New faces in places
Some fresh coaching faces can be found on the benches of Butler County area girls basketball teams this season.
Butler, Mars, Moniteau, Freeport and Grove City all have new head coaches. Knoch's Dave Peters and Union's Lacey Magagnotti are in their second seasons.
Here is a look at how teams look to shape up in 2015-16:
A-C ValleyCoach: Dave Sherman, sixth season.Last year: 12-11.Falcons' coach Dave Sherman believes success for his team will be built from the inside out.Forwards Morgan Cratty and Ellie Thompson, a senior and sophomore respectively, return from last year's 12-11 team that qualified for the District 9 Class A playoffs.The duo combined to average 17.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game a year ago.“Both of those girls are athletes and will be something to reckon with inside,” said Sherman, who also has senior guards and returning letter winners Lauren McNany and Jill Caldwell as part of his projected starting lineup.Sherman will entrust freshman Olivia Boocks with the duties at point guard.“She has played a ton of AAU ball and runs the point best out of the 13 girls on our roster,” he said. “We want to play up-tempo and press and trap on defense. It's important for us to all be on the same page.”The Falcons reached the playoffs last season despite suffering three defeats by no less than 25 points.“I don't see us getting blown out this season,” Sherman said. “We should be able to go eight or nine deep in most games and I think we can be competitive in every game.”
Butler Coach: Joe Lewandowski, first season.Last year: 7-15, 4-8 in section.Jerry Markle filled in as interim coach and ran the practices the past few weeks for the Golden Tornado following the resignations of Dorothea Epps and her assistant coaches.Lewandowski was approved as head coach Tuesday night and is taking over practices today. Butler has 21 players in camp, including six seniors.“The girls have been working together and have put the past year behind them,” Markle said. “I'm proud of them for that. They are unselfish and scrappy and they know they have to play that way to win.”Seniors on the roster are forwards Autumn Rodgers and Ally Schubert, guards Tiana Schaffner, Melea Barlow, Noel Pfabe and Kelsee Callihan.Sophomore forward Jenna Kunst and point guard Kailey Olenick return after seeing ample playing time as freshmen last season.“I coached most of these girls in eighth grade, so I know them and they know me,” Markle said. “We've been able to get things accomplished together and get ready for the season.“The first day we got together, I told the girls there was a need to forgive and move forward. Everyone has done that.”
CW North CatholicCoach: Molly Rottman, 18th season.Last year: 22-7, 10-2 in section. WPIAL runner-up.With 6-foot-1 junior Sam Breen, 6-0 freshman Dani Short and 6-2 junior Kylie Huffman, the Trojanettes are going to be contenders in the WPIAL again.Few teams in Class A will be able to match the Trojans size.Huffman, who is a junior transfer from California (Pa.), played against North Catholic in the PIAA playoffs last season.“We have a big frontline there and I think they all run the floor well,” Rottman said. “They can all step out and play guard spots.”Breen, who led the Trojanettes in 3-point shooting percentage, averaged nearly 22 points per game last year. She has offers from Virginia Tech and several other Division I schools.“She's playing tremendously well,” Rottman said. “She's handling the ball a little bit more. We're looking for her to help break the press. She's very much inside-out.”
FreeportCoach: Fred Soilis, first season.Last year: 7-14, 4-10 in section.The Yellowjackets have a vision of what they want to be this season. Fulfilling the potential of being a squad that likes to run will all come down to be being on the same page.“What we want to bring is consistency to the team, cutting down on mistakes,” Soilis said. “We want to run, but run effectively so they can get into some kind of rhythm. That's something we didn't do last year.”Zoe Soilis, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, was one steady pillar for Freeport last season. She averaged 15.6 points per game, while also contributing 5.3 rebounds per game and 26 3-pointers.What Fred Soilis would like to see from Zoe is her take on more of a leadership role.There will be a number of sophomores — forward Sarah Copeland along with guards Asti Brestensky, Ashley Sullivan and Emily Wolfe — who will be counter on to contribute.“More leadership and to get others involved,” said Fred Soilis on what he wants to see from Zoe. “I think she'd be more than happy to score less if we have more wins. ... There's been good team bonding going on and we want to build on that.”
Grove CityCoach: Chris Burtch, first season.Last year: 12-8After 11 years away from the bench, former Slippery Rock High boys basketball coach Chris Burtch returns to coach the Eagles.Burtch wasn't far away from the game during that time. He spent a bulk of it as a radio broadcaster and also coaching the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade girls basketball teams in the district.He has plenty to work with in his first season after replacing T.L. Eller, who resigned after the 2014 season.Alexis Deyarmin and Brenna Deyarmin return. The seniors combined to score 22 points and grab 16 rebounds per game last season.“The best thing I can say about Alexis and Brenna is they are two players who already have had great three-year careers, but since the day I got the job in June, they have been really coachable and really willing to step out of their comfort zone,” Burtch said. “As a result, they've really been able to add a few things to their game.”The supporting cast around the 5-11 Deyarmins will be starkly different, however.Last year's point guard, Danyelle Lucido, is starting at Thiel College. Last year's most dominant post player, Jordyn Wyllie, is a two-sport star at Mount Union. And Rachel Hughes, who did just about everything for the Eagles, is playing basketball at Penn State Behrend.Senior Carla Cintron and juniors Abby Fulkerson and Hannah Santom will be asked to step into that breach.Grove City will also have a deep bench with seniors Jovi Ryder, Anna Burtch and Mekenzie Wolfe; juniors Carli Cook, Megan Wise; and sophomore Macguire Gubba offering flexibility to Burtch.
Karns CityCoach: Dave Kerschbaumer, 11th seasonLast year: 23-4The Gremlins graduated six seniors from last year's District 9 championship team, but veteran coach Dave Kerschbaumer says it's business as usual.“We've built a tradition and a system here like the football team,” Kerschbaumer said. “Our scoring was pretty balanced last year and I think it will be that way again.“Defensively, we played a lot of zone-trap a year ago. This year, we'll be able to man-up a lot more.”Two-time Butler Eagle Player of the Year LeeAnn Gibson, who recently signed a letter of intent with Slippery Rock University, returns for her senior season. She averaged 14 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.8 steals per game last season.Alyssa Gibson (6.6 ppg., 5.0 rpg.), her younger sister, is the only other returning starter. A junior, Alyssa Gibson will be a guard while LeeAnn will play multiple roles.Sophomore Emily Hegedus (9.9 ppg., 3.0 apg.) is the point guard. Senior Brody Whited and junior Mackenzie Craig have the inside track at forward.Top players off the bench are guards Abby Wolfe and Brooke Mourer.
<b>Knoch</b>Coach: Dave Peters, second seasonLast year: 8-14, 3-11 in sectionPeters hopes to capitalize on playing six freshmen at times last season.“We've got a number of girls who gained a lot of experience last season,” the coach said. “We're deep at the guard position — so deep that we've moved (Carly) Burdett and (Allie) Megahan up to forward this year.“Our strength is handling the basketball. It's like we're going to have five guards on the floor.”Peters said his team doesn't have one true point guard and that Alyssa Logan, Emily Fraser, Casey Kretzer and Fennell can all handle the ball.“We're going to play much more up-tempo this year,” Peters said. “We want to grab the rebound, find the first open guard, get her the ball and go. We want to use our quickness and ball-handling skills to our advantage.“We'll be up-tempo on defense as well. We are going to play aggressively.”The Knights' bench will be deep this season.“With the pace we want to play at, we have to stay fresh,” Peters said.<b>Mars</b>Coach: Dana Petruska, first season.Last year: 18-5, 13-1 in section.The 2015-16 season will be one of transition for Mars.Not only do the Planets welcome back former coach Dana Petruska after a 10-year absence, they also will look to find new leaders following the graduation of 1,000-point scorers Ali Goetz and Sara Getsy.“Losing all of those points, how do you replace that?,” asked Petruska. “The girls are working hard, but our scrimmages this fall have helped them realize how much work we have to do. We are going to be the underdog this season.”Petruska said a key to success this year will be each player knowing her role, beginning with freshman point guard Tai Johnson, who takes over for Getsy.“She's played against older kids and is really good,” Petruska said of Johnson. “She will have plenty of opportunities to score, but as the point guard, her job is to get her teammates involved. We have to find (other) scorers.”Senior forward Elise Sheehy and junior guard Nicole McCloud return as starters from last season's team that won the Section 1-AAA title.Rounding out the starting lineup will be senior guard Bri Buzard and sophomore forward Lauren Wasylson. Sheehy and Wasylson are both 5-foot-10 and could turn into a formidable inside duo.Senior forward Hannah Ryan enters the season as the team's top player off the bench.<b>Moniteau</b>Coach: Dee Arblaster, first seasonLast year: 14-8Dee Arblaster has had one scrimmage and only a handful of practices so far, but she has figured out one thing.It's good to be coaching again.Arblaster, who last coached the Warriors in 2001, is back on the bench for Moniteau this season and she said she fell right back into her old comfort zone.“It didn't take long,” Arblaster said.Arblaster was only hired two weeks ago to fill the job vacated by Matt Stebbins. That transition has been made easier by the fact assistant coach Theresa McCaslin stayed on.Arblaster and McCaslin were basketball teammates when they were in high school at Moniteau.“It's been a big help for me,” Arblaster said.On the court, Arblaster has a nucleus of young players who have received a lot of playing time.Juniors Kristina DeMatteis, Alazia Greaves and Sara Hull have all started since they were freshmen.“Those are three big ones I expect to rely on every night,” Arblaster said. “We expect to be competitive every night.”Seniors Kelsey Ripley and Kara Mentel will also see ample minutes for the Warriors this season.<b>Seneca Valley</b>Coach: Rob Lombardo, seventh seasonLast year: 13-10, 6-6 in section.The goal for Seneca Valley used to be getting to the WPIAL playoffs.Now it is staying in them.The Raiders have qualified for the postseason each of the last two years out of Section 3-AAAA, but have been bounced in the first round via close losses to Bethel Park and Penn-Trafford.“We're not just happy to make the playoffs anymore,” said Raiders' coach Rob Lombardo. “We want to make a push toward the finals and I believe it is attainable.”At the core of Lombardo's optimism is 6-foot-1 junior forward Erin Danik, who averaged 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last year. She also displayed her versatility by draining 12 three-pointers.“Erin has so much up side,” said Lombardo. “Her work ethic is what makes her so good, but she hasn't realized how good she can be.”Seneca Valley will be without last year's starting point guard Meghan Hess, who graduated, and forward Melissa Carter, who decided not to play basketball this season.“Meghan was a very good leader and right now, we have nobody who is ready to step into that role,” Lombardo said.Seneca will begin the season with senior Christina Dunning at the point because she has the most experience there of any of the returning players. Guard Michaela Lamont and guard/forward Lexus Lambert have solidified starting roles while Toni Augustine, Paige Montrose and Brooke Lyczek could also crack the starting lineup.Lyczek came off the bench last season and provided a spark in several games.<b>Slippery Rock</b>Coach: John Tabisz, third season.Last year: 12-10The good news: The Rockets will get senior Marissa Siebka and junior Sedona Campbell back on the floor after ACL injuries last season.Bad news: The Rockets will lose junior Jenna Whitmer, who led the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game, and senior Hannah Willison to the same injuries.“Hopefully we're done with the knee injuries,” Tabisz said.Siebka played just eight games last season before blowing out her knee. Campbell didn't even play a minute, injuring her knee before the season even started.Both have returned and both have looked good early, Tabisz said.With Siebka and Campbell back and Whitmer and Willison on the shelf, the Rockets will be a different kind of team this season.Last year, the Rockets were a shooting team. This year, they may be more of a grind-it-out inside oriented team.“It's going to be a matter of how long it takes us to mesh together,” Tabisz said. “Marissa and Sedona haven't played together in two years. They have to mesh with the rest of the team.”Junior Steph Croll becomes the chief outside-shooting threat. Croll hit 40 3-pointers and averaged 9.5 points per game.Junior Bailey Boyd and sophomore Macy McCall will also be guards for the Rockets.Elena McDermott, a junior guard, hit some big shots down the stretch for Slippery Rock last season and senior forward Hope Schnell, junior forward JoElla Neal and sophomore forward Jenna Heitzenrater will also see minutes.UnionCoach: Lacey Magagnotti, second season.Last year: 5-17, 0-10 KSAC South.The Damsels made a four-win improvement last season thanks to renewed energy from Magagnotti. Taking another step will require winning games in what is a brutal division in the KSAC.Every school in the South Division made the playoffs except for Union, which went winless against division foes.The Damsels return junior point guard Lexey Shick, who averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game. Senior Shaley Shick (9.3 ppg.) also returns for the Damsels.
