They’re ready for next level
Parkland’s Berger, Stroudsburg’s Strunk get Division I scholarships
Two rising seniors and teammates on a local AAU girls basketball team have accepted Division I scholarships.
Parkland’s Lindsay Berger, a 6-foot-1 forward, will continue her academic and athletic career at Holy Cross and Stroudsburg’s Emily Strunk, a 6-2 forward, signed to play at Rider University.
They join Lehigh Valley Fever AAU teammate, Talya Brugler, a junior at Nazareth, who committed to Saint Joseph’s last week, in accepting Division I scholarships.
Berger had considered joining Brugler at St. Joe’s, but instead chose Holy Cross.
“Yes, Talya and I were almost teammates again,” Berger said. “And I’ll play against Emily once again like we have in high school. I was also looking hard at UMass and Lafayette College but really loved what Holy Cross had to offer.”
Berger, who is closing in on 700 points in her scholastic career, is expected to be a three-year starter next season after being the first player off the bench as a freshman.
“I grew up with Lehigh and Lafayette in my backyard so it’ll be exciting to come home to play at least twice a season,” said Berger, a second-team EPC and Morning Call All-Area selection last season. “Lehigh is only 20 minutes from my house. I’m looking to get in the education field and Holy Cross has a great internship program and strong alumni association so I’ll have a lot of opportunities.”
Berger, who averaged 13.4 points, 7 rebounds last season, led the Trojans (16-11) to the school’s eighth straight Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoff berth and extended a school record with their 12th straight District 11 playoff appearance last season.
“Lindsay is there every day, she leads, and she’s always working to get better,” said Parkland coach Ed Ohlson. “She’s positive and pushes her teammates to be better. Holy Cross is getting a very good player but more importantly a very good person.”
“I give a lot of credit to my family [parents Chris and Barry] who have been with me since day one on both the good days and bad days,” Berger said. “And also to all my high school and
AAU coaches and teammates who helped me develop as a player and person.”
Strunk, who has started her first three years, came into her own last season when she averaged 17.2 points to get within seven of becoming the Mountaineers’ eighth 1,000-point career girls scorer. She’s on pace to finish as Stroudsburg No. 2 all-time girls scorer, trailing only 1982 graduate Amy Harlarcher (1,522).
“Rider is a program with a nice family feel and the high point is a great coaching staff that I think will me get me to where I want to go,” said Strunk, who wants to study exercise science or biology. “Everybody has a winning attitude and I like to be around people like that.”
Strunk, a second-team EPC and All-Area pick last season, led the Mountaineers (21-4) to the school’s fifth 20-win season, and first in 20 seasons, as well as their best regular season (20-2) ever. She scored a career-high 30 points in two regular-season games against Parkland and East Stroudsburg South.
Strunk scored 24 points in a victory over Pocono Mountain West that propelled coach Matt Field’s Mountaineers into their first-ever Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinal contest where they lost 44-38 to eventual champion Nazareth.