Foray for 4A

Which girls basketball team will fill the void in Class 4A in the wake of Andover Central's undefeated run to the 4A state title? Andover Central is now in 5A, and they already have two losses this season against their usual 4A-heavy schedule. There is a list of teams poised to take the Jaguars' spot at the party. Crosstown rival Andover High has already beaten Central. Six-foot-two junior Kylie Cooper is averaging nearly 15 points per game. Guard Taylor Tilson is averaging nearly 12 per game. Coming off a losing season in 2007-2008, Andover has drastically improved. Their January 9 opponent, Buhler, has also raised eyebrows - and not just in 4A. Buhler beat defending 6A state runner-up Goddard by 10 points in the season's first week in December. Tynan Honn averages nearly 15 points per game, and senior three-sport star and all-league returner Tanya Friesen averages over 10 per game. Rose Hill is the team which has not been a surprise. With two all-league guards in Kristy Herman and Whitney Bates returning alongside 6'3" Audra Pfannenstiel, Rose Hill was expected to compete for 4A from season's start. They haven't disappointed, going 5-0 before the break. Andale, which earned a surprise state berth last season, returns a strong squad, as does Clearwater. Both will be equal to the task in 4A, and they meet at Andale on Jan. 6 to begin the second half of the season.