—-—-SportsWeek The Dallas Post BW School news HB Classified Bm Calendar 'Knightball '94-95 *will be fast-paced By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff Some coaches would call a season with only one returning starter a rebuilding year. Not Lake- Lehman girls’ basketball coach O Richard Morgan. Beginning his second year at the helm after assisting Joe Mar- tini for a decade, Morgan is up- beat about this year's Black Knight squad. While only 15 players are listed on the roster, “All 15 want to play, and they're working real hard,” Morgan said. The 1-2 record after three exhi- bition games isn't as bad a sign as it might appear. A 51-32 opening ® > to Pottsville Nativity was a great improvement over the two previous seasons, when the Knights lost by 41 points each time. “Believe it or not, we're pleased,” Morgan said, pointing out that Pottsville had four re- turning starters on the court.- Lake-Lehman scored its first win Saturday, beating Crestwood 60-46, and controlling nearly the entire game. ® There's no starting five yet, although the anchor of the team will be forward Amy Rogers, the only senior on the team. She'll be joined by Rachel Kaufman, a junior forward who played last year but didn't start, and Adrian Miroslaw, a sophomore guard who started the last six games of the season. Other players sure to see ac- tion are junior Tanya Verbyla, @®s10 and a center; sophomores Nikki Bouthot and Marie Manzoni, both of whom can play guard or forward; and freshmen Kelly Spencer at point guard and Darby Wolf, a forward /center. “We mixed the lineup every game,” Morgan said. “I look at it as having eight starters.” The Lady Knights will use an up-tempo game to offset weak- [ ? “We want to establish a running game. We'll press right from the start.” Richard Morgan Lake-Lehman head coach nesses in outside shooting. “That's our Achilles heel. We don't have anyone who can just stick it from outside,” Morgan said. “We want to establish a run- ning game. We'll press right from the start,” Morgan said. “We use a zone press, trying to cause turn- overs and force the action.” Rebounding is another matter, with an aggressive group of play- ers led by the experienced senior. “Amy Rogers is a great leaper,” said Morgan, and she'll get plenty of help from Kaufman, Verbyla and Wolfe. Nikki Bouthot, though only 5'5", is “a smart rebounder,” he said. The style of play, and the play- ers’ enthusiasm has already gen- erated a following, with other athletes attending games to watch the furious pace. But Morgan doesn’t expect miracles. “We're young and inexperienced as far as varsity action. We're going to make mistakes,” he said. The team's composure broke down in an exhibition game at Nanticoke af- ter working back to a tie after a cold shooting first half. “Our youth showed,” Morgan said. Like his counterpart in Dallas, Morgan thinks the division is tough. He counts GAR, Dallas, Meyers and Nanticoke as con- tenders, since all have most of last year's starters returning. Lake-Lehman will open the regular season against Bishop Hafey Dec. 16, playing at Hafey. Morgan is assisted by Mike Sha- rok. POST PHOTOS/LYNN SHEEHAN Amy Rogers, in top photo, fired away when Lake-Lehman met Crestwood Saturday night. Rogers led all scorers with 16 points. In lower photo, Adrienne Miroslaw is ready to toss the in-bounds pass. Other high scorers for Lehman were Kelly Spencer with 15 and Tanya Verbyla with 12. The Knights won, 60-46. No talent shortage on court for Dallas By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff The Dallas girls’ basketball season is shaping up as a year of “ifs.” If coach Kim Barbacci can come up with the best starting lineup; if the talented players can come together as a team; and if they can learn to box out under the basket. “I think we're trying to figure out the group that will work well together,” said Barbacci over the weekend. She is in her second year as head coach, assisted again by Janene Kasarda. Eight players return from last year's squad, which took the first half division title before ending with a 9-7 league record. Senior guards Kristen Kosakowski and Theresa Paxton are joined by junior sisters Robin and Stacey Suda, center and forward respec- tively, junior guards Holly Bas- eski and Cari Fetterman, junior center Sara Misson, and sopho- mores Adrienne Camp and Sara Barlow. Robin Suda, at 60", will start at center, with sister Stacey, 5'10" at one forward. Rebounding may be a strength. “If we learn to box out well, we should get a lot of rebounds,” said Barbacci. Camp, Paxton, Baseski and Kosakowski add an outside threat, with all of them capable of hitting from long range. “We'll be patient on offense, but very aggressive. We'll look for fast break opportunities,” said Barbacci, who listed Meyers, GAR - and Hanover as potential league powers. “Our league is very strong this year,” with plenty of returning players, she said. “Meyers is stacked,” with all five starters back from last season. Barbacci thinks her Mountain- eers also have great potential. “We just need to play together as a team, and start to anticipate on the court,” she said. Mounts drop exhibition to Nazareth The Dallas Mountaineers fell 77-54 to a strong Nazareth team in an exhibition game last Friday. The Mounts held a two-point lead at halftime, but were outscored 42 to 17 in the second half, and held to only 3 points in the last quarter. Ted Jackson and Rich Klick led the Dallas scoring with 14 points each, followed by Jason Pieczynski with 13 and J.P. Cosgrove with 9. In far left photo, Jackson goes up for the layup as 'Pieczynski waits for the follow. Pieczynski lets loose a jump shot in the right photo. POST PHOTOS/LYNN SHEEHAN
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