First Baptist Christian School has no gym and only 60 students in grades 7-12.

But it has a winning girls basketball team.

The Butler-based facility has a 14-player roster this season — up from eight last year — and is 22-1 in Southwestern Christian Athletic League regular season play over the past two seasons.

FBC is 26-5 overall this season.

“Having 14 players has definitely brought a different dynamic,” said second-year coach Lea Roth, a Butler High School and Butler County Community College graduate. “Last year, I wondered if we'd have six girls available to play at times.”

Two years ago, coaching wasn't even on Roth's mind. She was living in Syracuse, N.Y., while her brother was going to school there. Roth was still trying to figure out what direction her life would take.

She wound up taking a job working in sports training in Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter, Doug Boyd had to surrender the head coaching post at FBC because it conflicted with work.

“He coached there a long time and had to vacate the position just three weeks before the season was scheduled to start,” Roth said. “The school was seeking a coach through relatives or friends of players on the team.”

Roth has three sisters — junior Hannah, sophomore Lydia and seventh-grader Michaella — on the squad.

“That's how I found out about it,” she said. “I had the time to do it and thought it would be fun.”

Her cousin, fellow Butler grad and BC3 women's basketball player Cam Horwat, came on board as her assistant.

Included on the roster are five home-schooled students and two foreign exchange students — Nao Hirata of Japan and Beryl Chien of Taiwan. Shelby Poorman, a sophomore starter, was lost earlier in the year to a knee injury.

At times, FBC plays against schools twice its size. The team averages 37 points per game and allows only 24.3.

“We're bigger than some of the other teams, too,” Roth said. “We hold some of them to less than 10 points. We pride ourselves on defense.”

And they grab gym time whenever and wherever they can.

FBC plays its home games at St. Fidelis. It practices at the Butler Cubs Hall and Community Alliance Church when court time is available at those facilities.

“We can only practice two or three times a week while other teams practice five or six times,” Roth said. “If we find an available gym, we're there.”

Hannah Roth is FBC's scoring leader at 11.8 points per game. She has scored 964 career points and would be well over 1,000 by now if not pulled from the floor during numerous lopsided wins.

“I'm fine with that,” Hannah said. “I'd rather see other girls get a chance to play. I'll get to 1,000 eventually.”

Hannah Roth was named Co-MVP of the league this season. She scored a season-high 23 points in the league semifinal win over Robinson and reached double digits in 18 games.

Lydia Roth made second team all-league while Alyssa Barnhart — the lone senior on the squad — made third team.

“We win because we play well together,” Barnhart said. “You wouldn't think so with a bunch of girls, but there is no drama here. This is my second family.”

Barnhart's sister, Alexis, starts for FBC as an eighth-grader.

“I keep seeing her get better and better,” Barnhart said. “You can say that about this whole team. (Coach Roth) brought people out of their shell. I remember when everybody was afraid to shoot.

“Our previous coach was a good coach. He taught us a lot, but he could be intimidating, too. Leah got us to relax and feel comfortable.”

Caitlyn Mueller and Hirata received honorable mention as FBC had the most all-conference players in the league.

“Nao played some basketball in Japan and she plays point guard for us when Hannah's out,” Coach Roth said. “Beryl is new to the game and we've been teaching her.”

Horwat said the entire team takes instruction well.

“These girls are very coachable. They want to learn,” she said. “They will get better and better as the years go on. It's enjoyable working with them.”

Hannah — who has been playing organized basketball since fourth grade — even enjoys being coached by her big sister.

“We've always been close and she's a great coach,” Hannah said. “Lea's back living at home with us now and we talk basketball and strategy around the house all the time.”

Lea Roth plans to continue coaching the team despite traveling back and forth from Pittsburgh.

At times, both coaches can't be there.

“Between Cam and I, we work it out,” Coach Roth said. “If I can't get to a practice or game, she handles it, or vice versa. One of us is always there.

“The timing was right for this. If I didn't happen to have been home when they were looking for a coach, somebody else might have taken the job and kept it for 10 years.

“I feel like I'm supposed to be doing this ... and it feels right,” she added.