2019 – 20 League Preview: Portage Trail Conference – County Division

The Portage Trail Conference – County Division is an athletic conference spanning schools from Portage, Summit and Stark Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Crestwood, James A. Garfield, Lake Center Christian, Mogadore, Rootstown, Southeast and Valley Christian. <strong> </strong> <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% certain that a player has enrolled elsewhere)</strong> Grace Mills – Garfield Jenna Smith – Garfield Kristen Gill – Valley Christian Hannah Mang – Lake Center Christian Rachel Neer – Southeast &nbsp; <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> Southeast enjoyed a magical 2018-2019 season. If they want to repeat that success and win another league championship, they will need to replace the production lost by graduation – this includes last season’s player of the year Andrea Radcliff and 1^st-team All-League performer Shelby Morehead. This process with start with Rachel Neer – another All-League kid. Garfield – a traditional PTC power for Aaron Gilbert – looks primed and ready to return to the top of the conference. The G-Men return a host of talent from last year’s group, including Grace Mills, Jenna Smith, Sarah Seaman, Samantha Miller and Emma Lawrence. Smith’s continued growth could be the key Garfield this winter. Lake Center Christian will need to replace Kennedy Haubert – who had an outstanding career at the school, but does return a 1^st-team All-League player in Hannah Mang, as well as Rachel Harker, Macy Kline, Faith West, Kaydri Sommers and Meri Karmie – providing some nice potential depth at the Varsity level. Crestwood has a few standouts back in Kelly Hoffman and Kylie Krupp, as does Rootstown with Shaelyn Stefancik and Karlie Duvall. If these dynamic duos can play to their potential – the balance of the league may shift this winter. <strong> </strong> <strong>3 Big Games: </strong> Southeast vs Waynedale @ Walsh University on November 29^th Garfield @ Southeast on January 4^th Garfield @ Valley Christian on January 25^th &nbsp; <strong>2 Fun Facts: </strong> Last winter, in Craig Nettleton’s first year as head coach at Southeast – his team rolled to a perfect 12-0 in the PTC (County). The Pirates went 21-5 – winning the district championship by a score of 63-55 over Liberty and advancing to the regional tournament, where they were defeated by Elyria Catholic. With 416 points as a sophomore and 413 points as a freshman, Garfield standout Grace Mills already has a whopping 829 career points entering her junior season. If she maintains anything close to her scoring averages during her first two seasons, the 2x All-Ohioan has a legitimate chance to reach the 1000-point milestone early this winter. &nbsp; <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> Garfield