FINISH THEIR START
Several teams eyed tournament runs when season ended due to pandemic
Anumber of teams, including defending champion Bethlehem Catholic, have unfinished business to attend to after seeing their 201920 girls basketball seasons stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Becahi, Nazareth and Freedom were all preparing for their PIAA tournament quarterfinal contests when the coronavirus put a stop to all scholastic sports.
The Golden Hawks will have the toughest time to return to glory after massive losses due to a combination of graduation, injuries and an ineligibility.
Nazareth returns everyone — including last season’s EPCMVPTalya Brugler — on a team that wontwo games in state play for the first time ever and also its fourth District 11 title.
Freedom, like many teams, had not even held a tryout before the newyear began but have experienced and quality players returning all of whomare the nuts and bolts of its motion offense.
Here’s a look at the EPC teams to watch:
EPC Northampton County
NAZARETH: Six-foot-1 senior forward Talya Brugler (19.5 points per game), the reigning EPC MVP, and last season’s breakout star, 5-7 junior point guard Kelly Leszcynski (12.8 ppg, school record 74 3-pointers) lead a team that did not lose a single player from last year’s team, which set a school record with 26 victories, wonthe Class 6 A district title and won two games in the PIAA tournament for the first time ever before the season was stopped. Junior guard Madeline Ahearn contributed 50 3-pointers as the Blue Eagles set a school record with 150 3s on the season and the third most all-time in the area.
FREEDOM: Point guard Corrine Gill and off-guard Brenna Ortner, both four-year starters, lead a senior class that brought the Patriots back to prominence with three
straight 20+ win seasons for the first time in school history. Junior Kailey Turpening (13.1, school-record 65 3-pointers) has been a key player since her freshman season. Senior guard Kayla Jefferson is another starter coming back while senior guard Jewel Levy was the first player off the bench a season ago. The Patriots were denied a chance to win the program’s first PIAA quarterfinal game after the state shutdown the sport in March.
NORTHAMPTON: Without a senior on their roster last season the Konkrete Kids were flying high after winning 10 of their last 11 regular-season games to enter the postseason with an 18-4 record. They followed that with two straight losses to Freedom in the EPC playoffs and to Pocono Mountain West in district play. With that now in the rear-view mirror Northampton will look to reverse those results behind four-year player Morgan Sterner and three-year starting juniors Kylie Gilliard and Taylor Kranzley and classmate Devyn Demchak. Six-foot forward Grace Lesko, the team’s second leading scorer, is coming off a very impressive freshman campaign.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Tayla Brugler, Nazareth:
Has set girls school records for most total points as a freshman and sophomore before setting a school record for most points in any season as a junior (586). Now she’s just 169 points away from 2011 graduate Erika Levermore’s career record of 1,478. First she’ll have to pass her sister, Tessa (1,375), who is now excelling at Bucknell. Tayla Brugler will play at the next level for Saint Joseph’s University.
Kourtney Wilson, Bethlehem Catholic: The 5-foot-10 junior guard and James Madison University recruit has been a star on the rise since her freshman season and will have to lead a decimated Golden Hawks squad with her all-around play. Her defensive play helps lead the Golden Hawks fastbreak with her pushing the ball up court. She averaged 11.1 points per game as a freshman and 10.3 last season on teams with very balanced scoring but will be expected to up those numbers this season.
Morgan Sterner, Northampton: Enters the season 196 points from becoming the Konkrete Kids’ 13th girl to score 1,000 career points after averaging 13.1 points per game last year. An unselfish offensive player, the 5-foot-7 guard also uses her quickness as a good ball defender who usually guards the opponent’s best player. While slashing to the basket is her forte, she’s also made 56 3-pointers in her career. Will continue her playing career at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
Predicted order of finish: 1. Nazareth; 2. Freedom; 3. Northampton; 4. Easton; 5. Bethlehem Catholic; 6. Liberty.
PARKLAND: The Trojans return four starters but will be without a fifth, junior guard Carisa Foght, who was second on the team in scoring last season but will miss this year after suffering an ACL injury. Lindsay Berger, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, is the most accomplished frontcourt player in Lehigh County. Junior forward Zoe Wilkinson and senior guard Sonya Shivok combined for almost 14 points a game. Junior Mo Olenwine adds depth to the backcourt.
CENTRALCATHOLIC: Senior guards Emily Vaughan and Maria Saccani lead a team that had just one senior on the roster last season along with junior forwards Julia Roth and Hanna Hoeing. Junior forward Madi Szoke, the first player off the bench last season, will join the starting lineup. Junior guard Jadeyn Hagadus and a group of underclassmen will compete for playing time.
ALLEN: The Canaries must make up for the loss of their leading scorer last season, forward Jakayla Wise, who graduated. Second leading scorer, 5-foot-3 guard Shanaiya Ellis, returns. She had high-scoring games of 17 and 15 last season. Junior guard Shaliah Sneed is another returning starter while senior guard Lamiyah Carter started the first seven games before an injury put her out for the rest of the season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Lindsay Berger, Parkland:
A shortened season will keep Berger from taking aim at the 1,000-point career mark as she begins the season with 679 points. She averaged 13.1 points per game last season with highs of 25, 21 and 20 twice. Berger scored 19 points when the Trojans defeated Pocono Mountain West 45-39 in the Class 6A district third-place game. Will continue her education and career at Holy Cross.
Emily Vaughan, Central Catholic: A point guard her first three seasons, Vaughan will be moved to off-guard this season as the Vikings look for more scoring from her. Aleader in every sense of the word she will continue her education and playing career at Muhlenberg College. Her buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Lewisburg in the PIAA first round as a freshman came two games after a late 3-pointer led the Vikettes to a district semifinal victory.
Predicted Order of finish: 1. Parkland; 2. Central Catholic; 3. Allen; 4. Emmaus; 5. Whitehall; 6. Dieruff.