Skyline graduated just one senior: forward Allison Nothnagel.
“Allison was a great person who had high moral character,” Cheek said. “We’ll miss her leadership and commitment.”
For newcomers, Skyline adds a mix of upperclassmen and rookies.
Senior forward Madison Ponder (5’7”) returns to the team and will help inside.
“She gives us some much-needed depth as a post defender,” Cheek said.
Junior wing Taylor Hunt (5’8”) joins the team after previously playing at Wheatland. She should contribute immediately.
“She is very skilled and should help us on both ends of the floor,” Cheek said.
Riley James, Ashton Cooley and Mariah Pitts lead a promising freshmen class.
Skyline opens the season at the 33rd Annual Warsaw Girls Invitational, which runs November 30 through December 5.
