Flexibility the key for Bethel Park girls
Preparation only takes a basketball team so far. Flexibility takes it farther.
“You have to be prepared with a plan, but you have to be ready to make adjustments as needed,” said Bethel Park girls basketball coach Samantha Loadman.
From the get-go, Loadman has been alert and on her toes. She only became the Lady Hawks’ coach a few weeks before the 2021-22 season started.
“We were in catchup mode for the first half of the year but the team learned a lot from those experiences,” Loadman said. “By the season’s end, we had become a much better team.”
After losing seven of their first 10 games, the Lady Hawks finished 13-11 overall. They reached the semifinals in the WPIAL Class 6A tournament and the second round of the PIAA playoffs.
Despite dropping their season opener, 66-44, to Oakland Catholic, BP is expected to challenge Upper St. Clair for the Section 2 banner because of five veteran players, who saw ample time as starters.
Mary Boff is one of the prime players in the WPIAL. A senior, she averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists a game last winter.
Another senior, Sophia Nath is a 3-point threat. She managed 5 points to go along with 2 boards a game.
Senior Olivia Willig (1 ppg, 2 rpg.), junior Becky Gillenberger (6 ppg. 4 rpg.) and sophomore Ella Sabatos (5 ppg. 4 rpg.) are the other tested players.
Junior guards Ella Harmon and Julia Benlock saw limited varsity minutes last season but are expected to make a strong impact this winter. Sophomore guard Sadie Orie is also expected to contributed and senior forwards Bella Bomar and Carley O’Mara will greatly help this year’s team.
The Lady Hawks will also rely upon Kathryn Boff, Isabella Coleman, Mallory Kuntz, Elizabeth Mackey, Mia Rapali and Abigail Stutzman.
With a roster that consists of many veterans, experience promises to be BP’s strength. “Confidence,” said Loadman, particularly in each other, will also help the Lady Hawks pull out some close games.
“We expect to show up to every game prepared and ready to compete,” Loadman added. “This team has already shown so much improvement over the last few months while being in the gym. I expect that improvement to continue throughout the season as players continue to focus on their skill sets and gain experience.
‘Our goal is to compete for a section title and as importantly, we want to be a playoff team.”
The Lady Hawks open section action Dec. 15 against Peters Township at the AHN Arena in McMurray. Tipoff is 7 p.m.