By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

From the basement to the penthouse in just one year.

That’s the turnaround predicted for Carthage in Southwest Conference girls basketball.

Carthage is a unanimous choice to finish atop the conference after winning just two of eight league games last season.

But the Tigers’ ascent actually started in 2006-07. They recovered from a four-game tailspin in the Southwest to close out the regular season to win the Class 4 District 12 Tournament at Monett

Five players with starting experience and five more veterans return from a 14-12 edition.

“I believe 10 of those 12 losses were by 10 points or less,” Carthage coach Bobby Waggoner said. “We hope our experience can turn around at least several of those losses. Our strengths start with experience.”

Neosho is a unanimous pick to finish second and McDonald County missed unanimity by one point in placing third.

Nevada joined Carthage in winning Class 4 district titles last season. Carthage lost 51-44 to Republic and Nevada lost 66-35 to Bolivar in the sectional round.

Notes: Nevada coach Brent Bartlett said Lexi Johnson, 5-7 freshman who was injured in a recent auto accident, is expected to miss the season. ... Neosho’s Grant Young, replacing Jennifer Depoe, is the only new head coach in the Southwest. Young prepped at Union and secured undergraduate degree from Missouri State, where he was student manager under Steve Alford for two years. He assisted Jay Osborne at Nixa and Mark Fisher at Greenwood a year each before going to Wheatland in 2002-03. He was boys head coach for five years and girls head coach for three. The girls were 22-8 last season and lost to Leeton in a Class 1 quarterfinal. The boys were 25-7, Polk County League champions and fourth in Class 1 with losses to eventual champion Jefferson and LaPlata. ... All-leaguers galore return this season in the Southwest. First-teamers are Tessa Porter of McDonald County and Denise Taylor of Carthage. Second-teamers are Ryann Hartley of Carthage, Nicole Hudson of Webb City, Lindsay Rice of Nevada, Jaimee Shields of McDonald County and Lorelei Snow of Neosho.

A team-by-team preview:

Carthage Tigers

Coach: Bobby Waggoner (10th year). Assistants: Doug Garrison, Tara Waggoner.

2006-07 record: 14-12, 2-6.

Returning starters: Katrina Westhoff, 5-7 sr. G; Kori Gregory, 5-5 jr. G; Ryann Hartley, 5-4 jr. G; Aleisha Joyce, 6-1 jr. C; Denise Taylor, 6-0 jr. C.

Other letter-winners: Emily Snyder, 5-5 sr. G; Ressie Catron, 5-6 soph. G; Ashley Heidlage, 5-9 soph. C; Sheyan Irwin, 5-5 soph. G; Ivy Shepherd, 5-5 soph. G.

Top prospects: Kayla Burns, 5-9 jr. C; Andrea Westhoff, 5-6 fr. G.

Coach says: “We have great team chemistry. We know our responsibilities. We’re deeper in talent this year, too.”

McDonald County Mustangs

Coach: Sue Buttram (8th year). Assistants: Ashlie Martin, Lauren Anderson.

2006-07 record: 13-14, 3-5.

Returning starters: Tessa Porter, 5-9 sr. G; Jaimee Shields, 5-11 jr. C.

Other letter-winners: Amanda Wilson, 5-4 sr. G; Shaye Buttram, 5-5 soph. G.

Top prospects: Heather Gardner, 5-9 sr. C; Michelle Overstreet, 5-5 sr. G; Samantha Pierce, 5-9 soph. F; Danielle Gooder, 5-9 fr. F; Ryan Parsons, 5-10 fr. F.

Coach says: “Building team chemistry with old and new faces will be a key for having a successful season. Overall size and athleticism are strengths. Weaknesses could be depth and inexperience at the varsity level.”

Neosho Wildcats

Coach: Grant Young (1st year). Assistants: Abby Farris, Kerri Roy.

2006-07 record: 14-13, 3-5.

Returning starters: Kylie Fischer, 5-7 sr. G; Lorelei Snow, 5-8 jr. G; Savannah Snow, 5-7 jr. G; Melanie White, 5-9 jr. F.

Other letter-winners: Kisa Clark, 5-9 sr. F; Brittney Nagurne, 5-10 sr. F; Jessica Bussey, 5-7 jr. G; Anderea Edward, 5-4 jr. G; Amelia White, 5-9 jr.

Top prospects: Kayln Vlasin, 6-1 fr. F; Shea Wyatt, 5-3 fr. G.

Coach says: “The transition of a new coach and system may hamper us early. But our overall quickness and size will help propel us late in the season. The leadership of the Snows to keep up our pace and the leadership of the seniors for their intensity will help determine our amount of success.”

Nevada Tigers

Coach: Brent Bartlett (11th year). Assistants: Jenny Allard, Daryl Dodson, Jack Tudor.

2006-7 record: 21-5, 6-2.

Returning starters: Lindsay Rice, 6-0 sr. C; Jordan Webb, 6-0 sr. C.

Other letter-winners: Kadee Hughes, 5-6 sr. G; Jordan Bell, 5-5 jr. G; Jessica Harper, 5-9 jr. C; Taylor Means, 5-8 jr. G.

Top propsects: LeeAnn Stone, 5-5 jr. G; Lauren Klinksick, 5-6 soph. G; Daven Smith, 5-11 soph. C; Heather Thomas, 5-7 soph. G.

Coach says: “We have a group that’s athletic and competitive. Depth and varsity experience are what we lack (early in the season). Rebounding as a team will be a key. We’re looking to run and execute with some inside-outside combinations.”

Webb City Cardinals

Coach: Walter Resa (11th year). Assistant: Elaine Shewmake.

2006-7 record: 17-7, 6-2.

Returning starter: Nicole Hudson, 5-7 jr. F.

Top prospects: Whitlee Allen, 5-5 jr. G; Erin Harmell, 5-7 jr. F; Meredith Baker, 5-5 soph. G; Summer Greek, 5-6 soph. G; Amanda Romine, 5-8 soph. G; Breanna Baker, 5-5 fr. G; Charenda Campbell, 5-5 fr. G; Kaitlin Jaeger, 6-0 fr. C; Hailey Roderique, 5-8 fr. F; Sammy Stroud, 5-6 fr. G; Jordyn Williams, 5-5 fr. G.

Coach says: “It will be an interesting and exciting season. We should have several players with the ability to come off the bench. We obviously want to improve so that we can compete in the conference.”