Familiar faces

Maci Wisdom, Skyline, 5-5 senior: Wisdom is extremely quick and seems to have a nose for the basket. She could become a big-time scorer for the perennial heavyweights after devoting most of the summer to improving her outside shot.

Emily Reyes, Skyline, 5-7 senior: A three-year starter, she's no stranger to conference foes. But the loss of a key senior from last year's state championship team could propel Reyes into the "elite" category as she picks up the scoring slack.

Lauren McCurry, Pleasant Hope, 5-8 sophomore: McCurry burst onto the scene as a freshman, utilizing a true jump shot to pour in 15 points per game. A gym rat, her extra daily shots should translate to more points this year.

Anastasia Phillips, Ash Grove, 5-6 junior: Phillips was one of the premier thieves in the conference, utilizing her speed and great anticipation to average more than 3 steals per game.

Rachel Edwards, Fair Grove, 5-8 senior: Edwards averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds last season. Her size and athletic ability are well suited to coach Jim Moore's full-court, up-tempo style.

Mollie Gavin, Fair Grove, 5-7 senior: A tenacious worker, Gavin averaged 11 points and 9 rebounds from a guard spot.

Kayla Davidson, Strafford, 5-8 senior: Davidson is headed to College of the Ozarks next year and is a tremendous shooter, connecting on just under 41 percent of her 3-point attempts last season.

Chayla Rutledge, Stockton, 5-11 sophomore: She'll see more time on the perimeter this season, but as a post she's unbelievable at drawing fouls and scoring points.

Katie Cramer, Stockton, 5-9 sophomore: Cramer is lightning-quick, can sink shots from anywhere and will force turnovers on the defensive end.

Fresh faces

Kristen Link, Fair Grove, 6-2 senior: She's a "fresh face" only because injuries have kept her off the public's radar. A Southwest Baptist University recruit, Link missed her entire junior season with an injury and will make a deep team very strong this season.

Alicia Sayre, Pleasant Hope, 5-4 senior: A different mind-set and dedication to basketball has paid off for Sayre. Opposing coaches say she changed the Pirates' team dynamic dramatically this summer.

Anessa Alexander, Strafford, 5-11 senior: She averaged 10 points a game last year playing on the low blocks, but a move back to the perimeter has put her back in her comfort zone. She attempted only 12 3-pointers last year, but made seven.

Kaile Weinreis, Ash Grove, 5-9 sophomore: An integral part of Ash Grove's volleyball final four team, Weinreis is ready to assume a bigger scoring role for the Lady Pirates.

Ashley and Garrett Burton, Stockton, 5-6 freshmen: The twin sisters are very advanced for their size and age and might start from Day 1 of the season.

Macy Miller, Marionville, 5-10 junior: After being a perimeter-based team last season, new coach Eric Ingram plans to institute an offense going through the post; thus Miller's contributions could be huge.

Kim Ford and Emilea Pantenburg, Marionville, 5-6 seniors: A year of experience will allow Ford and Pantenburg, who averaged 11 and 12 points, respectively, to boost their offensive numbers this season.

Vaughan's take

Can the defending state champions not be the preseason conference pick? Absolutely.

The Fair Grove Lady Eagles return all five starters from a 20-win team, plus bring back a legitimate post presence in Kristen Link, who missed last season with an injury. If it all comes together --health has been an issue -- Fair Grove should be a contender at the end of the season.

Not far behind are the defending Class 3 champion Skyline Tigers. Seniors Emily Reyes and Maci Wisdom were key cogs in the Lady Tigers' playoff run last year, but they'll need to find a way to replace the scoring of Kirsti Wilkerson.

If they find that, another trip to Columbia could be in order.

Other teams, like Strafford, Pleasant Hope, Ash Grove, Stockton and Marionville, could take steps forward this season.

Strafford has College of the Ozarks recruit Kayla Davidson firing away from 3-point land and Anessa Alexander helping along the way.

Pleasant Hope has some budding stars in seniors Alicia Sayre and Alex Benson and sophomore Lauren McCurry.

Ash Grove's Kaile Weinreis is establishing herself as one of the purest athletes in the area and should take on more of a scoring role.

Stockton graduated much of its offense and is expecting its four top players to be freshmen and sophomores.

While Marionville had a disappointing 2007-08, this year's team has experience.