There are starters and experience back for the Bridgeport High School girls’ basketball team that starts their season this evening. There are also more than one senior that has played all four years as a member of the Indians basketball program.

 

One thing that the experience that the Tribe returns this year from last winter’s 13-10 campaign that they’ve never had happen before is the same head coach. Ironically, those that have played for four years played their freshman year for Dave Marshall, their sophomore year for Paul Ayers and last year for Dennis Hutson.

 

This year, Hutson returns for his season at the helm. And he thinks that should help.

 

“The seniors will have the same coach for the first time for two years in a row and that has made this preseason much easier compared to past seasons,” said Hutson. “The kids have the background with what we’re doing offensively and defensively and the learning curve on things being introduced isn’t nearly as steep.”

 

Hutson is hoping that, along with what appears to be a talented roster, will have the Indians improve on last year’s mark. He’s also hoping to get back to the state tournament after a one-year absence.

 

“I think physically, we’re a little better than we were last year because we had some kids spend a lot of time in the weight room and work on their strength and quickness,” said Hutson. “We need to become better athletes and work harder because sometimes you have players that think just because they’re a year older that they’re a year better.”

 

Whether the Indians are better will begin to unfold tonight as they visit Braxton County for a 7:30 p.m. battle. The Tribe is then off a week before going up against Class AA No. 2 Lincoln at home on Dec. 7 and then having another week off before visiting ‘AA’ No. 3 Fairmont Senior. BHS is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll.

 

The Indians’ starting five will have familiar faces. Hutson said the two players that have to play big and the two that he can’t afford to lose are senior point guard Gianina Renzelli and center Quinn Stalnaker.

 

“They’re the keys to making us go in whatever direction we end up going in,” said Hutson.

 

The 5’1 Renzelli has been a main stay at the point position for four years. Hutson is anticipating a strong year from here.

 

“She puts pressure on defense with her quickness and has an unbelievable motor to the point where, even though it’s an oxymoron, I have to tell her to be quick, but don’t hurry – in other words stay under control,” said Hutson. “She has the ability to drive and pass and is a good shooter. We’re going to need if from her every night.”

 

Stalnaker, like Renzelli, is a four-year starter. Hutson said her offseason conditioning and the fact that she’s healthy after a troubling junior year could turn heads and turn the Indians into a team posting more than 13 wins.

 

“She lost weight and was extremely dedicated in the offseason with weightlifting and conditioning. On top of that, she had shin splints last year and ended up being a non-factor because she either couldn’t play or when she did it caused he too many problems,” said Hutson of the 5’11 center. “Having her inside as a legitimate low post threat, which we didn’t have last year, changes things up.”

Hutson said teams last year sagged to the outside and focused on the Indians’ shooters. This year, Stalnaker could make them pay.

 

“Her play will free things up for Gianina, Kaitlin Smith and Emily Riggs,” said Hutson. “We hope defenses will have to think twice about stepping out this year.”

 

Riggs is back in the starting lineup in her sophomore year. The 5’6 former post player will be more of a three this year.

 

“She’s a great perimeter shooter and has really come around in a basketball sense in the last 10 days because she’s played softball through the end of October,” said Hutson of Riggs, who had already verbally committed to Pitt for that sport. “I’ve told her that Major League teams take off more time than she does. She’s another one that needs to stay healthy and the fact that we played her inside last year should benefit us because she can score inside and out and not only draws contact, but finishes at the basket when she does.”

 

Smith will get the nod at the shooting guard. The 5’7 junior, who made her initial stamp on the program as a freshman for BHS in a state tournament overtime loss, is another weapon to turn to.

 

“She’s gotten quicker and plays with confidence. We have her now putting the ball on the floor and pulling up when people come at her. She can shoot the mid-range shot off the bounce and that’s going to make a huge difference for her and hopefully us,” said Hutson.

 

Rounding out the starting five is sophomore Rory Marple. Marple will lend her 6’0 frame to the four spot and Hutson said she has the ability to make the season a spectacular one.

 

“In practice she’s the best I’ve ever seen; the absolute best,” said Hutson who coached a plethora of talented players at Lincoln and Robert C. Byrd, including more than one Division I standout. “Her reach is longer than mine, she can nearly grab the rim and she runs gracefully. She can handle the ball, shot it and is a consistent shot blocker in practice.

 

“The thing is that we need her to translate what she does in practice into game situations,” he continued. “She can be that good, but has to do it when it’s not after school practice in the gym. She’s talented enough that we can use her at the point if needed and can run her at the top of the press.”

 

The Indians also have what Hutson believes is one of the top sixth men in the area in senior Stephanie Alvaro. The 5’7 guard can fill in at the point guard spot or the two and provides Hutson with flexibility.

 

“There will be tons of minutes for her and she brings with her four years of experience and also some starting experience. She’s a bigger guard for us with the ability to go strong and hard to the basket,” said Hutson.

 

Senior Michaela Antill, a 5’9 forward, will round out a predominantly seven-player rotation. Like Alvaro, she has plenty of experience.

 

“She started a half dozen games or so for us last year. She can play the four and she can also spell Stalnaker in the middle. She rounds out a pretty good seven-man rotation,” said Hutson.

 

Hutson said he also isn’t affair to use junior Tori McDaniels, a 5’11 forward, and freshman 5’7 guard Emilee Henderson. McDaniels, said Hutson, worked hard in the offseason, but still needs to get more aggressive. Henderson, he said, will split time between varsity and junior varsity.

 

“I can’t emphasize enough how we need to stay injury free and even illness free,” said Hutson. “It seems like we’re in a position where one key injury could be a disaster.”

 

The rest of Bridgeport’s roster consists of Jordan Cole (5’2, sophomore), Arionna Liberati (5’2, sophomore), Katie McDaniels (5’5, sophomore), Macey Phillips (5’5, freshman), Hannah Spurlock (5’5, sophomore), McKenzie Koon (5’7 sophomore), Ashley Goots (5’8, sophomore), Lauren Riffle (5’8, sophomore), and Lucinda McCullough (5’8, freshman).

 

Hutson said some of the younger players splitting time between junior varsity and varsity will have opportunities if they improve. And he hopes that’s the case against a loaded schedule.

 

“The Big 10 alone is challenging and we’ve added Williamstown, which is a loaded Class A team and play Chapmanville, Bluefield and Southern Garrett County (MD) and they were in the Maryland state tournament last year and have a lot of kids back,” said Hutson. “We want to beat those teams and the teams like Lincoln and Fairmont Senior and not just play well against them. We’re not looking for close loses or moral victories. We need to prove we can win against a really challenging schedule.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.