Lady Raiders taking aim at playoffs
Waynesburg Central coach Dave Sarra breaks a huddle with his players after a timeout during the Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls championship game against Frazier on Dec. 28, 2019. The Lady Raiders won the tournament. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
Waynesburg Central's Clara Paige Miller displays the plaque she earned by being named to the聽Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls all-tournament team last year. The Lady Raiders won. Miller returns for her junior season after leading Waynesburg in scoring and rebounding as a freshman and sophomore.
Waynesburg Central's Nina Sarra goes in for a layup against Frazier during last year's聽Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls championship game. The Lady Raiders won.
Waynesburg Central was a perfect example of a team that was better than its record indicated last girls basketball season.
The Lady Raiders were 7-15 overall and 1-13 in Section 2-AAA but they were in most of their games and their lone section win was on the road against a Charleroi playoff team that was in first place at the time.
Waynesburg was outscored by an average of just 4.6 points per game and suffered seven losses by 10 or fewer points.
无毛视频淟ast year we were in a lot of games,无毛视频� fourth-year coach Dave Sarra said. 无毛视频淲e won at Charleroi. We played South Park really close at home (56-45 loss to the section champion).
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e been closing the gap on those teams. So I think this year it无毛视频檚 realistic for us to make a push to make the playoffs.无毛视频�
The Lady Raiders have just one senior on their roster but still have plenty of experience returning.
无毛视频淔our of our starters this year also started most of the games last year,无毛视频� Sarra said.
That group includes Sarra无毛视频檚 daughter, guard Nina Sarra, along with senior forward Riley Morehead and junior forwards Clara Paige Miller and Brenna Benke.
无毛视频淐lara Paige was our leading scorer and leading rebounder last year and also in her freshman year,无毛视频� Sarra pointed out.
Completing the starting lineup will be a talented newcomer.
无毛视频淥ur point guard is going to be a freshman, Kaley Rohanna,无毛视频� Sarra said. 无毛视频淪he无毛视频檚 a really good player with a huge upside. We无毛视频檙e expecting a lot of good things from her.无毛视频�
Sarra also has the luxury of a deep bench.
无毛视频淎nother freshman who无毛视频檒l likely be our sixth player is Josie Horne,无毛视频� Sarra said. 无毛视频淲e also have (junior guard) Lily Rush, (freshman forward) Addison Blair, (freshman guard) Emma Kindervarter, (sophomore forward) Jordan Dean 无毛视频� we have a little bit of depth this year.无毛视频�
One of the highlights of the Lady Raiders无毛视频� 2019-20 season was winning the Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament, which was a positive experience for Sarra无毛视频檚 squad.
无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檙e always looking to gain experience in a tournament but you无毛视频檙e in it to win it, too,无毛视频� Sarra said. 无毛视频淚t was big for us and provided some excitement on the team.无毛视频�
When asked who his team leader was, Sarra said his team had several.
无毛视频淣ina is coming along in her leadership role but we have a lot of people leading by example right now and some vocal leaders, too,无毛视频� he said.
Waynesburg is the same section again but with a slightly different lineup. Brownsville, Charleroi, McGuffey, South Park and Washington remain with Seton LaSalle departing and Bentworth moving in.
Sarra will be assisted by Natalie Blair.