Seasoned vets lead Albemarle

The Albemarle girls basketball team, powered by a quartet of veteran players, looks to build on last year in which it came together and turned things on down the stretch to finish as the runner-up in the Commonwealth District tournament.
Leading the way for the Patriots are Abby Hendrix, Cynthia Jackson,
Kara Elder and Laura Gomez. Hendrix, Elder and Gomez are fresh off their state championship win with the volleyball team and look to continue their winning ways.
Albemarle, which lost forward Katie Tubridy to graduation, has a smaller lineup this year with just a few post players. The Patriots will rely on senior leader Laura Gomez underneath, who averaged 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year. Elder also gives Albemarle a presence in the post — she averaged 7.1 rebounds per game as a junior.
“We only have four post players so we’ve got to play a four-guard offense,” Albemarle coach Anita Jenkins said. “Gomez is in there and she’s leading for us.”
Hendrix and Jackson provide speed in the backcourt and Jenkins is hoping to use that quickness on the defensive end to lead to baskets in transition. Last season, Jackson averaged two steals per game, while Hendrix
averaged 2.5 thefts.
“We’ve really been working on reading when there are good opportunities to trap and that kind of thing,” Jenkins said.
Giving the Patriots depth are returners Caitlyn Schuler, Katie Mastropaolo, Kristin Degnan and Kya Francisco.
The team adds to the mix several new faces in the backcourt, including sophomore Tamika Lewis, who had an impressive 18-point performance in Albemarle’s 46-37 win over Western Albemarle in its season opener on Tuesday night.
Other newcomers include Anesofie Bjorgul, Taylor Hale and Maura McClandlish.
The team will have to learn to mesh together quickly — Albemarle opens district play at home against Stafford next Tuesday.
Albemarle will have to compete with strong Fredericksburg-area teams — Riverbend, North Stafford and Mountain View — for the district crown.
Knights aim for title
Buckingham County is looking to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the James River District. The Knights will battle with defending district champions Amelia as well as a strong Randolph-Henry team, which returns all of its starters from last season.
Buckingham’s strength is in the backcourt, as it returns three guards, including Shanice Miles, Mimi Amos and Shamika Woodson. Miles had a breakout year as a sophomore, and coach Ethan Abruzzo expects big things from her again.
Forward Reniesa Jones joins the team this year, but the Knights don’t have many other post players.
Madison looks to improve
Madison County will have to compete with perennial power Clarke County to get a shot at the Bull Run District title. Clarke ousted the Mountaineers in the district tournament last season and later advanced to the state tournament. George Mason also has a strong team and will likely contend for the district title.
Madison was fourth in district play last year, but should build off that finish — it returns six players, including forwards Ariel Long, Amber Robson and Rachel Strahan, guards Caitlyn Ford and Jordan Aylor and 5-foot-10 center Laura Berry.
The team will rely on its defensive skills to win games, but according to veteran coach Katherine Johnson, the team must find a leader on offense.
New faces lead way for Nelson
Nelson County hopes to improve on its 5-15 record from last year with a host of new players as well as a new coach. In her 31st year of coaching, Debbie Whitmore takes the reins from Lloyd Gray, who resigned last year.
Whitmore most recently coached on the JV level, and brought with her nine first-year players who are expected to make an impact.
The Governors return four players from last season, including senior center Kim Mattox, senior forward Chelsea Crouch, sophomore guard Natalie Campbell and junior guard Kestrel Kerl.
Nelson lacks height, but will use its stingy pressure defense in order to create opportunities on offense.