AAU Team Preview: OV Lady Dragons 2022

The Ohio Valley Lady Dragons 2022s are playing some of their best basketball the last few weeks. The team finished runner-up at the Pittsburgh Summer Classic in Monroeville and most recently, won their final bracket game to finish 2-2 against a tough field at The Classic in Indianapolis. In between those two, the Dragons finished 4-0 and won Pool M with a 3-0 mark before defeating Example Sports 16 Rise 53-48 to close out the weekend. Coach Brett Cowdery’s team has a nice combination of size and speed, inside muscle and perimeter threats with just enough shooters to be dangerous. That’s why he takes a team-first approach with offensive strategy with this unit. Calhoun County multi-sport athlete [player_tooltip player_id="153404" first="Josie" last="Montgomery"] can and will score in bunches. Her high school and Lady Dragons’ teammate Savannah Cunningham has the quickness to beat defenders off the dribble. This team has a number of players in the 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 range that can attack both off the dribble or pull up from mid-range. And they do. But when defenses focus on the guards and wing players, point guard Katelyn Web, all 5-foot-1 of her, can attack the basket or drive and dish to a pair of sizable and capable post players. St. Marys’ Millie Keher (6-0) is better known for her defensive efforts but is rounding into a capable scorer. But its Warren’s Abby Smith (6-1) who is the dominant presence inside. Smith splits her time between the 22 and 2021 team and has the capability of taking over a game in the paint at either level. This team is packed with high-motor players, coachable and willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. They are definitely worth a watch. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="54"><strong>No.</strong></td> <td width="186"><strong>Name</strong></td> <td width="84"><strong>Grad</strong></td> <td width="299"><strong>High School</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">00</td> <td width="186">Abby Smith</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Warren</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">1</td> <td width="186">Harper Bennett</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Athens</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">3</td> <td width="186">Katelyn Web</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Jackson</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">4</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="153401" first="Hannah" last="Wingrove"]</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Parkersburg South</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">5</td> <td width="186">Eden Cline</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Portsmouth</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">10</td> <td width="186">[player_tooltip player_id="153404" first="Josie" last="Montgomery"]</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Calhoun County</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">12</td> <td width="186">Savannah Cunningham</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Calhoun County</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">13</td> <td width="186">Millie Keher</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">St. Marys</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">20</td> <td width="186">Lauren Twyman</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">River Valley</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">23</td> <td width="186">Lacie Williams</td> <td width="84">2022</td> <td width="299">Vinton County</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="54">40</td> <td width="186">Zoe Davis</td> <td width="84">2023</td> <td width="299">St. Marys</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> &nbsp; Harper Bennett – Harper is a defensive specialist that has improved her versatility on the offensive end. Her motor doesn’t stop. [caption id="attachment_195775" align="alignleft" width="75"]<img class="wp-image-195775" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Millie-Kehrer-108x300.jpg" alt="" width="75" height="208" /> Millie Kehrer[/caption] Millie Keher – A solid post player, uses her 6-foot frame to protect the rim and keep smaller, quicker players from attacking the basket. Good overall defender with solid post moves on the offensive end. Lauren Twyman – Speed guard that can knock down shots and play solid defense. Always smiling. Zoe Davis – Lone 2023 on this team, still learning but has a bright future. Solid ability to score both pulling up or off the dribble. A physical player, she shows no fear. [caption id="attachment_195772" align="alignright" width="120"]<img class="wp-image-195772" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Savannah-Cunningham-180x300.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="202" /> Savannah Cunningham[/caption] Savannah Cunningham – An athletic guard, used her quickness to attack the basket and harass players on defense. State track meet qualifier in three events as a freshman. Works hard to improve, coachable. [player_tooltip player_id="153404" first="Josie" last="Montgomery"] – Named third-team all-W.Va. as a sophomore after eclipsing the 700-point mark in just her second season. Great shot at multiple levels, hard worker with a high ceiling. [player_tooltip player_id="153401" first="Hannah" last="Wingrove"] – High IQ player with the drive to work at her craft and already has seen improvements in her offensive game. A varied skill set with much to offer, Eden Cline – Extremely coachable and versatile player, can play anywhere from the two through the four. Capable perimeter threat. A coach’s dream, she does anything she’s asked. Abby Smith – Post player with high ceiling, deceptive quickness for size, gets up and down floor well. Solid rebounder who rarely yields position. Can score against contact and get to the line where she’s a consistent free throw shooter. [caption id="attachment_195774" align="alignleft" width="93"]<img class="wp-image-195774" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Katelyn-Webb-157x300.jpg" alt="" width="93" height="178" /> Katelyn Web[/caption] Katelyn Web – Splits time with this team and the 2021 team. An aggressive point guard that runs the offense with confidence and limits her mistakes. Able to attack the basket despite her size. Lacie Williams – Great spot shooter that hustles on both ends of the floor. Easy to coach. Battle through minor injury but came up big at the USJN tournament earlier this month. &nbsp; &nbsp;