For most first-year coaches, there are plenty of obstacles for guiding a successful team — especially in a league as competitive as the North Tier League.
However, it’d be hard-pressed to find someone more prepared for those challenges than Coudersport girls coach Brian Green.
Green inherits a team that went a combined 55-6 over the past two seasons under coach Chris Fink. Last season ended with the team winning the D-9 Class AA finals, before eventually falling in the first round of the PIAA Tournament.
Green isn’t entirely new to the Falcons, either, having previously spent six seasons at the helm of the girls program.
Despite the high degree of success over the past two seasons, Green admits he has to basically start from scratch in terms of learning about his team as well as having them learn about their coach.
“I’m back after a six-year layoff,” Green said. “They are all new to me, I didn’t have them last year. For us, it’s learning a new system of basketball. They’re coming together, and working hard. We have some size, some depth and we’re developing some shooters. The biggest key for us is just getting them used to playing as aggressively as I like to play.”
Green will lean heavily on returning point guard Haley Keck. Keck led the team in scoring last season with 18 points per game, culminating in her being named NTL MVP.
“She runs the show for us,” Green said. “She’s our point guard, and she’s a tremendous shooter. Like the rest of the girls, she’s working extremely hard on the other side of the ball to make herself a better defender. We are going to look for her to carry us through the early part of the season.”
In addition to Keck, Green will have four returning letterwinners who will provide experience for the six underclassmen on the roster.
It was a hard-fought battle at the top of the NTL last season, and Green sees some tough competition in the league and around the area again this season.
“Since the late 80s and early 90s, Coudersport has been very successful in girls basketball,” Green said. “Sure, everybody looks to give us all they’ve got and we expect and welcome that. That being said, there’s some awfully tough teams in the league and in the area this year. Girls basketball — talent-wise — is trending upwards. We have to come prepared to play every single game.”
Giving Coudy a run last year in the NTL were Northern Potter and Otto-Eldred.
Northern Potter went 19-7 in 2017, and won their first-round matchup in the Class AA playoffs. Head coach Cindy Cowburn returns her leading scorer and rebounder from last season.
Perhaps no team in the NTL returns as much experience as Otto-Eldred. After advancing to the Class A finals last year and winning their first-ever PIAA contest, the Terrors return eight upperclassmen, including third team all-state selection Camryn Thomas.
One of the teams looking for a turnaround in the NTL this season is Smethport. The Hubbers finished 11-13, but return two of their leading scorers, and will look to develop a young bench to try and challenge some of the league’s powerhouses.
Returning for head coach Eric Lutz is senior forward Abbey Woodard. Woodard dominated last season, averaging 20 points per game, and was named to the NTL All-star team. She will again be joined by Emily Treat and Hailey Wright — two seniors that will be vital to the team’s success on both ends of the court, according to Lutz.
No coach in the NTL knows better than Lutz just how difficult it is to take down Coudersport. Despite the changing of players and coaches over the years, it has always been a big challenge for Lutz. This year, he hopes to build some chemistry in non-league action to prepare for those rivalry games down the road.
“This is my 20th year coaching and I think we’ve only beaten them three times,” Lutz said. “They’ve always been a thorn in not only my side, but in everybody’s side. Otto-Eldred also this season has a bunch of returning lettermen from their district runner-up team. That says something for our league when you have O-E second in the districts and Coudersport winning districts in AA last year. It’s going to be tough but if our girls keep working and these younger girls improve each day, by the time we play those teams in January hopefully we can get some of the early kinks out.”
Here’s a capsule look at each of the NTL girls teams:
AUSTIN
Coach: Kurt Logue
League: North Tier
2016-17: 0-22 Postseason: none
BRADFORD
Coach: Bob Hannon (fifth year, 43-49)
League: District IX
2016-17: 3-19 Postseason: none
Roster: Brinya Moffett (6-0, sr., 8.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Taylor Smith (5-6, sr., 6.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Destinee Deitz (5-4, sr.), Morgan Tyger (5-8 jr.), Makenzee Maley (5-7, jr., 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Erica Marshall (5-4, so., 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Emily Warner (5-7, so., 1.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg), Kelcie Moffett (5-9, so., 1.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Kate Huber (5-5, so.), MacKenzie Swanson (5-4, so.), Kailei Mason (5-5, fr.), Hannah Lary (5-4, fr.)
From the coach: “We are very young experience-wise but I believe this group of girls will play with a lot of heart. How quickly the new players and the younger girls adapt to the pace of the varsity competition will determine the kind of year we have. We need to stay healthy as the number of girls out for the team is down.”
CAMERON COUNTY
Coach: Dave Sullivan (111-119)
League: North Tier
2016-17: 8-14 Postseason: none
Roster: Amily Schatz (5-8, sr., F, 11.8 rpg, 6.2 ppg), Alyvia McKimm (5-3, jr., G, 6.8 ppg), Laila Smith( 5-7, jr., G), Kamme Guisto (5-6, jr., G), Elyse Spehalski (5-4, jr., G), Kaelee Bresslin (5-8, fr., G), Mallory McKimm (5-9, fr., F), Hailey Hilfiger (5-9, fr., F), Morgan Lorenzo (5-8, fr., F), Reggie Gildron (5-5, fr., G).
From the coach: “We lost our two leading scorers from last season, so we’re going to need Alyvia McKimm, Kamme Guisto and Laila Smith to pick up the scoring. Expect Amily Schatz — our leading rebounder from last year — to once again own the rebounding department. We also have a strong freshman class this year, and will need contributors from this group to make this a successful season.”
COUDERSPORT
Coach: Brian Green (Second stint at school, 7th year)
League: North Tier
2016-17: 23-2 Postseason: Port Allegany (W, 52-39, D-9 Class 2A semifinals), Kane (W, 47-38, D-9 Class 2A Finals), Leechburg (L, 55-51, PIAA first round)
Roster: Emma Rae Easton (5-10, sr., F, 4.7ppg), Haley Keck (5-6, sr., PG, 18 ppg), Adrian Page (5-5, sr., G), Shaelyn Black (5-10, jr., F, 3.2 ppg), Tianna Bowser (5-6, jr., G), Dana Dubots (5-4, jr., G), Katelyn Plumstead (5-6, jr., G), Chelsey Streich (5-3, jr., G), Hope Daisley (5-4, so., G), Mikayla Gunn (5-4, so., G), Lauren Stimaker (5-5, so., G), Sarah Chambers (5-8, fr., G), Rosalyn Page (5-9, fr., G), Kaylee Van Why (5-4, fr., G).
From the coach: “We have some decent team size. We have some quick guards who can get after it on the defensive side of the ball. Haley Keck is a returning Big 30 All-Star and we will rely on her experience to carry us through the season. Unfortunately, we were hit hard by graduation. We only have four returning letterwinners from last year. We only have 14 kids on the roster, so we will need everyone to stay healthy.”
GALETON
Coach: Andrew Macensky
League: North Tier
2016-17: 15-11 Postseason: none
Roster: Kitara O’Donnell, Katelyn Pagano, Makenna Shuemaker, Kate Kulish, Eva Olofson, Jessie Evans, Makaya Shadle, Emily Quinn, Cara Parsell, Haylee Ludington, Brielle Kalacinski
OTTO-ELDRED
Coach: Barb Close
League: North Tier
2016-17: 18-9, Postseason: Elk Catholic (W, 52-46, D-9 Class A quarterfinals), Northern Potter (W, 52-45, D-9 Class A semifinals), North Clarion (L, 53-40, D-9 Class A Finals), West Greene (W, 61-57, PIAA first round), Kennedy Catholic (L, 72-34, PIAA second round)
Roster: Alyssa Shelander (sr.), Camryn Thomas (sr.), Allison Cousins (sr.), Emily Smith (sr.), Lauren Cousins (jr.), Britney Greeley (jr.), Autumn Smith (jr.), Haylee Frederick (jr.).
From the coach: “We are entering this season with a strong core of senior returning starters and experienced juniors. We are also welcoming one of our biggest freshman classes this season. We are looking to achieve another history-making season.”
OSWAYO VALLEY
Coach: Kelly Rice
League: North Tier
2016-17: 6-15 Postseason: none
Roster: Shayla Bickel (5-3, sr., PG), McKenzie Gross (5-4, jr., PG), Arianna Waterman (5-3, PG), Macy West (5-8, F), Ava Lee (5-3, G), McKayla Bell (5-4, G), Brianna Hagano (5-6, F), Karina West (5-11, F/C), Nicole Hamons (5-10, F), Mandi Smith (5-11, F/C), Faith Coole (5-6, G).
From the coach: “We have several newcomers on the roster who look promising.”
NORTHERN POTTER
Coach: Cindy Cowburn (45-28)
League: North Tier
2016-17: 19-7 Postseason: Johnsonburg (W, 50-32, D-9 Class A quarterfinals), Otto-Eldred (L, 52-45 D-9 Class A semifinals), Winchester Thurston (L, 55-24, PIAA first round)
Roster: Abigail Anderson (5-6, jr., G/F), Kalie Cowburn (5-8, sr., F), Savannah Herring (5-10, so., F), Jenna Hyde (5-5, sr., G), Ashley Kasselman (5-3, jr., F), Mikayla Lewis (5-6, sr., F), Rebecca Morgan (5-3, sr., F), Lydia Ternes (5-5, sr., G/F).
From the coach: “There are a core group of girls returning that have been playing with each other since junior high. Our leading scorer and rebounder is returning. We are having some of the younger girls will be able to contribute on both sides of the floor.”
PORT ALLEGANY
Coach: Jason Luther (2nd season)
League: North Tier
2016-17: 14-10 Postseason: Curwensville (W, 60-46, D-9 Class 2A quarterfinals), Coudersport (L, 52-39, D-9 Class 2A semifinals)
Roster: Hannah Lathrop (sr., F, 2.2 ppg, 7 rpg), Leah Garzel (sr., F, 3.4 ppg, 4 rpg), Brianna Roys (sr., G/F, 2.6 ppg), Paige Robinson (sr., F), Erin Stauffer (jr., G, 7 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 spg), Jenna Sprankle (jr., G, 3.4 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 spg), Cierra Lannager (jr., F), Marissa Stepp (jr., F), Cailey Barnett ( so., G, 13 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg), Maleah Daniels (so., G), Bree Garzel (fr., G).
From the coach: “We will look to improve on the success of last season. Many of these players have logged a great deal of varsity minutes, so our experience will play an important role. We look forward to improving each day as individuals and as a team. We begin our season with three games in four days–all of which are on the road. However, this is a competitive group of ladies, so I know they will rise to that challenge.”
SMETHPORT
Coach: Eric Lutz (16th year)
League: North Tier
2016-17: 11-13 Postseason: Brockway (W, 61-30, D-9 Class A first round), N. Clarion (L, 48-32 D-9 quarterfinals)
Roster: Emily Treat (sr., G, 9.2 ppg), Abbey Woodard (sr., F, 20 ppg, 8.7 rpg), Hailey Wright ( sr., G, 2.6 ppg), Erin Herzog (so., G), McKayla Deyarmin (so., G), Karly Orner (so., G), Rain Caldwell (so., G), Salena Williams (so., F), Kaelin Love (fr., G), Caydence Gilbert ( fr., G), Cassandra Tingley (fr., G).
From the coach: “Consisting of 13 players, our team is very young and inexperienced this year. Our returning three senior starters, Abby Woodard, Emily Treat and Hailey Wright will provide needed leadership on the court. Rounding out the starting lineup are sophomores Erin Herzog and first-year starter McKayla Deyarmin. The remaining 10 members on the roster consist of a first-year junior, nine sophomores and a freshman. Our focus this year will be on the development of our younger players. We hope to create a solid bench from the three underclassmen as the season progresses.”
