The girls basketball season started Nov. 16. West Valley Preps asked coaches from Glendale and Peoria for their outlook on the season.

CENTENNIAL COYOTES

5A Northwest Region
2022-23 Record: 12-15 overall, 5-7 region (5A play-in)
Coach: Brady Rath (fouth year as Centennial head coach)
Top Returnees: SG/SF Akasha Prpich, Sr. 5-10 (17 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 rpg) C Kaleia Young, Sr., 6-2 (2.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
How many years have you coached basketball? This will be my 4^th year at centennial and my 8^th year overall.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute this year is our length and size. We are a very tall team which hopefully goes to our advantage. 
What will your team need to improve for this season to be a success? We will need to improve on taking care of the ball. We are a very young team with 10 underclassmen on varsity. Inexperience is our enemy and with that comes bad decisions with the ball. If we can take care of it we will have a chance.
Who are your team leaders? Our team leader is #23 Akasha Prpich. Our returning scorer from last year who is a fantastic leader who all of us will be looking to when there are tough times. 
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? #14 Janae Walker is a freshman for us who could make a great impact on our team. She is a fantastic athlete and a great defender who can impact us greatly on the defensive end. 
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or achieve the goals you have set for the program? If we can take care of the ball and rebound defensively and offensively we will give ourself a chance at making the playoffs.

MOUNTAIN RIDGE MOUNTAIN LIONS

6A Desert Valley Region
2022-23 Record: 18-9 overall, 5-5 region (6A state quarterfinal)
Coach: Jaime Carreon (sixth year coaching Mountain Lions overall)
Top Returnee: SF Gloria Hines, Sr., 5-10 (3.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg); PG Maddie Green, Sr., 5-0 (2.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg).
How many years have you coached basketball? 24 years total. Sixth year at Ridge
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Senior leadership.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Stick to the game plan and do what we do at practice. 
Who are your team leaders? Senior Maddie Green
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Freshman - Allie Arnold, Taylor Sullivan and Tahlia Hempen. 

O'CONNOR EAGLES

6A Desert Valley Region
2022-23 Record: 18-8 overall, 8-2 region (Second round of 6A playoffs)
Coach: Charles Wilson (second season as O'Connor head coach)
Top Returnees: SF Thalia Daniels, Sr., 6-0 (11 ppg. 6 rpg, 1.7 apg); SG Audrey Bhesania, Soph., 5-10 (6.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2 apgnb).
How many years have you coached boys basketball? 11 years overall; second year as head coach
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Team chemistry and defense.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Consistency. 
Who are your team leaders? Thalia Daniels (2024), Taeja Bartee (2024), Chloe Beckman (2024), Audrey Beshania (2026)
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Bella Overlock (2026), Savannah Helms (2025) transfer from Fairfax.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or achieve the goals you have set for the program? Consistently performing at a high defensive efficiency rating, communication and unselfishness. 

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN MUSTANGS

5A Northwest Region
2022-23 Record: 27-5 overall, 11-1 region (5A state champion)
Coach: Jen Tolle (14th year as Sunrise Mountain head coach)
Top Returnees: SG/SF Savanna Dotray, Jr. 5-10 (8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg) SG Abby Leahy, Jr., 5-6 6-2 (6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
How many years have you coached basketball? 14 years
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our team’s best attribute this season is playing with pace and working together as a team.
What will your team need to improve for this season to be a success? This season we will rely a lot on our defense and rebounding as a team.
Who are your team leaders? Juniors Savanna Dotray and Jaden Maza will play a big role for us this season on both ends of the floor. Sophomore Addison Wiemann will be a force inside and from beyond the three-pt line.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Freshman Omoye Aguebor is a great athlete and will add an element of intensity on the court for us this season.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or achieve the goals you have set for the program? We need to not waste any days continuing to grow and learn to play together. I believe this team will grow into something special come playoff time, but in the meantime need to stay the course.