By Tom Robinson, NEPABasketball.com
Susquehanna enters the season on Lackawanna League Division 4 girls basketball streaks of 38 straight wins and 3 consecutive titles.
The task of trying to extend those streaks will fall on a new group after a coaching change and graduation losses that included all-state performers Taylor Huyck and Mackenzie Steele as well as others.
Gina Baker moves up from assistant coach to replace Kirk Fallon, so she is familiar with the returning talent.
The Lady Sabers head into the season with just one senior and four juniors on a combined varsity/junior varsity roster that is otherwise made up of sophomores and freshmen.
“I have some freshmen that I’m happy with, but I don’t think anyone that will crack the starting lineup,” Baker said.
That is more likely to come from a group of returnees that will try to make the most of the experience provided by the combination of Fallon believing in a deep rotation and the team blowing out many of its Division 4 opponents in recent seasons.
Junior forward Meghan Kiernan is the only returning starter for the four-time defending District 2 Class A champion Lady Sabers, who were in their second straight Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association quarterfinal and the apparent favorite to make a first-ever state semifinal appearance when the tournament ended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It has taken more than 10 months for the Lady Sabers to get a chance to play again.
Kiernan was the team’s third-leading scorer, a tough rebounder and a second-team division all-star choice by NEPABasketball.com.
Minus Huyck, the school’s all-time leading scorer, and Steele, who surpassed 1,000 in both career points and rebounds, the Lady Sabers may have a different approach.
“I think we’re probably more defensive-minded than we have been in the past, just because that’s my nature,” Baker said. “ … We can’t rely on someone shooting the lights out and having a hot night to keep us in the game.”
Twin sisters Mackenzie and Megan Decker, junior guards, often provided a defensive spark off the bench last season.
Senior guard Cortney Bennett and sophomore center Alexandra Iveson saw considerable playing time.
Lexi Iveson, a sophomore guard, saw less playing time than the others last season, but may be ready to move into a more prominent role.
