A look ahead at girls' hoops
Players to watch
Shae Fitzpatrick, G, Lynnfield -- The Brown University-bound Fitzpatrick enters the season with 1,238 points and needs just 114 points to become Lynnfield's all-time leading scorer. The senior has led the Cape Ann League in scoring in each of her previous three seasons and has averaged 20.3 points per game during her career.
Shelyani Peddy, G, Melrose -- (See adjoining story.) Peddy is the primary reason that the Red Raiders could be making their first trip to the Eastern Mass. finals since 2003. Just a junior, she is already a two-time Middlesex League all-star. Peddy scored 25 points or more in six games last season, including three 30-plus point efforts, but passing remains her best skill.
Tommia Davis, G, Gloucester -- It was Davis who knocked Melrose out of the tournament last year, sinking a pair of clutch free throws with 6.7 seconds left to cap a 21-point effort that delivered Gloucester its first Division 2 sectional crown. The senior guard, who averaged 17.9 points per game last season, is the reigning Northeastern Conference MVP.
Kristin Degou, G, Newburyport -- Neil Reardon, who is entering his 25th season as the Clippers' coach, called the senior a ''pure shooter, one of the best we've ever had." That's saying something considering Reardon coached 2004 Cape Ann League Player of the Year Whitney Vose.
Ashara Carrington, C, Marblehead -- Carrington is the best returning post player on the scene. The senior is a four-year varsity player for Marblehead and has averaged double figures in rebounding and points in each of the last two seasons.
Northeastern Conference contenders
Gloucester -- No more Rachel Murray inside, as she joined her sister, Jaclyn, at the New Hampton School, but Ashley Amero and Atlee Cahill join Tommia Davis as returning starters for the defending Division 2 North champions.
Swampscott -- What the Big Blue lack in height they make up for in quickness with speedy perimeter players McKinley Tennant, Gwen Luke, Rachel Paskievich, and Meghan O'Malley.
Lynn Classical -- The Rams return all their key players from a team that went 17-5 last season. Senior guard Ashley Donovan leads a young but talented group.
Danvers -- The Falcons were the conference's surprise team last season, using an influx of young talent to tally 13 wins. Last year's freshman sensations, guard Danielle Sherry and Ashley Burnham, are back, a year older and wiser.
Salem -- The Witches could be the sleeper with transfer Stephanie Vasquez and all-star Nicole Goodridge.
Cape Ann League contenders
Masconomet -- The Chieftains got the biggest addition of the offseason when 6-foot forward Caroline Stewart transferred from the Pingree School. Stewart, who led the Eastern Independent League in scoring and rebounding as a freshman last season, teams with returning All-League guard Kristin D'Avolio to give
Lynnfield -- Any team that has Shae Fitzpatrick has a chance to win a title. But the Pioneers do have other players, led by point guard Audra Buckley.
Hamilton-Wenham -- The Generals return the CAL's best post player, senior Hailee Lowe. Lowe led H-W to the state tournament last year. Her 39 points against Rockport were a CAL season high.
Team on the rise
Ipswich -- No team was hit harder by injuries last season than Ipswich. First, the team lost leading scorer Megan Berry to a torn right ACL last Dec. 23 and then Megan's twin sister, Molly, tore her left ACL on Jan. 31. Despite the injuries, the Tigers clawed their way into the state tournament with a 10-10 regular-season mark. Both Berry sisters are fully recovered from their injuries.
Team in transition
Peabody -- The Tanners lost their top two scorers from last season to graduation -- All-Scholastic center Lauren Orlando and slasher Ally Vaccaro. The two helped Peabody reach the Division 1 North final. Peabody also lost Alex Moutsoulas, who was Peabody's leading scorer in its 58-49 loss to Central Catholic in the North final, to a torn ACL. The Tanners are going to need all the guile veteran coach Jane Heil has used to compile more than 400 wins to capture another Greater Boston League title.
CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER 
