Warrior girls basketball, coming off an 18-9 season and playoff run, now stands in the midst of a playoff chase with a record of 12-3.
The season started with blowout wins in their easy out of conference games against Annville-Cleona (73-33) and Elizabethtown (71-40). However, the girls were soon crushed by a one point loss to West York (52-51) in front of the home crowd.
Coach Dave Schreiner, who has benefitted from several returning starters this year such as senior Shannon Druck and senior Katie Wagner, knows the sorrow of close losses.
“With the expectations in front of the kids,” Schreiner said,“two overtime losses and a one point loss are really tough.”
He emphasized that his players simply relax and realize that it is just a game.
However, it is hard to refute the expectations put on our girls team after last year’s extraordinary run through the postseason.
Mallory Lebo, a sophomore on the varsity squad, feels the pressure even though she was hardly as big a part of the team as she is this year.
“Last year was a great time to be a part of the team,” said Lebo, “so we want to get back to states, and the pressure is way up.”
- Senior Katie Wagner “puts the moves” on Dover. Photo by MccuskerMedia
With the girls’ high tempo style of play, games often either go down to the wire such as the West York contest, or end in lopsided victories, such as against Kenard-Dale (63-24). Their difficulty closing out cannot be attributed to immaturity, with six seniors on the squad.
An overtime win this Monday, January 13, shows that things may be turning around this season. Senior Abbey Barnhart certainly hopes so.
“We’ve worked hard enough in practice and in our games,” said Barnhart, “that our record should be better, especially in those close ones.”
The Warriors are a selfless team. Schreiner, Lebo and Barnhart all refused to name a player they believed was the most important to their success so far.
It will be hard for the Lady Warriors to rise to the greatness they achieved a year ago. However, as any member of the dedicated student section will say, they have all the talent to do so.
