Times Leader
Saturday, December 11, 1999 Page: 3B
Coach: Joe Gavio
playoffs.
State classification: 4A
Key players: Melissa Dymek, 5-9, Sr.; Laura Shaffer, 5-9, Sr.; Tracey
Stecker, 5-9, Sr.; Karen Uston, 5-9, Sr.; Sarah Brislin, 5-9, Jr.; Joy
Gallagher, 5-9, So.
Strength: Backcourt
Weakness: Lack of size
Outlook: Dymek is the premier player in the WVC. Last year, she averaged
nearly 16 points per game. The University of Richmond recruit gives the
Cougars a decisive advantage over the rest of the field. Brislin (9.3 ppg)
also started last season while Gallagher (8.2 ppg) was the top player off the
bench. Hazleton appears to be the team to beat.
Coach: Rich Nemetz
first round of state playoffs.
State classification: 4A
Key players: Jill Bertram, 5-7, Sr.; Robyn Duda, 5-10, Sr.; Janelle Milius,
DeMaranville, 5-10, Jr.
Strength: Work ethic
Weakness: Inexperience
Outlook: The Spartans graduated four starters from last season’s
championship team. However, there is enough talent returning to keep them in
contention because other teams have been hit hard by graduation. Returning
starter Duda (9.2 ppg, 5 rpg) and sixth-player DeMaranville (9.8 ppg, 77
percent free-throw shooter) are the top returnees.
Coach: Walt Deibert
State classification: 4A
Key players: Camille Centini, 5-4, Sr.; Kristen Zbierski, 5-9, Sr.; Kara
George, 5-6, Sr.; Heather Howe, 5-7, Jr.; Kerri Buckman, 5-5, So.; Megan Ford,
Strength: Solid returning group
Weakness: Lack of size
Outlook: The Crusaders aren’t big, but do have enough talent back to
improve on last season. Centini (17 ppg) was second in the division in scoring
last season and along with three-year starter Zbierski (7 ppg), Howe (9.4 ppg)
and Buckman (6.9 ppg) form a good nucleus. The lack of a big inside player
might hurt at times, but the Crusaders should improve on last season.
Coach: Lew Dellegrotti
State classification: 4A
Key players: Kristan Barnett, 5-10, Sr.; Heather Rudy, 5-7, Jr.; Becky
Dellegrotti, 5-8, Jr.; Jess Huntley, 5-8, So.; Tamara Spaide, 5-9, So.
Strength: Youth
Weakness: Inexperience
Outlook: The Dawgs graduated the last key contributors to the team that was
a state runner-up in Class 3A in 1998. Dellegrotti (1.5 ppg) is the only
returning starter. On the plus side, there is only one senior on the roster,
so the Dawgs can grow together and aim at a divisional title in 2000-01.
Coach: Dave Hinkley
State classification: 4A
Key players: Mary Summa, 5-8, Sr.; Sandy Grigas, 5-10, Sr.; Barbara
Grimaud, 5-10, Sr.; Elissa Kilmer, 6-0, Sr.; Lindsay Faux, 5-10, Jr.; Nicole
Otten, 5-5, So.; Nicole Hawk, 5-10, So.
Strength: Experience
Weakness: Lack of go-to player
Outlook: Grigas (9.7 ppg), Grimaud (3.8 ppg) and Kilmer (8 rpg) return from
last year’s squad. A year more of experience should allow the Tigers to pick
up a few more victories and maybe find their way into the upper part of the
division. The loss of Andrea Wilson, the team’s top player, to graduation
means someone must step up.
Coach: Colleen McGarry
State classification: 3A
Key players: Steph Joseph, 5-6, Sr.; Kristen Turkos, 5-4, Sr.; Jessica
Yuschovitz, 5-4, Sr.; Kelly Daley, 5-7, Jr.; Johanna Rehill, 5-10, Jr.; Kate
Yanchis, 5-7, Jr.; Alicia Preznuk, 6-1, So.; Kim Roman, 5-8, So.
Strength: Solid returning group
Weakness: Inexperience
Outlook: The Patriots return quite a few players, but they are still a
young bunch and probably won’t contend. Yuschovitz (8.4 ppg), Turkos (3.9
ppg), Preznuk (4.1 ppg) and Roman (6.1 ppg) will lead the Patriots, who will
look to play up-tempo the entire game. McGarry has the program heading in the
right direction, but it will take time.
Division II
Coach: Jack Rentko
round of state playoffs.
State classification: 3A
Key players: Heather Roback, 5-10, Sr.; Jennifer Blasi, 5-6, Sr.; Kim
Turoski, 5-5, Sr.; Kim Heffron, 5-10, Sr.; Becky Katra, 5-7, Jr.; Amanda
Hummel, 5-7, Jr.; Lauren Kurkowski, 5-9, So.
Strength: Experience, depth.
Weakness: Some inexperience on the bench
Outlook: The Trojanettes can go seven deep with Roback (14.6 ppg), Blasi
(11.9 ppg), Heffron (6.9 ppg) and Turoski (5.1 ppg) returning to the starting
lineup. The seven-player rotation is as good as any in the WVC, but the end of
the bench is extremely young. A healthy season should equal a divisional
championship.
Coach: Joe Noon
playoff qualifier.
State classification: 3A
Key players: Jeannie Dreier, Sr.; Jennifer Noon, Sr.; Stephanie Simonitis,
Sr.; Erica Turner, Sr.; Stacey Amann, Jr.; Karla Blase, So.
Strength: Four returning starters
Weakness: Lack of depth
Outlook: The Mountaineers should be Nanticoke’s top nemesis in the
division, but it is unlikely they’ll have enough to catch the Trojanettes.
Still, this is a solid group headed by Simonitis (15.7 ppg), who was second in
the division in scoring last season; Noon (10.3 ppg), Turner (4.9 ppg) and
Dreier (3.8 ppg). The bench, though, lacks varsity playing time.
Coach: Don Zampetti
State classification: 3A
Key players: Lindsay Bowman, 5-6, Sr.; Alicia Franks, 5-8, Sr.; Kristen
Maholic, 6-0, Sr.; Shelly Baron, 5-8, Jr.; Maura Morgan, 5-10, Jr.; Katie
Sturgeon, 6-2, Jr.; Jen Thiemann, 5-5, Jr.
Strength: Size, decent depth
Weakness: Big-time scorer
Outlook: The Comets should be as successful as last year with Franks (7.9
ppg) anchoring the backcourt while 6-foot-2 Sturgeon (6.1 ppg) and 6-foot
Maholic give the team good size inside. Like the other divisional teams, the
best the Comets could expect is second place and a berth in the district
tournament.
Coach: Vic Kopko
State classification: 3A
Key players: Melissa Mendygral, 5-8, Sr.; Charyse Bosavage, 5-11, Jr.;
Maura Namey, 5-10, Jr.; Erica Drevenak, 5-6, So.; Joeleen Evans, 6-0, So.;
Sarah Kopko, 5-8, So.
Strength: Experienced underclassmen
Weakness: Big-game experience
Outlook: Kopko was the best freshman in the WVC last season, leading the
division with a 16.9 points a game. Fellow captains Mendygral and Bosavage
have endured two years of rebuilding and might be ready to gain a district
playoff berth with Kopko’s assistance. However, the team hasn’t been in many
big games the past two seasons, so it will be interesting to see how it
handles a possible playoff run.
Coach: Pat Grimes
State classification: 3A
Key players: Megan Marshall, 5-8, Sr.; Jessica Humko, 5-7, Jr.; Kristen
Gadomski, 5-7, Jr.; Sarah Supinski, 5-4, Jr.; Jennifer Stull, 5-4, Jr.; Nicole
Conway, 5-8, So.
Strength: Six returning letter winners
Weakness: Inexperience in general
Outlook: After losing four starters to graduation, the Warriors will
probably struggle early on. However, once they gain some experience they could
be much better in the second half. Supinski (3.3 ppg) is the only returning
starter. Wyoming still appears a year away from contending, but might be able
to squeeze out a district playoff berth.
Coach: Rob Wilson
State classification: 3A
Key players: Jen Frank, 5-7, Sr.; Sarah Lozo, 5-6, Sr.; Sarah Davis, 5-6,
Jr.; Kieran Lucarino, 5-10, Jr.; Gina Coombs, 5-8, So.; Danielle Kern, 5-9,
So.; Kari Maskalis, 5-8, So.
Strength: Four returning starters
Weakness: Defense
Outlook: The Black Knights had the worst defense in the division last
season, but new coach Rob Wilson hopes a reduction of turnovers will improve
that. There is hope because four starters return – Lucarino (9.1 ppg), Frank
(8.2 ppg), Lozo and Kern.
Division III
Coach: Bob Schuler
championship game.
State classification: 2A
Key players: Kelly Williams, 5-5, Sr.; Sheridan Fischi, 6-0, Sr.; Tara
Wayman, 5-9, Sr.; Chelsey Ostrowsky, 5-10, Jr.; Julie Viercinski, 5-8, Jr.;
Maria Viercinski, 5-8, Jr.
Strength: Starting lineup returns
Weakness: Three-point shooting
Outlook: The defending 2A state champions should roll through their WVC
schedule and into the state playoffs. Winning a second state title will be
tough, but with all starters and six more letter winners back, the Argents are
the WVC’s best hope. About the only thing they don’t do is shoot
three-pointers, a minor glitch in this talented bunch.
Coach: Trish Carr
second round of the state playoffs.
State classification: A
Key players: Megan Brumagim, 6-1, Sr.; Jen Blum, 5-9, Sr.; Amy Pryor, 5-10,
Jr.; Megan Vanderburg, 5-4, Jr.; Christine Lizzi, 5-8, Jr.; Katie Delaney,
Strength: Solid group of returning players
Weakness: Lack of go-to player
Outlook: The Blue Knights more than doubled their victory total last season
and return four starters – Brumagim (11.5 ppg), Blum (9.9 ppg), Lizzi (6.7
ppg) and Delaney (4.7 ppg). What they lack, at least for now, is a player who
can be counted on at crunch time.
Coach: Bob Paley
State classification: 2A
Key players: Megan Margavage, 5-6, Sr.; Maria Wright, 5-7, Sr.; Danielle
Del Priore, 5-5, Sr.; Jonelle Hook, 5-10, Sr.; Katie Guntli, 5-10, Jr.; Mary
Tabit, 5-7, Jr.
Strength: Quickness
Weakness: Depth
Outlook: The Queenswomen have a solid six, with returning starters Wright
(13.1 ppg), Guntli (8.9 ppg) and Tabit (5.8 ppg) leading the way. If they have
to reach deeper, they could be in a bit of trouble because there isn’t much
experience after those six. Still, it should be a solid season and another
trip to the district playoffs.
Coach: Gene Skrynski
State classification: 2A
Key players: Cheri Magda, 5-5, Sr.; Mary Price, 5-5, Sr.; Sara Chmieleski,
Strength: Backcourt
Weakness: Depth inside
Outlook: The Grenadiers should be better than last season with veterans
Magda (11.9 ppg) and Price (8.0 ppg) providing solid three-point shooting and
Chmieleski (14.9) leading the inside game. If a few players step up and
prevent teams from ganging up on Chmieleski, then the Grenadiers could have a
winning season and possible push their way to the postseason.
Coach: Adrienne Mangler
State classification: 2A
Key players: Erica Canzler, 5-7, Sr.; Melissa Savage, 5-7, Sr.; Janell
Hopeck, 5-6, Jr.; Krysten Gasper, 5-9, So.
Strength: Backcourt
Weakness: Inexperience, depth
Outlook: Despite losing two all-star guards to graduation, the Vikings
should be OK in the backcourt with Hopeck (16.5 ppg) and Savage (3.5 ppg)
returning. Whether there is enough talent to go with those veteran guards is
the major question. There is no chance of catching Hoban, but a district berth
is possible.
Coach: Kathy Healey
State classification: A
Key players: Maria Zangardi, 5-6, Sr.; Jennifer Barth, 5-6, Jr.; Jennifer
Forlenza, 5-6, Jr.; Tina Snarski, 5-4, Jr.; Alison Durako, 5-9, So.; Susan
Giarratano, 5-4, So.; Jillian Grant, 5-6, So.; Kelly Grimes, 5-3, So.; Leanne
Loftus, 5-9, So.
Strength: Varsity experience
Weakness: Still quite young
Outlook: Many Eagles gained valuable time on the varsity level as five
freshmen lettered last season. This season will be more of the same as the
Eagles get on-the-job training and probably gear up for a winning season in
the roster.
Coach: Curt Lloyd
State classification: 2A
Key players: Gina Dickinson, 5-6, Jr.; Shaelan McCormick, 5-6, Sr.; Sara
Maisano, 5-6, Sr.; Sam Majiros, 6-0, Jr.; Jonelle Oram, 5-9, Jr.; Jayme
Antolik, 6-2, Jr.; Steph Andrejko, 5-9, Sr.
Strength: Size
Weakness: Perimeter scoring
Outlook: Andrejko (11.1 ppg) and Antolik (8.2 pgg) give the Mohawks some
scoring punch inside, but the backcourt offense is a question mark entering
the regular season. Finding the right combination will be the key for Lloyd,
who was hired late and didn’t have much time to get acclimated to his players.
Coach: Justin Beiter
State classification: A
Key players: Emily Ciak, Jr.; Annette Silverstein, Jr.; Danielle Zagata,
Jr.; JaneAnn Bogert, So.; Cara Williams, So.; Kacie Pashinski, So.; Tara
Ulitchney, So.
Strength: Young team with room to grow
Weakness: Depth, scoring
Outlook: The good news is that the Rangers are rebuilding with players who
will be around again next season. The bad news is that it won’t be easy.
Zagata (8.2 ppg) and Williams (3.8 ppg) are the only returnees who logged
significant time last season. The rest of the team had a smattering of varsity
experience and that will probably show this season.
