The Lady Rams will retake the court Friday for the Tip Off Tournament at Greensburg Salem High School. Last year Ligonier Valley girls' basketball made it to the second round of the District 6 playoffs, falling at the very end of the game to top-seeded Huntingdon.
This season, Head Coach Valerie Ray has had her players in the weight room more than in previous years to prepare them for the physical play of the post season.
“We're not playing timid ball this year. We're going to try and attack the hoop. I want them to play aggressive ball from start to finish,” Ray said. “It seems like in the regular season in the Heritage Conference we don't get a lot of contact. Then in the playoffs you get a lot more contact and they're not ready for it. I'm going to try and keep them ready.”
The 2014-15 Lady Rams includes 15 players. The seniors are Helene Bloom, Brenna Kolesar and Madison McLaughlin. Twins Amelia Kurtz and Ava Kurtz are the juniors and sophomores include Kacie Flickinger, Sarah Marsh, Olivia Miller and Halie Pahach. The freshmen are Kayla Coursin, Rachel Horrell, Mackenzee Jester, Sara Klinchock, Lexie Petrof and Mattea Short.
Among these players, Ray expects a big season out of guard Olivia Miller. Ray said Miller has no fear going to the hoop and hopes to use that as a way to give her space to hit 10-foot jump shots.
“Olivia had quite the season last year,” Ray said. “She was better off the bench than starting, so she was our sixth player off the bench. Over the summer at Robert Morris University camp, she had no trouble starting. This year she is going to be our workhorse.”
Ray will also look to bring in freshmen Lexie Petrof and Mackenzee Jester of the bench against tough opponents such as conference champs Blairsville.
“If I need an extra guard I know I can go with a ninth-grade guard,” Ray said. “If I need an extra post, I know I can go with a ninth-grade post. This year is going to be tough. We are trying to get some moves on and work some things so that we can be competitive. Last year the second half we kind of let loose and this year I want to be competitive the entire game, not just a half.”
The Lady Rams home opener will be 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 when they play host to Marion Center.
Peter Turcik is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
