Season Preview: Western Doves

The Western Doves were poised to square off with Howard High in last year's 4A final four before Covid19 sent things spiraling out of control. The Doves bring back most of the same core and are in position to end up right back in the same place. Coach Tasha Townsend is back at the helm and this is what she's working with. &nbsp; <strong>Gabby Johnson, 2022, Guard</strong> Gabby "Showtime" Johnson is worth the price of admission on any winter night where ball is being played. The 5'8" guard is capable of running the point or going off the ball and supplying scoring at the two spot. He has a reliable three point shot and knows how to create space. Her handle is tight which allows her to get into the lane at will. She is strong enough to finish through contact and gets more "And 1" opportunities than any other player in the area. She is a great passer and a ferocious competitor. She is holding several mid major offers right now. <strong>Vashae Rideout, 2021, Guard</strong> Vashae actually returned to Western for her senior season after a year at St. Vincent Pallotti. She signed with Lander University so she can just focus on her game and ball out. Vashae is naturally a two guard but she can give quality minutes at the point as well. She is a gifted scorer from all three levels and will bring an immediate boost to the Doves. <strong>Sanaya Gray, 2021</strong> One of my favorite guards in the area. She looks like she is all the way back from a shoulder injury. She is a speedy combo guard that brings toughness every game. At 5’7″ she has decent size and a nice perimeter game. She can facilitate or play off the ball and will lock up on defense. Very skilled player who can play at the next level right away. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137209" first="Ny’Ceara" last="Pryor"], 2022, Point Guard</strong> Affectionately known in the area as simply Lil Mama due to her 5'4" height, she is one of top 2022 point guards in the country. She controls the tempo of the game and is capable of capable of dominating on the defensive end. She is a terror in transition and is a pass first playmaker. She is holding several mid major and low D1 offers. <strong>Breasia Coit, 2024, Center</strong> Ms. Coit has legitimate size at around 6'3". She is still raw but has a lot of potential, especially on the defensive end where she is a gifted shot blocker. With some improved footwork and skills she will be hard to keep off the court. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137259" first="Korteni" last="McMurray"], 2022</strong> Korteni is a promising wing that should play a lot more minutes this year. She has been training hard during this pandemic and is playing with a lot more confidence. She was already a good shooter from three point range but she has added a nice mid range pull up to her arsenal. She is a lefty and has good size at 5'9". &nbsp; &nbsp;