CHERRY TWP — Mark Yeager rarely had to raise his voice.

When he stepped out of practice, senior Maura McCaslin and junior Jenna McCorry took over, running the team through its paces.

For Yeager, this season was like few in his nine-year coaching career.

"When you have leaders like that, it makes it pretty easy," Yeager said. "The girls and (assistant coach Mark) Kosick and I were on the same page. For a couple of 50-something men to be on the same wavelength with a bunch of teenage girls, that's pretty amazing."

Moniteau cruised to a 17-7 record and a Keystone ShortwayAthletic Conference North title.

For that effort, Yeager was named Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Curt Vasas of Knoch and Dorothea Epps of Butler also were considered for the honor.

"I'm really flattered to be mentioned with them," Yeager said.

The groundwork for the success this season was laid in the previous two.

In the two years leading up to the Warriors' breakthrough campaign, the team struggled to a 14-33 record. Last year was particularly frustrating as the team lost seven games by seven points or fewer.

But out of those struggles came the reward.

"I really think last year was Kosik and my best coaching job," Yeager said.

Injuries hurt theWarriors.Elle Hilliard hyperextended her elbow and Moniteau's only established inside presence was playing at half strength.

"When you are a coach at a small school, you are one injury away from a 7-17 season," Yeager said.

Moniteau stayed relatively healthy this season, but it was a disappointing loss to Union at midseason that galvanized the team.

"We didn't play well and they knew it," Yeager said. "At practice the next day, we talked to them and they really came together. We thought we were talented, but we didn't know how they were going to overcome adversity."

The answer was a nine-game winning streak to close the season.

"They didn't feel like in that Union game they met the challenge," Yeager said. "Boy, did they after that."

To Yeager, that's what will make this season one of the most special.

He's had other good teams. The Warriors went 17-8 in his first season and Yeager has won 16 or more games in a season four times in his career.

But few were like this 17-win team, he said.

"I wouldn't trade any of these girls for anything in the world," Yeager said. "I don't have any regrets. I'm really proud of them."

Yeager will have a solid team returning.

He loses McCaslin, but has McCorry, Alex Guercio and Kathleen Harding returning.

Yeager will give that team the same speech he gives all of his teams.

"I tell them, 'This is your team, not mine,'" Yeager said. "'Your season is what you make of it.'"