Cleveland girls aim high

Cleveland girls' basketball coach Rachel Moore isn't quite ready to compare this year's team to her 2004-05 Lady Raiders, but it's hard for her to deny the similiarities.

That team was led by a quartet of seniors who signed college scholarships. This year's version has five who led the Lady Raiders to a 21-7 finish a year ago. And there was a dynamite underclassman. Then it was freshman Kerri Simpson, who signed with Florida and played a season before transferring to Stetson, where she is a sophomore starter.

This season's team has 6-foot junior post Cierra Anderson, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.

"One of the greatest similarities, and I think it will show this year, is that this team is extremely close -- as close as that group," Moore said. "They're friends off the court and have a great time together. We have as much chemistry on this team as we've had in a long time, and it's hard to coach chemistry."

Moore admits that although the 21-win season was nice, it falls under the standards of a program that averaged 29 wins and made four consecutive state appearances from 2004 to '08. The Lady Raiders did lose three players who are playing at NCAA Division I schools -- Rachael Isom (Murray State), Cacy Burtnett (Belmont) and Michelle Davis (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga).

"It was hard," Moore admitted, "but we had to maintain perspective. Last year was a lot about learning and understanding what it would take to get to Murfreesboro. We always put an emphasis on our own set of expectations, and not what everybody else expects.

"I think last year we were doubted because we had lost three big players, and the girls we had returned hadn't played big roles."

Forward Q'Schara Brown, who has committed to Austin Peay, was the only player who had experience off the last state-tournament team. She agreed 2008-09 was a tough year.

"It was a letdown," she said, "but at the same time, it was a steppingstone to now. We expect to do a lot more than last year. We have some good players back that didn't play last year, and we didn't lose anybody, so we expect to come together, play hard and go further than ever."

Cleveland also returns point guard Jessica King, guard/forward Britny Latham and forward Heather Finnell.

"Our expectations are the same as they always have been," Moore said. "We never sit around talking about state tournaments, but we know it's something we want to attain. I've always wanted to spend the season preparing for the postseason, and whether we're 30-0 or 10-20, that's when we want to be our best."

Teams to watch

1. Cleveland: The Lady Raiders return four starters from last season's team and a fifth, junior post Cierra Anderson, who started before a knee injury early in the season.

2. Arts & Sciences: The Lady Patriots have the size and athleticism to advance a long way, led by senior Kayla Kelly and junior Robyn Anthony.

3. Bradley Central: The Bearettes return loads of experience from last season and gained two transfers from Cleveland, although one, Caroline Smith, won't be eligible until the region tournament.

Players to watch

1. Q'Schara Brown, Cleveland: The Austin Peay commitment averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds a season ago.

2. Hollie German, Polk County: The Lee University signee averaged 15 points and 10.5 assists for the Wildkittens, a sectional qualifier a year ago.

3. Kayla Kelly, Arts & Sciences: Kelly was one of Chattanooga's best players a year ago, averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game.