Bruins, Raptors lose school's leading scorers; BA moves on without Reece

By CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
The Brentwood and Ravenwood girls basketball teams are both coming off highly successful seasons but each must replace the contributions made by their school's all-time leading scorer. Brentwood Academy will take the hardcourt this year without a two-time Miss Basketball finalist.

Former Lady Bruin Kyla Kerstetter is now playing for William & Mary after setting the scoring record at BHS. Erin Lauderdale, likewise, broke the career scoring mark for the Lady Raptors before graduating from RHS. BA's Taylor Reece, one of the top players in Division II-AA the previous two seasons, is continuing her career at Samford.

All three teams will be a work in progress early on, but still have promising seasons ahead.  

Ravenwood Coach Ron Brock's team said the team's outlook is "hard to tell. We will see how we jell."

RHS and BHS will play the first Battle of the Woods on Jan. 20 at Ravenwood, and end the regular season at Brentwood on Feb. 10.

Here's a closer look at the Lady Bruins, Lady Raptors and Lady Eagles teams taking the floor this season:

Ravenwood High

The Lady Raptors went to the basketball regional final and Class AAA sectional round for the first time in RHS short history. Two of the team's top players, 5-6 wing Jayne Rice and 5-10 post Logan Hodskins, will return to make another shot at it this season.

Jayne Rice

Rice caught Hodskins' desperation 3-point attempt in the region semifinal and scored a buzzer-beater to win the regional semifinal against Cane Ridge. Ravenwood (24-10) then lost on a last-second shot by Hunters Lane in the region championship before running into the nationally ranked Clarksville team in the sectional.

Besides Lauderdale at wing, the Raptors also lost Lydia Wright to graduation, with Wright now playing volleyball at Union University.

Juniors expected to step up and take on bigger roles for Ravenwood this year are 5-11 post Lexi McKay, 5-6 guard Brandi Devore, and 5-7 wing Erin Johnson.

The Raptors tip off with a double-header with the boys team starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday against new Williamson County high school Summitt in a Hall of Fame benefit game. RHS also hosts a Hall of Fame twinbill on Thursday at 6 p.m. (7:30 p.m. boys) vs. West Creek.

Brock said the team's strength is "strong experienced senior leaders," while the team's weakness is the team lacks experience playing together.

The Lady Raptors, who also won the 2010 Hernando (Fla.) Christmas Tournament, have steadily improved from 12-17 three years ago in Brock's first season to 18-14 and then 24-10 last season.

Click here for RHS varsity basketball schedule.

Brentwood High

Kerstetter is gone and her presence on the court for the Lady Bruins will be missed. BHS finished as District 11-AAA tournament champs last year with a 24-5 record, falling in the region semifinals.

The good news, though, is that Brentwood returns several players with a lot of varsity experience for Coach Ronnie Seigenthaler's 21st season.

Paige Parker battles for a rebound in the region semis. Parker, Halle Jarnagin (42) and twin Sara are top returnees for BHS.

Twin sisters Halle and Sara Jarnagin are back for their senior seasons, with Sara in the post and Halle on the wing.

Another wing player, Paige Parker, made an impact as a sophomore, was voted all-tournament in 11-AAA, and will be relied on even more heavily this year.

Millie Tunnell is a newcomer expected to make a contribution in the post, while Paige Hood is at point guard after missing 2009-10 with a knee injury. Olivia Shealy will also get some time at wing.

The Lady Bruins open the season with a Hall of Fame benefit game Tuesday at Dickson County, then return home for a Hall of Fame double-header Thursday, Nov. 17, with the boys team against Columbia.

BHS then plays regular-season games with Beech at home next Tuesday, Nov. 22, while school is out a week for Thanksgiving break.

Click here for BHS varsity basketball schedule.

Brentwood Academy

The 6-1 Reece, daughter of former Vanderbilt basketball players Steve and Dana Turner Reece, provided 17.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

Mendy Lovelady (9.4 points, 2.6 assists per game) also was a key part of the Lady Eagles’ outstanding 20-10 season that included a DII-AA sub-state berth.

Hailey Pierson

BA still will have 6-1 junior forward/center Hailey Pierson, who averaged 5 points and 4.1 rebounds a contest, as well as 5-5 senior point guard Taylor McFarland (4 ppg, 2 steals). Jai Murphy, a 5-9 junior guard/forward, also returns for the Lady Eagles.

Coach Rhonda Blades Brown said the team’s strength is a “solid nucleus of upperclassmen with varsity experience” and that the team’s weak spot is the lack of a superstar to put the team on her shoulders.

But the former Vandy playmaker, 196-116 in 10 seasons at BA, said she is “excited about our ability to be a strong TEAM. I can’t wait to see who will step up and lead us.”

BA should also get some contributions from sophomores Ali Smith and Maren Kredi, and seniors Lizz Pease, Mallory Campbell, Hannah Grace Shude and three-sport athlete Caylyn Harvey.

The Lady Eagles begin their season with a Hall of Fame game at home 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Class AAA girls basketball power Shelbyville. BA then plays a Hall of Fame double-header with the boys team against two different opponents Thursday, Nov. 17, with the girls playing Antioch at at 5:30 p.m.

Brown also takes her team into the tough Bradley Central Invitational during the Thanksgiving weekend and to the Mt. Juliet Classic on Dec. 16-17. The Lady Eagles’ next home game won’t be until Jan. 3 against Knoxville Webb and a Jan.

The BA coach expectc the toughest competition in the East/Middle Region to come from Ensworth, Girls Prep, Baylor and Briarcrest. The Lady Eagles play at Ensworth Jan. 6 and hosts the Tigers on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Click here for BA varsity basketball schedule.