As winter rolls around, so does the basketball season. The team has reached the WPIAL playoffs for the past three seasons, making it to the WPIAL finals and the PIAA finals in the 2021-2022 season. This year, the girls basketball team hopes to have the most fun possible during their season, while also obtaining a winning record. Along with having a successful season, the team hopes to extend their playoff berth streak to four consecutive seasons.

“I’m hoping this season goes well and we can go far considering that it is my senior year. It’s hard to say now, but I am hopeful that we can make a good run in the playoffs,” Riley Tokar (12) said. “I think that if we all work hard and work together we can have a successful season.”

Last year, the team had a record of 11-11 overall, and a record of 9-3 in their conference. They fell to the Clairton Bears in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. At the conclusion of the

season, the team lost three seniors. Those seniors were Shaye Bailey, Morgan Keller, and Cassidy Harris. Bailey led the team in points, along with setting multiple school records during her historic high school career. The team has also added many new players to the team in preparation for the season. Along with the new members, the team will have three seniors in Tokar, Olivia Henderson, and Annabelle Komlos. The team will also be highlighted by two vital players from last season in Brianne Casto (11)  and Mackenzie Mohrbacher (11). The team will be led by head coach John Kaercher. Kaercher has reached many accomplishments over his long career, and has proved his knowledge in basketball and as a leader in general.

While the season has not yet started for the girls, the team has started to host practices in preparation for the upcoming preseason play. The team will face off against the Central Valley Warriors, the Beaver Bobcats and the Brownsville Falcons before taking part in the Brentwood tip-off tournament on the sixth and seventh of Dec. The team tips off the regular season on Dec. 10, when they face off against the Winchester Thurston Bears. The team will also face off against Aliquippa, Shenango, Rochester and Neshannock in conference play throughout the season.

“Being a senior is helpful because I know what is expected from the coaches,” Henderson said. “Also with playing for my 4th year I understand how the underclassmen can be intimidated to step into new positions, so I just want to be there for them if they need help with anything. The goal of being an upperclassman is to be able to push the underclassmen to perform their best day in and day out”.

With the past success of the team, along with the high skill level of the team members, the team has all of the necessary tools to propel them into playoff contention and push them through a deep playoff run. Make sure to be there to support the girls and cheer them on throughout their season.