BUFFALO TWP — Fred Soilis is already preparing for next winter’s high school basketball campaign with heightened anticipation.

After the foundation laid this past season by his Freeport girls team, who can blame him?

In Soilis’ second year with the team, the Yellowjackets won 14 games, won a postseason game and qualified for the state playoffs. The last time Freeport accomplished as much was during the 2003-04 season.

The ‘Jackets managed all of this even though four of their top players are freshmen.

Soilis has been named Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Karns City’s Dave Kerschbaumer, Slippery Rock’s Amber Osborn and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic’s Molly Rottmann were also considered.

“I am honored to get this (recognition), but it is a reflection of those around me,” said Soilis, who was aided by assistant coaches Mark Shemanski and Sandy Mitchell.

Freeport’s regular lineup featured two established varsity players in senior guard Kim Mixon and junior forward Jenna Manke. Freshmen Sidney Shemanski, Madeline Clark and Samantha Clark brought youthful talent to the starting five. Another freshman, Tori Radvan, was a frequent contributor off the bench.

Shemanski paced the team with 10.2 points per game, Madeline Clark drained a team-high 23 treys while Manke controlled 9.7 rebounds per contest.

“We knew we had kids moving up who could help the team,” Soilis said. “We put the players on the court who we believed gave us the best chance to win.”

Freeport competed in the WPIAL’s Class 4A Section 1 with juggernaut Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, which went on to win a district title and was one of the final eight teams in the state.

The ‘Jackets picked up their first playoff win in 13 years by defeating Elizabeth Forward before falling to Blackhawk in both the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA first round.

“We also played Chartiers-Houston and Riverside during the season,” said Soilis. “You play teams of that caliber, it certainly helps to build the character of the team moving into next season. Many of our players have been to the playoffs in other sports, too. Being part of the playoff atmosphere is invaluable.”

Mixon will graduate this spring and the ‘Jackets will miss her leadership. But with so much talent returning, Freeport figures to have a high ceiling next year.

“I’m hoping all of our girls coming back get a lot of experience by playing this summer,” Soilis said. “Just a couple of days after our season ended, I started looking at the offseason, figuring out what we need to do, what camps we can go to. The wheels are turning.”