It was a return to normalcy for the Coudersport girls basketball team last season.
After a disappointing (by their standards) 12-win campaign in 2014-15, the Falcons nearly doubled their win total, finishing last season with a sterling 22-4 record, including a perfect 16-0 mark in league play.
Coudersport wasn’t able to match its regular season success in the playoffs, eventually falling to Bishop Carroll in the state playoffs. But the fact they were able to make a playoff run coming off of a ‘down’ season showed that coach Chris Fink’s squad is back at its usual place among the best teams in the Big 30.
Looking at a team coming off a 22-win season, you might think there would be at least some drop off due to personnel losses or simple regression. But it’s the exact reason why the Falcons should be heavy favorites in the North Tier League in 2016-17: Coudersport returns almost its entire roster from last season, including four starters and eight letterwinners.
The group is led by returning first team NTL selections Haley Keck (jr.) and Allie Easton (sr.). Keck was also named a Big 30 all-star last season as a sophomore. They are joined by fellow returning starters Macy Gleason and Kiara Perkins, both seniors. Fink realizes better than anyone the embarrassment of riches he gets to work with this year. “We have a good amount of experience and athleticism and will continue to work on our basketball skills,” he said. “This is a great group of kids that are very coachable.”
When it comes to the expectations for his team this year, Fink acknowledges that it’s more noticeable than last season. But he doesn’t see it as a hindrance to him or his squad.
“I don’t think about it too much, and the girls really don’t think about it too much either,” he said.
Even with all of the returning talent and experience from last year’s team, Fink noted that alone doesn’t guarantee a successful season, pointing to the loss of senior Emily Morey who was a key cog in last year’s well-oiled machine.
“Until you actually get out on the court, it’s hard to judge just how far you’ve come from last year,” Fink said.
Coach Fink added that the team got off to a slower start than usual this year due to the success of the girls volleyball team, on which several of his players were competing just in the past few weeks. That led to less practice time with the full roster leading up to the season.
A challenging non-league schedule should provide a good barometer as to whether Fink’s squad can continue last year’s return to form.
While Coudy remains the team to beat in the North Tier League, don’t expect the Falcons to waltz to the district title. Not if the girls from Northern Potter have anything to say about it.
After winning just eight games in her first season as head coach, Cindy Cowburn’s team came back with a vengeance last year, finishing with a 17-6 record before being defeated by Elk County Catholic in the Class A quarterfinals.
That remarkable turnaround doesn’t appear to be a fluke, either. Northern Potter returns four starters from last year’s squad, which should be complemented by a deep bench of sophomores and freshmen.
“We’re hoping last year’s experience will help us improve this season,” Cowburn said.
Northern Potter figures to be led by one of the best frontcourt combos in the area. Five-foot-six senior Gracie Hamilton (1st team) and five-foot-eight junior Kalie Cowburn (2nd team) were both NTL all star selections last year, with Hamilton also earning 3rd team All-Big 30 honors.
They posted remarkably similar numbers, as Hamilton averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game, while Cowburn averaged 13 points and nine boards.
Hamilton, Cowburn, and the rest of the NoPo girls are the reason why if any team figures to challenge Coudersport in 2016-17, it’s them.
The subject of returning starters is a recurring theme for several teams in the area, including the Otto-Eldred Lady Terrors, led by coach Barb Close.
Despite seeing their win total drop from 16 in 2014-15 to 13 last year, the Lady Terrors are primed for a strong season thanks to the return of seven letterwinners and four starters, three of whom are juniors.
Among those coming back are NTL all-star selections junior center Camryn Thomas (1st team) and senior forward Tiffany Bair (2nd team). The 6-foot Thomas in particular is a player coming off a campaign where she averaged a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) as a sophomore.
“This is a tight-knit group of team-minded athletes who are excited and ready to help each other achieve big goals this season,” Close said.
Below is a capsule look at the Pennsylvania girls teams in the Big 30:
Bradford
Coach: Bob Hannon (4th year, 40-33)
League: District 9
2015-16: 11-13
Postseason: St. Mary’s (W, 47-46, D-9, Class AAA semifinals), Punxsutawney (L, 28-36, D-9, Class AAA final)
Roster: Bri Wells (5-8, sr., 12.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Brinya Moffett (6-0, jr., 4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Taylor Smith (5-6, jr., 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg), Brandi Mealy (5-7, sr., 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg), Samantha Gross (5-4, sr.), Lauren Luther (5-3, sr.), MacKenzie Maley (5-6, so.), Nicki Sayers (5-5, so.), Erica Marshall (5-4, fr.), Jolynne Weaver (5-5, jr.), Emily Warner (5-7, fr.), Kelsey Moffett (5-9, fr.)
From the coach: “We have two returning starters from last year’s team. With three returning letter winners we will be young. We will rely on some of our younger players to make solid contributions this year. Our veteran players will be relied on to give us leadership. Look for a solid year out of Bri Wells (Big 30 and District 9 All-Star).”
Austin
Coach: Kurt Logue
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 0-22
Postseason: None
Cameron County
Coach: Dave Sullivan (10th year, 103-105)
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 7-15
Postseason: None
Roster: Madi Guisto (5-7, sr., 12.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Madison Harrier (5-7, sr., 12.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Amily Schatz (5-8, jr., 8.1 rpg), Rendyl Guisto (5-7, sr.), Desirae Fledderman (5-4, jr.), Alyvia McKimon (5-3, so., 6.0 ppg), Laila Smith (5-8, so.), Kamme Guisto (5-7, so.), Elyse Spehalski (5-4, so.)
From the coach: “We return a lot of experienced players. We expect to have Madi Guisto and Madison Harrier to lead the team as returning captains and scoring leaders. We’re looking to senior Kendyl Guisto and sophomores Kamme Guisto and Laila Smith to contribute heavily to our success this season. We expect Amily Schatz to own the rebounding department.”
Coudersport
Coach: Chris Fink
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 22-4
Postseason: Clarion (W, 41-32, D-9, Class A quarterfinals), Keystone (L, 52-37, D-9, Class A semifinals), North Clarion (L, 63-59, D-9, Class A consolation game), Bishop Carroll (L, 47-15, PIAA playoffs)
Roster: Tory Crosby (5-9, sr.), Allison Easton (5-10, sr.), Macy Gleason (5-5, sr.), Kali Leann (5-7, sr.), Kiara Perkins (5-5, sr.), Skyler Van Wagenen (5-5, sr.), Alyssa Wood (5-5, sr.), Hannah Baker (5-7, jr.), Emma Rae Easton (5-10, jr.), Haley Keck (5-7, jr.), Adrian Page (5-7, jr.), Shaelyn Black (5-0, soph.)
From the coach: “We are returning several starters and letter winners from last year’s team that went 22-4. We have a good amount of experience and athleticism and will continue to work on our basketball skills. This is a great group of kids that are very coachable.”
Northern Potter
Coach: Cindy Cowburn (3rd year, 25-21)
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 17-6
Postseason: Elk County Catholic (L, 47-41, D-9, Class A quarterfinals)
Roster: Gracie Hamilton (5-6, sr., 13.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Tory McCutcheon (5-5, sr., 5.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Kalie Cowburn (5-8, jr., 13.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Jenna Hyde (5-7, jr.), Mikayla Lewis (5-7, jr., 2.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Rebecca Morgan (5-3, jr.), Lydia Ternes (5-7, jr.), Abigail Anderson (5-7, so.), Ashley Kunselman (5-4, so.), Savannah Herring (5-9, fr.), Kayla Copp (5-4, fr.), Alyssa Burchell (5-3, fr.), Morgan Palmatier (5-8, fr.), Jordan McClellan (5-4, fr.)
From the coach: “The team has four starters returning from last year’s squad that went 17-6. Our top two leading scorers and rebounders are returning. We are hoping that last year’s experience will help us improve this season.”
Oswayo Valley
Coach: Kelly Rice
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 8-14
Postseason: None
Roster: Abby Matthews (5-7, sr.), Jessica Edwards (5-6, sr.), Sarah Malagreno (?) (5-4, sr.), Shayla Bickel (5-3, jr.), Paige Tilley (5-4, sr.), Kennedy Harlock (5-6, sr.), Rebecca Miller (5-2, so.), McKenzie Gross (5-3, so.), Faith Coole (5-6, so.), Karina West (5-9, so.), Dickerson (5-10, so.), Ava Lee (5-3, so.)
From the coach: “We lost some players to graduation but we have the players to fill those roles. We hope to continue to move our way up the league.”
Otto-Eldred
Coach: Barb Close (3rd year, 29-16)
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 13-10
Postseason: Elk County Catholic (L, 55-36, D-9, Class A first round)
Roster: Tiffany Bair (5-6, sr., 8.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Jamie Smith (5-1, sr.), Camryn Thomas (6-0, jr., 12.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg), Allison Cousins (5-6, jr., 11.9 ppg, 3.0 spg), Alyssa Shelander (5-6, jr., 4.0 ppg), Emily Smith (5-6, jr., 3.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Britney Greeley (5-7, so.), Lauren Cousins (5-5, so.), Autumn Smith (5-6, so.), Haylee Frederick (5-5, so.), Harlee VanScoter (5-6, so.)
From the coach: “The Lady Terrors are returning with team leadership from returning seniors Tiffany Bair and Jamie Smith, along with a strong core of experienced juniors and hardworking sophomores. This tight-knit group of team-minded athletes are excited and ready to help each other achieve big goals in the 2016-17 season.”
Port Allegany
Coach: Jason Luther (1st year)
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 6-16
Postseason: None
Roster: Autumn Buchsenschutz (G, sr., 20.5 ppg), Emily Buchsenschutz (G, sr.), Marianna Seefeldt (G/F, sr.), Hannah Lathrop (G/F, jr., 5.9 ppg), Leah Garzel (F, jr., 1.7 ppg), Brianna Roys (G/F, jr., 0.7 ppg), McAuley Fox (G, jr.), Erin Stauffer (G, so., 2.9 ppg), Jenna Sprankle (G, so., 1.7 ppg), Cierra Lannager (F, so., 1.3 ppg), Betty Hooftallen (F, so.), Marissa Stepp (F, so.), Cailey Barnett (G, fr.), Maleah Daniels (F, fr.), Madison Preston (F, fr.), Jordan Shaffer (G, fr.)
From the coach: “This group of ladies have put forth an incredible amount of time and effort toward becoming better athletes this past offseason. I am confident that this level of commitment and desire will be seen in their game. We return players who have logged a great deal of varsity minutes. We look forward to improving each day as individuals and as a team.”
Smethport
Coach: Eric Lutz (16th year, 181-174)
League: North Tier League
2015-16: 13-10
Postseason: Union (L 37-27, D-9, Class A first round)
Roster: Katie Treat (5-10, sr.), Brittany Szarowicz (5-3, sr.), Emily Treat (5-7, jr.), Abbey Woodard (5-9, jr.), Hailey Wright (5-7, jr.), Paige Robinson (5-10, jr.), Marissa Jack (5-7, so.), Willow Lapp (5-4, so.), Rylee Spencer (5-10, so.), Patty Todd (5-4, so.), Erin Herzog (5-6, fr.)
From the coach: “This year’s team is looking to build on last years 13-10 record. We have a small team by numbers so the younger players are going to have to learn on the fly and the veteran players are going to have produce every night and play at a high level.”
