IAAM A Basketball Way Too Early Preview

Top IAAM A Conference Too Early Rankings: As we approach the 2019 Basketball season, the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference has a tremendous amount of talent. Last year’s conference champion and four-time defending champion St. Frances Academy Lady Panthers look to claim their fifth straight title. This eight team conference features top talent all over the Baltimore, Severn, and even Buckeyestown area. This early preview shows you early rankings and key players in the conference. 2019-2020 IAAM A Conference Way Too Early Rankings: &nbsp; <ul> <li><strong> Frances Academy</strong>– Until proven otherwise, this team will go as far as Angel Reese takes them. They closed out last season by winning seven straight in route to the title over Roland Park. Roland Park defeated St. Frances twice in regular season but it is hard to beat a team three times in a season. Rising Senior Madyson Hinton and Kahlia Turner also return to give St. Frances one of the best starting lineups in the area. Head Coach Jerome Shelton returns at the helm to guide the Panthers to a 5^thstraight title.</li> <li><strong>Roland Park Country</strong>- After going undefeated in the regular season last year and being ranked as high as 20^thin the nation, Head Coach Dani Kell Steinbach just needs that title in her hands. Coach Steinbach will ride Senior Mir Mclean all the way to the bitter end. Last year the Reds won every conference game by an average of 18 points. Losing Senior players Ja’Niah Henson and Ferariu will hurt, Steinbach utilized her deep bench last year to create a balance for upcoming season</li> <li><strong>Mcdonogh School</strong>- After another 20-win season last year, the Eagles are primed to make the jump back to the title game after losing to St. Frances in the semifinals. Head Coach Brad Rees brings back rising Junior Jayla Oden to create a core around her. Losing Jessica Booth and Nelson, a Cincinnati recruit to graduation, Coach Rees will try to make it back to the championship game with a young squad.</li> <li><strong> Vincent Pallotti</strong>- Even with losing Rising Senior twins Nia and Lindsay Thweatt to transferring out, Head Coach Joe Matthews still has a great backcourt in Rising Seniors Jania Hall and Tahlia Brown-Stangherlin. Thrown in Forward Jasmine Valentine to the mix and this team could make a potential run to the title game. Last year the Panthers started 8-0 to begin the season but then the injury bug hit the team hard finished 15-10 and .500 in conference play. When this team is healthy it can be dangerous.</li> <li><strong>Institute of Notre Dame</strong>- After winning the B Conference in 2017-2018 season and finishing 5^thin the A conference last year, Head Coach Rob Dubose returns everybody but two players in Shaela Foster and La’Shrya Williams to graduation. Rising Senior Aniyah Russell and Rising Sophomore Tsion Smith will be the core of this team that finished 10-14 last year and lost in the quarterfinals to Pallotti.</li> <li><strong> John Catholic Prep</strong>- The Vikings bring in a new coach in Maddie McConnell, who was an Assistant coach for the Boys Basketball team at St. Vincent Pallotti High School, but she did not come alone. Rising Seniors Nia and Lindsey Thweatt followed her to the school out in Buckeyestown to help build out her roster. Combine that with Rising sharpshooter Senior Anna-Patrice LeMaster and Rising Sophomore Jaylen McNeil, the Vikings could make some leeway in the conference.</li> <li><strong>Archbishop Spalding</strong>– Third Year Head Coach Maggie Morrison loses six seniors from a team that went 8-14 last year. Rising Senior Terra Dzambo and Rising Junior Koi Simms will be the workhorses for a team that looks to return to its glory days when Coach Morrison was a player back in 2010. In Coach Morrison’s first season the Cavaliers went 4-14 so the goal is to be competitive and have a double-digit win season for this squad.</li> <li><strong>John Carroll</strong>- 2^ndyear Head Coach Eric Wakefield loses 3 Seniors including his Daughter Jordan Wakefield to graduation. But he does return seven players including rising Senior Miranda Dillon and rising Junior Marissa Ziegler including a Junior Varsity team that finished 3^rdin A Conference. They will compete with Spalding to potentially avoid playing St. Frances in the quarterfinals.</li> </ul> &nbsp;