FAIRFIELD TWP. — The Cincinnati Christian Schools girls basketball team may be youthful on paper, but that didn’t prevent the Cougars from getting off to their best start since the 2015-2016 season.
CCS, which rosters only two seniors and nine freshmen, knocked off DePaul Cristo Rey (57-53) and Shroder (40-38) this weekend to start the season at 2-0.
Cincinnati Christian went 2-0 before falling to Oakwood in its third game of the 2015-2016 season.
“We are a young team, but we have above-average speed,” first-year coach Derrick Byndon said. “We will surprise several teams this year with how well we play despite being young.”
The lone returning player for the Cougars is senior guard Stephanie Veldkamp, who averaged 4.5 points and 4 rebounds a game last season.
“She always gives her all,” Byndon said of Veldkamp, who has the most experience from the team that went 5-13 overall and 2-8 in the Miami Valley Conference a season ago.
Byndon said he’s been impressed with freshman Savannah Johnson. “She’s one of the best players on the team, and she has a very high basketball IQ and is a scorer.”
Senior forward Hailey Boling saw a decent amount of playing time last season as a junior.
Rounding out the roster for CCS are the other freshmen: Cecilia Chandler (forward), Chloe Chandler (forward), Berkley Wright (guard), Anna Bowling (guard), Kylie Chandler (guard), Elom Bobbie-Frimpong (center), Serena Cyprien (guard) and Kaylin Davis (forward).
“We are going to be a fast-playing team with scrappy defensive play,” Byndon said. “We will definitely catch some teams off guard.”
The Cougars next travel to St. Bernard on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m.
2022-2023 Cincinnati Christian Cougars Roster
(Number Player Grade Position)
1 Cecilia Chandler FR F
3 Chloe Chandler FR F
4 Stephanie Veldkamp SR G
11 Berkley Wright FR G
12 Hailey Boling SR F
14 Anna Bowling FR G
20 Kylie Chandler FR G
21 Elom Bobbie-Frimpong FR C
22 Serena Cyprien FR G
24 Savannah Johnson FR F
25 Kaylin Davis FR F
2022-2023 Cincinnati Christian Cougars Schedule
Nov. 18 DePaul Cristo Rey, W 57-53
Nov. 19 Shroder, W 40-38
Nov. 23 St. Bernard, 6 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Clark Montessori, 1 p.m.
Nov. 30 New Miami, 6 p.m.
Dec. 2 at Seven Hills, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 Beechwood, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 at DePaul Cristo Rey, 6 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Miami Valley Christian, 6 p.m.
Dec. 10 at New Hope, 2 p.m.
Dec. 12 Dohn Community, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14 Lockland, 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 Clark Montessori, 6 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Belmont, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 at New Miami, 1 p.m.
Jan. 21 Miami Valley Christian, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 Belmont, 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Lockland, noon
Jan. 30 at St. Bernard, 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 Seven Hills, 6 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Shroder, noon
Feb. 6 at Beechwood, 6 p.m.
