By JOSH EZZELL, Post sports editor

TMP Photo by Kelly Hite. Shellina Burgess is the only returning starter from last season's Riverdale team that went 38-3 and won the class AAA state title.

Riverdale won the Class AAA state title last season with a senior-laden group, but those players are gone, meaning Lady Warrior fans will see lots of new faces.

Gone is all-everything guard Anne Marie Lanning, who averaged 25 points and seven rebounds per game en route to being named Miss Basketball and helping Riverdale win the Class AAA state title.
Also gone is guard Alex Bivens, who averaged 14.4 points per game and led the midstate in 3-point shooting.

“We’re asking players to be scorers this year,” Riverdale coach Micheal Burt said. “With Lanning and others we had a lot of riders last season.”

The only returning starter is Shellina Burgess, who moves to small forward from power forward. Joining Burgess inside will be Clarke Davis, who emerged as an excellent player during tournament time last season. Nicole Petoskey will also see time inside.

“We’re trying to look at making Clarke our go-to player,” Burt said. “She’s got great moves. The biggest challenge in consistency.”

Morgann Swoape will lead the team at point guard, while Candace Spurlock will be the shooting guard.
“Morgann has potential,” Burt said. “Candace has potential.”

OAKLAND
The Lady Patriots lost three starters off a team that went 16-12 lost season and lost to Lebanon in the District 7-AAA tournament.

Gone are guards Tara Davis and Kierra McCleary, both of whom play college basketball. Davis is at East Tennessee State, while McCleary signed with North Alabama. They combined to average 32 points per game last season, which means other players will have to pick up slack offensively.

“We’re going to have to be a good defensive team,” Oakland coach Jennifer Grandstaff said. “We need kids to step up. You don’t just replace points like we had with Davis and McCleary.”

The Lady Patriots will be guard-oriented with Hayley Randolph, Rickee Roper, Shanrika Ward and Sintueta Davis getting lots of action in the backcourt. Anita Nicholas, Rachel Brangenberg and Cayce Keith will see action as well.

Sarah King and Kayla McGowan will see time at forward, while Roper and Ward and also help if necessary.

“We’re really going to have to rely on defense,” Grandstaff said. “We’re not a very big team, but they work hard.”

On offense Oakland likes to spread the floor, and on defense it wants to be aggressive and create turnovers.

SIEGEL
The Lady Stars have two returning starters from last season’s squad that went 21-11. Allison Wright and Morgan Faulkner are back for Siegel in the backcourt and will be joined by Amy Burns and Bethany Wright. Shanice Cason will play guard upon returning from knee surgery in December.

Clair Waggener, who’ll play collegiately at Lipscomb, will see action at forward. Shakira Johnson, Imani Chatman and Jordan Gillins will also help at forward.

“We’re having to replace a lot,” Siegel coach Alan Bush said. “We’re a little more athletic and have a little more depth than we had.”

The Lady Stars will push the ball a little more offensively and be more aggressive defensively.

BLACKMAN
The Lady Blaze return two starters from a team that went 3-24 last season. Blackman, however, has reason to be opitimistic.

They have three transfers — Shelby and Jessica Campbell and T’Anna Harris — who are expected to make an immediate impact. Shelby and Jessica move to Blackman from Culleoka High School and will play the one and two guard, respectively. Harris comes from Eagleville and will play small forward.

“It gives us more depth,” Blackman coach Chad Hibdon said of getting the transfers. “All three players are going to help us win. They bring different things to the table.”

Kim Franklin will also play guard for the Lady Blaze, who plan to be more set-oriented this season.
Lauren Dorsett and Blake Brown are returning starters at forward, while Alex Barber and LaDonna Bailey will provide depth.

Tierra Norris will play post, and Tasha Miller will help inside upon returning from a torn meniscus around Christmas. Unfortunately for Blackman, Katie Smith is out for the season with a torn ACL.

“She gives us a big body inside,” Hibdon said of Miller. “She’ll help with the five spot.”

MTCS
Middle Tennessee Christian School returns four starters from last season’s squad that made the sectional round and won at least 20 games for only the second time in school history.

Post player Lindsey Lee had to miss the first week because of a wrist problem but will be back at full speed. Joining her inside will be Amy Mullins.

Katie Dunn and Samantha Barrett will be the guards, as will Kim Mullins, who can also play small or power forward.

A big question mark for MTCS will be who will emerge as the point guard. Sara Sims, Dunn and Barrett are sharing the job now. Another question will be leadership. Gone is Katie McKnight, which means someone needs to emerge as the team leader.

“People have high expectations,” MTCS coach Dan Wilkerson said. “We talked about how we didn’t like that feeling in the Collinwood locker room (after the sectional game). I’m really proud of the work they’ve done.”

FRCS
The Lady Minutemen return two starters — guard/wing Lauren Huddleston and point guard Melissa Dumbert — from a team that went 23-2 last season.

Also playing guard will be Erica Wyatt, Hillary Earwood, Morgan Vanhook, Kelsey Turner and Chelsea Davis.

Julia Graby and Dollie Byron will start at forward this season, while Hannah Clement will provide depth.
“We’re going to try to pound the ball inside more,” Franklin Road Christian School coach Danny Rogers said. “We’re not as quick as we’ve been in the past.”