It wasn’t a conference game, but Crystal City High School point guard Addison Bova gave the Jefferson County Activities Association small-schools a glimpse of what they’ll face when they play the Hornets this winter.
Conference rival Herculaneum High led Crystal City 28-20 at halftime of the seventh-place game in the 28th Black and Red Classic hosted by the Blackcats in their new gym Dec. 8-12. Bova led all scorers with nine points at the break, but she really caught fire in the second half where she scored 22 of her game-high 31 points in a 56-50 comeback victory.
The Hornets improved to 3-2 this season and will host the Blackcats (0-6) in their conference game Feb. 12.
“Our offense worked really well tonight thanks to our coach (Dana Hern) always telling us what plays to run,” said Bova, who scored a career high 33 points against Oak Ridge last season when she led Crystal in scoring with 15 points per game. She scored 30 points in a 48-42 win over Valley Park in this season’s opener. “We turned it on after halftime and it went our way.”
Bova was selected to the all-JCAA small-schools first team as a freshman and the offense will run through her again.
“Addison scored 406 points last season and is determined to do the same thing this year,” said Hern, a 2016 Crystal City graduate in her second year as head coach. “She is also my point guard so she makes sure that the ball passes through her hands every time down the floor. I rely on Addison a great deal to get the play set up, help create those opportunities not only for herself but her teammates as well, and to keep her girls calm when times get frantic. She is extremely coachable and as a coach I am extremely thankful for that. It allows for me to throw just about anything at her and have the confidence to know she understands and will put it into action.”
Crystal City, Herculaneum, Grandview High, Jefferson High and St. Vincent, a private Catholic school in Perryville, comprise the JCAA small-schools. The Indians are the defending conference champions and finished second in the state in Class 2 in March. There haven’t been any conference meetings this season.
The following is a breakdown of the county’s JCAA small-schools teams.
Crystal City Hornets
Class 2 District 4 at Duchesne
2024-2025: 11-16, 0-4
Head coach: Dana Hern, second year
Starting 5: senior Maya Hankins, small forward; juniors Blake Parker, guard, Kadence Buechting, center; sophomores Addison Bova, point guard, Molly Reiter, shooting guard.
Court notes: Junior Ryanna Raftery is a true sixth player, and Hern said, “She’s my go-to girl. I can throw Ryanna into any spot, including the post and feel confident she will get the job done. I have a bit more depth on the bench this season compared to last season. I have a few more girls this year that I can sub in and out when needed which is a nice addition to have.”
Hankins was Crystal’s leading rebounder last season and is a team captain this season. Reiter missed the game against Herculaneum after suffering a concussion the game before against Notre Dame. A first-team all-conference player, Reiter said she should be ready to play this week.
“She may be my ‘shooting guard’ but Molly can play any of the guard positions that I need her to,” Hern said. “She is very good at reading the floor and creating opportunities for others. Her and Addison work tremendously well together and help balance each other out if one of them is having an off night.”
Hern said Parker is the team’s go-to defender who’s relied on to defend the opponent’s best player.
“She does an outstanding job of getting in their head and speeding them up. Blake also works very well with my guards in setting up the offense and creating open opportunities on the floor.”
Hern took over the Hornets the year after they were 2-22. They added nine wins in her first season.
“But I still would have liked to be right at .500 or a little above. This is what we are striving for this year, to have a better win/loss record or to be right at .500 or a little above it.”
Grandview Eagles
Class 3 District 3 at Arcadia Valley
2024-2025: 9-13, 2-2
Head coach: Kristi Smith, third year
Starting 5: senior Miriam Korosic, center; junior Madisyn Nahlik, guard; sophomores Eydie Thole, guard, Hailey Markley, guard Kaimaile Tennyson, forward.
Court notes: The Eagles are 0-4 so far this season, but they’ve played larger schools in Ste. Genevieve (Class 4) and De Soto (Class 5). For the first time in six years, there won’t be a Wakeland on the Grandview roster. The sisters, Anna Belle and Catherine, both have graduated. That’s literally thousands of points and rebounds the Eagles will need to find.
Junior Malia Nahlik is injured but Smith said she should return to the lineup by the end of the year. Sophomores Bella Moore and Michaela DeLaughter and freshman Lacey Valentine are the top players off the bench.
Sisters Madisyn and Malia Nahlik are returning varsity players, and Madisyn is the only returning starter.
“They are tough on defense and will bring a lot to us on the offensive side of the ball as well,” Smith said.
Smith said the Eagles are a young team with very little varsity experience.
“Our offense and defense will truly be an all-team effort, but we are still learning to gel and work together. Our girls have a lot of heart and that shows in our defense and our effort. As we learn to play together and gain more experience, we will learn to find our offensive and defensive identity throughout the season.”
Herculaneum Blackcats
Class 4 District 2 at Park Hills Central
2024-2025: 6-21, 1-3
Head coach: Lisa Borror, first year
Starting 5: seniors Michelle Walker, guard, Zoey Embree, guard, Grace Lenington, guard, Macy Pope, center; junior Ayla Scurlock, guard.
Court notes: The Blackcats lost the three games they played in their tournament and are 0-7 so far this season. Pope (second team all conference) is one of the top forwards in the conference. She’s a three-sport athlete (volleyball, track and field) and should double her point and rebound production this year. The role of the first player off the bench is being split by freshman Lydia Hollingsworth and sophomore Khloe Black.
Offensively, Borror said she wants to move the ball quickly and use multiple looks in their man offense.
“With our zone offense we want to swing the ball well and get those open looks on the inside. Defensive-wise, we are sitting comfortably in our 3-2 zone and try to contest the 3-point (shots) but collapse quickly when driving in or passing into the post.”
Jefferson Blue Jays
Class 3 District 3 at Arcadia Valley
2024-2025: 14-12, 3-1
Head coach: Stevie Holdinghausen, fifth year
Starting 5: seniors Peyton Guffey, point guard, Halayna Loyd, small forward, Louise Duepner, guard, Annabelle Richardson, center; sophomore Avery Humphrey, guard.
Court notes: The Blue Jays began the season with a 70-66 victory over De Soto, a Class 5 school, in the Fountain City Classic the Dragons host every December. Jefferson dropped its final two games of the tournament to Festus (Class 5) and Sullivan (Class 4). The schedule remained tough after the tournament with a trip to Park Hills for a game against the Central Rebels, who were Class 4 district champions last season. Duepner led the Blue Jays with 15 points and Richardson grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds against Central.
Loyd consistently puts pressure on defenses with her ability to score in any position on the floor, Holdinghausen said. She broke 1,000 points last year, as well as the single-game scoring record with 32 points against Kingston.
“She has the potential to challenge the school single-season marks in points and rebounds if she remains healthy throughout the winter,” Holdinghausen said.
Another key contributor is returning starter Guffey, who serves as a steady presence on both ends of the floor. Guffey averaged 10 points and 3.3 assists per game last season.
“She is one of our best perimeter defenders and playmakers, often guarding the opposing team’s top scorer while also contributing offensively. Her basketball IQ and leadership have been critical to our success.”
A top on-ball defender, Duepner currently is averaging 15 points per game and leads the team in steals and consistently disrupts opposing offenses with her ball pressure and anticipation.
“Her ability to rush and speed up offenses often changes the momentum of games and fuels our transition attack. Offensively, she is a reliable perimeter scorer who can stretch defenses with her outside shooting, while also using her quickness to cut to the basket and finish. She is a key two-way player in our lineup.”
Richardson anchors the interior defense and is a reliable rebounder. She consistently creates second-chance opportunities and is currently averaging 10 rebounds per game.
“Offensively, she is a scoring threat down low who finishes well around the basket and demands attention in the paint.”
Holdinghausen said the Blue Jays will play an aggressive, high-pressure style on the defensive end, looking to disrupt passing lanes, force turnovers, and speed up opponents.
“We apply consistent ball pressure and look to create transition opportunities through our defense.”
Offensively, Jefferson plays at a fast pace, pushing the ball in transition and attacking early before the defense is set.
“We emphasize quick decisions, spacing, and attacking the rim, while also looking to kick out for open perimeter shots. Our goal is to keep constant pressure on opponents by playing with tempo and energy on both ends of the floor.”