2020-21 Previews: Highland, Hillcrest Academy, Hinton

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Highland Huskies</strong> 6-17 last year 41.5 points scored, 48.3 points against 8 returning players</p> Following a stretch of seasons with at least 12 wins, Highland dipped down to a 6-17 mark a year ago. The Huskies pushed Winfield-Mt Union in the postseason opener before bowing out, and hope to build off that strong showing. Eight players return including starters Alyssa Clarke, Jenna Sands, Kayla Cerny and [player_tooltip player_id="127630" first="Abbi" last="Stransky"]. Dani Laughlin, a sophomore, led Highland with 15 made three-pointers a year ago. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="127630" first="Abbi" last="Stransky"] - 5.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.5 SPG Dani Laughlin - 5.8 PPG, 1.7 SPG Kayla Cerny - 4.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hillcrest Academy Ravens</strong> 2-20 last year 25.3 points scored, 56.4 points against 5 returning players</p> The good news for Hillcrest Academy this coming season is that leading scorer and rebounder Yani Gutierrez returns. The senior paced the Ravens at 10.6 points and over seven rebounds per game a year ago. She also led the way with 35 assists. Four others are back from a small rotation including starters Meredith Blossom, Esther Hughes, Leah Bontrager and Sarah Miller. Gutierrez also had a team-high 37 made three-pointers and got to the free throw line 95 times. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Yani Gutierrez - 10.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.6 APG Esther Hughes - 10.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.0 SPG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hinton Blackhawks</strong> 11-11 last year 53.7 points scored, 52.7 points against 9 returning players</p> Hinton earned a postseason victory and finished last year at 11-11, and with leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="129074" first="Bella" last="Badar"] back, the Blackhawks should be primed for more wins this winter. Badar, a junior, posted almost 17 points a night on 37 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent shooting from the three-point line. Classmate [player_tooltip player_id="129071" first="Anna" last="Coffee"] also returns after grabbing 154 rebounds to lead Hinton and sophomore Aubree Lake looks to build off her 81 assists. All nine returning players from a year ago were either freshmen or sophomores for the Blackhawks. <p style="text-align: left;">Notable returners:</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="129071" first="Anna" last="Coffee"] - 11.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 APG [player_tooltip player_id="129074" first="Bella" last="Badar"] - 16.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG Aubree Lake - 7.7 PPG, 3.7 APG</p> &nbsp; <hr /> <p style="text-align: left;"></p>