The WPIAL champs return to the courts, but they are missing a few very important champs.
This season, the Beaver Area High School girls basketball team has big shoes to fill. Losing five seniors after the last stellar season, and returning only one starter, poses some challenges for the Bobcats.
That means these Bobcats are a young team this year with only one senior, Payton List, and the rest juniors, sophomores, and freshman—but they are under the direction of veteran coach Greg Huston and assistant coaches Heidi Burtt and Paige Neeley, who already have the girls hard at work.
“We have had practice mostly every day for the last month and have been working really hard to be conditioned and prepared for this season,” said freshman Emerson Connelly.
After being WPIAL champs last year, the team knows expectations for the upcoming season remain high.
“It is definitely a rebuilding year for us. I think that everyone is going to have lower expectations for us this year compared to last year, but I think we are going to surprise people,” predicted junior Hailey Tooch.
Last year, the girls moved from AAA to AAAA which added tougher competition to their schedule. Tooch predicts that Blackhawk High School will be the team’s toughest games this season.
Before the season begins, the team held their annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5k. This year nearly 400 people signed up to run or walk the race through downtown Beaver to support the teams. The basketball organization is grateful for all the support from the community!
The Bobcats season opener is December 10 at home against Canon-McMillan High School at 6 p.m. Come out and support the Lady Bobcats!