West Valley Preps' Peoria girls basketball preview

The high school girls basketball season has been delayed until at least Jan. 18 by the rising number of COVID-19 cases. Here’s what local coaches have to say about their teams:

CENTENNIAL COYOTES

5A Northwest Region
2019-20 Record: 7-19 overall, 2-8 region
Coach: Brady Rath (first year as head coach)
Top Returnees: Kiley Miller, Soph., 5-10 PF (16.4 ppg, 17.9 rpg, 2.5 bpg), Macy Rojas, Jr. F (3 ppg)
How many years have you coached boys basketball? I have been coaching basketball for about six years. I spent time at Sunrise Mountain as the boys varsity assistant under my father, Gary Rath. I also spent three years as a student manager for the GCU men’s basketball team under coach Majerle. I then went on to be a graduate assistant coach at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am now in my first year as the head girls coach at Centennial.
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our team has a lot of drive within. They love the game and come every day wanting to get better. Our scrappiness will be key to our game.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We will need to improve on handling pressure and our best player needs to dominate. Kiley Miller is our leader and one of the top players on our team. Last year she averaged 16 ppg and 18 rpg as a freshman. She has the potential to be one of, if not the best player in the state if she keeps working hard to improve. She needs to have a great year for us.to get to where we want to be!
Who are your team leaders? Our team leaders are Kiley Miller (10) along with Macy Rojas (11), Jazmynn Speer (12) and Madyson Piercey (12). Our team will look to them during big games.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? One newcomer that will have a huge impact is freshman Akasha Prpich. She will be a huge help to our team this year as she jumps into our point guard role. She can handle the ball, shoot and guard. Akasha will be a great addition to our team this year.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or reach the goals it has set? In order for our squad to reach the state tournament we have to be able to handle full court pressure. If we can handle full court pressure, we will a tough team to stop.

PEORIA PANTHERS

4A West Valley Region
2019-20 Record: 14-13 overall, 3-5 region (Reached 4A play-in)
Coach: Robbie Harper (Sixth year as head coach)
Top Returnees: Gabrielle Gutierrez, Jr. 5-2 PG (10.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg), Samantha Thomas, Jr., 5-5 G (7.6 ppg, 1.5 spg)
How many years have you coached girls basketball? 26 years

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Experience and hard workers. We are young (team is made up of Sophs and Juniors), but a lot of them already have Varsity experience. They know and understand the system, and have high basketball IQs.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Chemistry. We haven’t had much time working together, due to the pandemic.
Who are your team leaders? Gabrielle Gutierrez (Jr. third year playing varsity), Samantha Thomas (Jr. third year playing Varsity), Mykaela Daniels (Jr. second year playing Varsity).
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Angie Moreno (So.), DaNiya Murray (So.), Jessaka Wilson (So.), Taleea Knox (Jr. Transfer-Glendale High)
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or reach the goals it has set? Stay healthy (physical and COVID-wise) and build on our chemistry.

The Sunrise Mountain girls basketball team and coaching staff poses with the 5A runner up trophy after the finals on March 2 and Desert Financial Arena in Tempe. The 2019-20 team was the best in the history of the program. [Courtesy Frank Eager/For West Valley Preps]

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN MUSTANGS

5A Northwest Region
2019-20 Record: 26-5 overall, 10-0 region (5A runners up)
Coach: Jennifer Tolle (10th year as Sunrise Mountain coach)
Top Returnees: Juli Diveney, Sr. 5-8 G (11.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2 spg); Mackenzie Dunham, Soph. 5-10 F (6.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
How many years have you coached boys basketball? 10 years, all at Sunrise Mountain
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? This is a more experienced team overall than we have had in seasons past. Our journey last season helped us learn a lot of what it takes to compete especially in the playoffs. We hope to put those lessons learned to good use this season.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? We can always improve defensively.
Who are your team leaders? Julie Diveney is the only senior on our team this season and will step into a leadership role. Also, juniors Kelci Connolly, Jacey Demaree, and Aliya Garrett will all contribute to our team leadership.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Ysabel Puente is a freshman we expect to make an impact right away. She is a shifty point guard with a high basketball IQ that gets it done on both ends of the floor. She will be a great addition to our team this season.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season or reach the goals it has set? We need to be able to adapt to all the changing circumstances. This team is focused on trying to build on their success from last season and it will take a focus effort by our entire team to accomplish this goal.