Nassau girls basketball preview 2011-12

Reigning Long Island champion Baldwin is the favorite in Class AA. Seniors Alex Hampton (point guard) and Janae DeGraff (center) are returning starters for the Bruins and senior guards Amber Harrison and Ayanna Hudson will also play big roles. Sophomore Mariyah Butler will be an important new comer to Tom Catapano's squad, which is aiming for its third straight county title.

The top competition for Baldwin in Conference II is MacArthur. Senior forward Vanessa Wyckoff and juniors Jena Cozza (guard) and Courtney Noakes (forward) are returning starters for the Generals.

Mepham and Elmont will battle it out once again in Conference III along with Herricks, which moves in from AA-II last year.

SEE PHOTOS2011-12 girls hoops players to watch

Seniors Goldie Harrison, Bria Fisher and Kyla Ridley and junior Cassandra Chery are returning starters for Elmont.

The competition will be fierce in the top-heavy Class A.

Senior point guard and three-sport star Amanda Johansen leads a North Shore squad with high expectations. Junior Erin Sheerin and freshman Alex Cantwell will also run the point in the 'System' and seniors Bridget Lincoln and Nicole Scuderi will supply offense on the wings for the Vikings' offense which has yet to stride from three-point range.

Defending Long Island champion Garden City returns eight of its top nine players -- that's the good news. The bad news for the Trojans is the one player not returning is three sport superstar Barbara Sullivan, Newsday's 2010 Nassau Player of the Year. Garden City's four returning starters are Christina Mangels on the inside, sharpshooter Kim Ryan on the wing, guard Jess Stein and forward Katie Trimmer.

Brooke Gerstman leads county semifinalist Lynbrook. The senior point guard has already notched her 1,000th career point this year and is arguably the best public-school player in Nassau. Junior Danielle Amaya is going to be the second option on the Owls' offense which lost center Jen Fay in a transfer to Nazareth.

Senior guard Tara Basile helps lead Wantagh who has a matchup advantage at center with 6-3 freshman Alex Parlato.

County finalist Division lost its top seven players to graduation. Susan Ballantyne leads the Blue Dragons, who are off to a roller coaster start with wins over Uniondale and Class B-champion Cold Spring Harbor and losses to Wantagh and Seaford.

Senior center Jill Flecker and junior guard Samantha Burden are the top returnees for Carle Place.

Olivia McCracken is off to a great start for Wheatley.