Here are 22 Gastonia, Shelby area high school girls basketball players to watch

It’s getting cold outside, but action is only warming up indoors as high school basketball season has returned in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.

As the 2023-24 season gets underway, the tri-county area again boasts a deep talent pool. Here are 20 girls basketball players to keep an eye on.

Kiara Anderson, East Lincoln (So.): Led East Lincoln in assists (3.9) and steals (4) as a freshman, in addition to averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Nykira Arrington, Ashbrook (So.): Averaged just shy of a double-double with 9.3 points and 9.8 rebounds as a freshman.

Maggie Earl, Burns (Sr.): Her fourth year on the varsity squad, Earl averaged 10 points and nine rebounds a season ago.

Sydnie Enste, Shelby (Sr.): Averaged 6.2 points and 6.8 rebounds a season ago.

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Maddie Frank, South Point (Sr.): Averaged just shy of 10 points per game last season to go with 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals. She shot 34% from 3-point range.

Amya Graham, South Point (Jr.): Averaged a double-double last season (17 points, 14.2 rebounds). She had 16 double-doubles in 19 games played, shooting 51% from the field.

Hailey Hagler, North Lincoln (Jr.): Led the Knights with 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.

Savanni Harris, Hunter Huss (Sr.): Scored just shy of 10 points per game last season, while averaging 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer (So.): Led the Storm last season with 18.1 points to go with 5.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 5.5 steals en route to being named a first team all-Big South 3A performer.

Myla Hoover, Hunter Huss (Sr.): Hit a team-high 47 3-pointers last season en route to scoring 15.4 points per game.

Kallie Lusk, Lincoln Charter (Sr.): Scored just shy of 16 points per game last season, along with 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Addie McCraw, Highland Tech (Sr.): Finished with a double-double last season, averaging 12.4 points and just shy of 13 rebounds per game.

Breanna McEntire, Crest (So.): McEntire transferred to Crest after spending her freshman campaign at Shelby. She scored in double figures nine times last season, averaging 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals

Hailey McFadden, East Lincoln (Jr.): A NC State volleyball recruit, she is the reigning Western Foothills 3A Player of the Year. McFadden averaged 11.2 points, and 6.8 rebounds per game a season ago, shooting 51% from the field.

Emma Montanari, East Lincoln (So.): Shot 40% from 3-point range as a freshman, helping her score 11.1 points per game. She also averaged 3.9 rebounds, three assists and 3.7 steals.

Amani Neely, Forestview (So.): Led the Jaguars in scoring as a freshman with 13.2 points per game. She also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals.

Kionna Pettus, Bessemer City (So.): Averaged 8.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 blocks last season as a freshman.

Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City (Jr.): Averaged a double-double with just shy of 20 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, along with 2.8 steals.

Carolina Robinson, West Lincoln (Sr.): The Lady Rebels’ center averaged a double-double last season with 10.9 points and 14.5 rebounds.

Monica Surratt, Crest (Sr.): Led the Chargers with 12 points per game last season, along with just shy of four rebounds and two steals.

Brooklyn Swann, Hunter Huss (Jr..): Averaged a team-high 16 points to go with eight rebounds and 3.5 steals to help the Huskies to a Big South 3A title last winter.

Hadley Womack, Stuart Cramer (Jr.): Averaged 13.1 points, 3.2 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game last season en route to all-Big South 3A honors. Her 69 3-pointers were a team-high.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 22 Gastonia, Shelby area high school girls basketball players to watch