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Meadville Bulldogs
Boys
Coach (season, record): Norm Price (24th season, 397-204)
2011-12 overall record: 16-7
2011-12 region record (place): 11-5 (tied for second)
2011-12 playoff results: Lost to Girard 44-37 in a District 10 Class AAA play-in game.
Top player lost: Fred Epps
Top returning players: Artrel Foster, Donte Hollingsworth, Zak Price, Trevor Clune, Jacob Gregor
Assistant coaches: Todd Pearson, Chuck Jones
Outlook: If there was one team in Class AAA that could match Hickory’s experience, it would definitely be Meadville. The Bulldogs return all five starters and will only have to replace Fred Epps, who graduated. Seniors Artrel Foster, Donte Hollingsworth, Zak Price and Trevor Clune are back along with junior Jacob Gregor. Foster averaged 11 points per game as a junior to be voted to the all-region second team along with Price, who scored 13 points per game. The experienced group could be bolstered by 6-4 freshman Jason Clune, 5-10 senior Phil Mottillo and 5-8 senior Marlon McCoy. The three will be crucial in helping the starting lineup get breaks and in case any of the five get into foul trouble. Foster (677 points), Hollingsworth (592) and Price (575) could all reach 1,000 points for Meadville this season. Region 5 is brutal, once again, with talented southern teams and it is only bolstered by George Junior replacing Titusville. Much like last year, it is unlikely any team will go unbeaten in region play but the team to survive the region schedule will be formidable in the D-10 playoffs. Meadville will need several big wins to stay near the top of the region, including two showdowns with Hickory.

Schedule
December
7-8 Meadville tournament
12 at McDowell 7:30
14 Sharon* 7:30
18 at Hickory* 7:30
21 Slippery Rock* 7:30
27-28 Meadville tournament
January
3 at George Junior* 7:30
5 at Farrell* 7:30
8 at Franklin* 7:30
15 Grove City* 7:30
18 at Oil City* 7:30
22 at Sharon* 7:30
25 Hickory* 7:30
29 at Slippery Rock* 7:30
February
1 George Junior* 7:30
5 Farrell* 7:30
7 Franklin* 7:30
9 Central Tech 7:30
12 at Grove City* 7:30
15 Oil City* 7:30
*Region 5 games

Girls
Coach (season): Casey Heller (1st season)
2011-12 overall record: 8-14
2011-12 region record (place): 4-8 (fifth)
2011-12 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.
Top players lost: Chaykala Lindsey, DaQueisha Epps
Top returning players: Shauntia Vactor-Pope, Katie DeWalt, Cadi McCoy
Assistant coaches: Chuck Walker, Tony Boca
Outlook: Meadville will start over with former Bulldog star Casey Heller. She is only a few years out of Edinboro but Heller is hungry to turn Meadville’s program around. The Bulldogs missed out on the playoffs last year but they have enough talent back to contend for a playoff spot. Meadville graduated Chaykala Lindsey and DaQueisha Epps but return three starters in Shauntia Vactor-Pope, Katie DeWalt and Cadi McCoy. Vactor-Pope and DeWalt bring in senior experience, while McCoy is a talented junior forward. The three will be important in leading a young Bulldogs team. Meadville has a few younger players that could earn playing time in camp as Heller searches for more size to complement her returning starters. The Bulldogs will have a tough road in region play this season. Franklin and Hickory are loaded while Grove City and Slippery Rock are never easy wins either. Meadville will need to buy into a new system with new players right away to return to the postseason.

Schedule
December
7-8 Meadville tournament
13 Villa Maria 7:30
15 at Sharpsville 2:30
20 Grove City* 7:30
26-27 Corry tournament
January
3 Titusville* 7:30
7 Central Tech 7:30
10 at Slippery Rock* 7:30
14 Hickory* 7:30
17 Franklin* 7:30
19 at Central Tech 7:30
21 at Oil City* 7:30
24 at Grove City* 7:30
26 at Strong Vincent 3:30
28 at Titusville* 7:30
31 Conneaut 7:30
February
4 Slippery Rock* 7:30
7 at Hickory* 7:30
11 at Franklin* 7:30
14 Oil City* 7:30
*Region 5 games

Friday: Mercer

–Tom Reisenweber

Meadville Bulldogs
Boys
Coach (season, record): Norm Price (22nd season, 379-196)
2010-11 overall record: 9-13
2010-11 region record (place): 5-11 (tied for sixth)
2010-11 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.
Top players lost: Ray Hamilton, Josh Gregor, Samer Newsome
Top returning players: Artrel Foster, Donte Hollingsworth, Zak Price
Assistant coaches: Todd Pearson
Outlook: Meadville dealt with some struggles last year and will have a new look this winter. The Bulldogs will be smaller but quicker and they have plenty of speed back. Standout Ray Hamilton along with Samer Newsome and Josh Gregor graduated in the offseason, but Meadville has several experienced players back. Donte Hollingsworth was the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer last year at 16.9 points per game, while Artrel Foster and Zak Price were fourth and fifth in scored. Foster averaged 11.9 ppg last winter and can get up and down the court quickly, while Price averaged 8.3 ppg and drained 24 3-pointers. Price could be counted on to replace Gregor, who hit 92 3-pointers last winter. Fred Epps could see more playing time to add speed, while Jacob Gregor is an up-and-coming player. Meadville’s speed could lead to some high offensive totals but also could make way for some high point totals given up on defense. The Bulldogs have the talent to contend in Region 7 and they have been through some battles in the past few years. Meadville has experience and leadership but depth could be an issue the Bulldogs need to work on in camp.

Schedule
December
9-10 Brentwood tournament
13 at Rocky Grove 7:30
16 Oil City* 7:30
23 at Titusville* 7:30
27-28 Meadville tournament
January
3 Slippery Rock* 7:30
6 at Sharon* 7:30
10 Titusville* 7:30
13 at Farrell* 7:30
17 Grove City* 7:30
19 at Franklin* 7:30
21 at Hickory* 2:30
24 at Oil City* 7:30
27 George Junior 7:30
31 at Slippery Rock* 7:30
February
2 Sharon* 7:30
7 Farrell* 7:30
10 at Grove City* 7:30
14 Franklin* 7:30
17 Hickory* 7:30

Girls
Coach (season, record): Darryl Jones (4th season, 45-24)
2010-11 overall record: 15-8
2010-11 region record (place): 9-3 (tied for second)
2010-11 playoff results: Lost 61-36 to North East in the District 10 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Toni Feidler, Erin Chandler, Erica Chandler, Victoria Severo
Top returning players: Chaykala Lindsey, DaQuanda Epps, DaQueisha Epps
Assistant coaches: Church Walker, Casey Heller
Outlook: Meadville will look to retool in camp with four important players gone to graduation. Toni Feidler, Erin Chandler, Erica Chandler and Victoria Severo all graduated, leaving some big holes for coach Darryl Jones to fill in camp. Jones does have some experienced players back, including Chaykala Lindsey, DaQuanda Epps and DaQueisha Epps. The three saw plenty of varsity action last year and will be counted on to be leaders this winter. Katie DeWalt, Marcedes McCoy, Shauuntia Vactor-Pope and Melanie Harkness could contend for playing time and make an impact on the varsity level this year. The Bulldogs will rely heavily on defense and speed this year with several forwards gone to graduation. Meadville’s region is on the rise and it will be tough to put together wins in region play without playing well every night. The Bulldogs will need to develop some depth and chemistry in camp to get back to the postseason.

Schedule
December
9-10 Meadville tournament
13 Corry 7:30
15 at Franklin* 7:30
19 at Slippery Rock* 7:30
23 Titusville* 7:30
27-28 North Allegheny tournament
January
3 at Greenville 7:30
5 North East 7:30
9 Oil City* 7:30
12 at Hickory* 7:30
16 at Strong Vincent 7:30
19 Grove City* 7:40
23 Franklin* 7:30
26 Slippery Rock* 7:30
31 at Northwestern 7:30
February
2 at Titusville* 7:30
4 Fairview 2:30
9 at Oil City* 7:30
13 Hickory* 7:30
16 at Grove City* 7:30

– Tom Reisenweber