By Brian Pitts

The Davie County Enterprise Record

Every year players and coaches clench their collective fist and say, this is the season it will be different. It looks like it will finally be different for the Davie County girls basketball team in 2014-15.

The War Eagles have struggled long enough – four straight losing seasons and nine losing seasons in 11 years. They’ve finished no higher than fourth in the Central Piedmont Conference since 2008. In coach Dave Ruemenapp’s first year at Davie in 2013-14, the War Eagles went 9-15 and 3-9 to place sixth out of seven in the league.

But the stars might be aligning. The winning-season drought is expected to end this time around, and Davie could make a run at a top-three finish in the league.

“I think we’re just better,” Ruemenapp said. “We understand what we’re doing more. I’d like to think we’re going to be really competitive. With the girls who are back from last year, the practices have been night and day (difference from last season). We’re sailing from one drill to another. We’re not having to bog down and explain everything.”

Davie is in great shape in the paint. Three interior players  — Asiah Peterson, Aubriana Peebles and Ashlyn Hampton, all of whom are college prospects — have the prototypical size to control the inside, and they’re all battle tested.

This could be a very deep team. Senior wing McKayla Bohannon is a fourth-year varsity player. Junior Caitlyn Peebles is a third-year varsity player. Sophomore guard Sha’veh Martinez is a varsity returner. And junior guard Patterson Jones was pulled up to varsity early in her sophomore year.

The War Eagles may not have what it takes to capture the rugged CPC this year — Reynolds is frighteningly good on paper — but they appear ready to be relevant again.

“Reynolds is scary,” Ruemenapp said. “But we can have fresh post players on the floor all the time. I mean we should be strong inside. They don’t have to worry about pacing themselves during the game. They can get after it.”

 

THE ARTISTS

Madison Zaferatos, junior, guard

Zaferatos’ point-guard and long-range talents make her an invaluable player. She averaged 7.8 points as a freshman and 8.6 as a sophomore. Last year she had 17 points, six assists and five steals in one game and 16 points and seven assists in another. “About the second half of last year, she was starting to call sets for me without me having to tell her,” Ruemenapp said. “And she can definitely shoot the 3.”

Asiah Peterson, senior, forward

She closed last year on a good note with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Reynolds. “She has improved dramatically since last year,” Ruemenapp said. “Her shot’s much better. She’s much more comfortable with the ball. She’s really worked hard on her game. She’s hoping to play at the next level, and I think that has inspired a tremendous amount of work.”

Aubriana Peebles, junior, forward

Peebles averaged a team-high 11.8 points as a sophomore, hitting 18-plus points on four occasions. She brings an amazing vertical leap to the team. “My career with girls is pretty limited, but with everything I’ve seen from watching girls basketball I haven’t seen (a girl jump like Peebles),” Ruemenapp said. “I tell her she’s the second-best athlete I’ve ever coached. I coached one kid in Orlando who ended up playing at Florida State. Yeah, she can do things that most girls can’t do.”

 

HOOPSOGRAPHY

Returning players: 9

2013-14 record: 9-15, 3-9 CPC

Finish in CPC: 6th