Depth is Kiski's key

After nearly a quarter-century, there's a new man at the helm for the Kiski Area High School girls basketball program. Following a 24-year career, Tom Pipkins Sr. retired and Chris Kallock was appointed head coach of the Cavaliers. Kallock most recently was affiliated with the ninth-grade boys team, but is eager to get the girls varsity squad headed toward playoff contention.

"It's been hectic, but I'm really pleased," Kallcok said. "The kids have a great attitude, and they're doing their best. Their heads are swimming because they're trying to learn a new system."

Kiski Area was 6-4 in nonsection play last year, but that success didn't translate to Section 1-AAAA, where the Cavaliers finished 4-10.

Kallock isn't ready to announce this year's starting lineup just yet.

"What we're trying to do is make the practices so competitive and say that the spots are open," Kallock said. "We have three returning starters, but we haven't even talked about that yet. We're going to rotate lineups so much through the scrimmages and going into the nonsection, and we're trying to emphasize to the girls that everybody's going to play."

Kallock will have to wait a day longer than most other schools to make his debut. The Cavaliers will play in the Nothing But the Best Tournament at Sacred Heart. Kiski Area will open Saturday, Dec. 3 with the Pittsburgh City League's Peabody, which finished 1-17 lasy year. Things will get tougher a day later when the Cavaliers play last year's PIAA Class AA runner-up, Westmont Hilltop.

Meanwhile, Kallock will have to familiarize himself with Kiski Area's section opponents that include defending champion Norwin and Hempfield, a school that knocked off Pine-Richland in the opening round of the playoffs.

"I have all the tapes from last year and we watched the better teams in the section are returning most of their best players, so it'll be a challenge," Kallock said.

The Cavaliers are emphasizing defense as the quickest way back into playoff contention. In a sign of the times, Kallock plans to use eight or nine girls with regularity, owning to the reality that this era's most successful teams usually are the ones with the most depth.

Kiski Area will open section play Dec. 15 on the road at Connellsville.

Schedule

December

3-4 Nothing But the Best Tournament

5- Butler

8- Highlands

12- at Plum

15- at Connellsville

19- Albert Gallatin

22- at Norwin

28- at Highlands Tournament

29- at Highlands Tournament

January

3- at Greensburg Salem

5- Penn-Trafford

9- Hempfield

12- at Latrobe

14- Franklin Regional (1:30)

16- at Penn Hills

19- Connellsville

21- Fox Chapel (1:30)

23- at Albert Gallatin

26- Norwin

30- Greensburg Salem

February

2- at Penn-Trafford

6- at Hempfield

9- Latrobe

Roster

Seniors

PlayerHt. Pos.

Amanda Allen5-11F

Caitlin Noble5-10F

Amber Wolfe5-7G

Juniors

Sarah Cappo5-10F

Molly Cullieton5-5G

Kelsey Engler5-4G

Tasha Reid6-2F

Blair Saul 5-9G

Tanisha Wheatley5-5G

Sophomores

Lauren Butler5-6G

Angelea Kuruc5-8G

Freshman

Lindsey Nies5-5G