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Watch out for SJCP girls basketball

Vikings are brimming with confidence this winter By John Harris III Staff Writer Simply put, after a 15-7 season in 2008-09, the St. John-Catholic Prep girls basketball team is a threat to make major waves in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland's C Conference.

The Vikings have enough proven players and potentially solid players throughout its roster to allow head coach Sheldon Henry to sound like a confident head coach when talking about his team.

"I think we have to be one of the favorites in the conference, Henry said. "We are looking to win it."

Second-team All-Gazette guard Jen Ballenger is back after averaging nearly 10 points a game along with 6.9 rebounds, 6.0 steals, and 5.0 assists per outing. The 5-6 all-around athlete is also a standout soccer and lacrosse player.

Fellow senior second-teamer Amy Duncan (5-9) averaged 8.6 boards and 4.3 assists last season. Senior guard Hyatt Keller (5-5) is also back after averaging 8.0 points a game, including 37 3-pointers. After playing on the varsity as a sophomore and taking a year off, Megan Midekke is back for her season senior as a 5-9 forward. Six-foot New Life transfer Jen Rimel, a sophomore, gives the Vikings a stronger frontcourt.

Sophomore guard Kattie Barrientos, who received plenty of court time last season as a freshman, is a 5-5 guard who Henry said averaged close to 10 points per game. Classmate Alexis Truxillo is described as a fundamentally solid player.

Sophomore Marial Pierce (5-6) averaged 6.0 points per game last season, and was second on the team in steals, and fellow sophomore Brooke Wilson (5-7) is also a quick defensive player with a nose for the ball.

Sophomore Meredith Jones is a solid 5-9 frontcourt substitute, and 6-3 freshman Christine Hagan has plenty of upside according to Henry and can be shot-blocking machine.

"We have added height this year, which should help us with rebounding," Henry said.

Vikings move to independence

The Vikings boys will basically have a new team, new style and a new circumstance when it comes to league play.

Standout big men such as Grandy Glaze, last season's Gazette Player of the Year as a sophomore, along with football-basketball athletes Ego "J.R." Ferguson and Forrest Mason have transferred to other schools. SJCP will also no longer compete in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's A Conference. Instead, they will take two years off from one of the country's best conference to play an independent schedule.

"We will be smaller and quicker this year without all of those big men," said SJCP head coach Silas Cheung.

Senior Matt Reaping, a standout lacrosse player, will be a key member of the Vikings front court. A sturdy 6-2, he will be counted upon to guard the oppositions' best offensive player. Devonte Moses is a 6-4 junior who will join Reaping in the front court. A trio of guards who also star on the football field, juniors LaMont Wims (5-10) and DeShawn Weaver (5-11), along with 5-11 sophomore Donte Johnson will be a threat on defense, especially when SJCP employs its full court press.

Kevin Brennan (6-4, senior) and sophomore guard Alec Wheeler (5-10) provide stability off of the bench.