Monday, December 1, 2008

The good, the bad, the ugly – girls preseason edition

The following are a few story lines to follow during the 2008-09 local girls basketball season:

The Good
Three local players already made decisions to join Division I teams next year. Peters Township senior Emily Correal, the nation's No. 68 recruit according to ESPN HoopGurlz, is headed to William & Mary. Wash High senior Jocelyn Floyd will play at Duquesne. Ringgold senior Emily Schartner will play at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Peters Township reached the WPIAL Class AAAA championship last year. In addition to the return of Correal and Lexi Kamphaus, the Indians will be coached by Pete Serio.

Last year was Mike Maltony's first as the head coach at Wash High. The Prexies were 24-3 and opened the year with 19 straight victories.

The Bad
Trinity went just 7-17 a year ago. That includes a 0-12 mark in Section 4-AAAA. Weeks before this year started, Becky Siembak resigned as head coach, after only one year. Luckily for the Hillers, she's been replaced by Jim Webb, who previously guided Trinity to the PIAA playoffs.

West Greene and Jefferson-Morgan combined to win five games.

The Ugly
The return of Bethany Warren (who attended Mount de Charmel last year) figured to bolster Ringgold's postseason chances as the Rams move back to Class AAAA. Two years ago, when Warren, Schartner and Alina Selby were all in the starting lineup, Ringgold qualified for the PIAA Class AAA tournament. Selby suffered a knee injury during volleyball season, and the Rams were dealt injuries to several other players. It figures to make things a little more challenge for new coach Nick Mandich, a successful head coach at Trinity and West Greene.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Warren must have quit the team. I looked in the Valley Independent and her name wasnt even mentioned in getting playing time.

Rod Taylor said...

Ringgold will suffer badly. Alina Selby is crucial to the teams success. She would have had 1,000pts in her junior year. Unfortunate. I know her well, and she has a postive attitude despite her poor circumstances.

Anonymous said...

Did Bethany Warren quit the team or what??? Can anyone give some info on that???

mike_kovak said...

Bethany Warren opted not to play basketball.

Anonymous said...

Wow what a mistake... Why would she not play.

I would give anything to play again. She must not really love the game.