Lady Gators’ amazing turnaround continues
Geibel Catholic无毛视频檚 once proud girls basketball program had hit rock bottom in recent years and not many expected anything to change much this season.
After all the Lady Gators had a combined record of 4-64 the past four years that included a 1-43 section mark.
Geibel did show a bit of improvement in Sara Larkin无毛视频檚 first season as head coach with better fundamental play and two wins, which matched the total from the previous three years.
But no one, other than maybe the Lady Gators themselves, saw this coming in Larkin无毛视频檚 second year at the helm.
Geibel stunned visiting Avella, 50-44, on Thursday night to even its overall record at 7-7 and improve to 2-2 in Section 2-A. The win was the Lady Gators无毛视频� third in a row, something they hadn无毛视频檛 accomplished since December of 2017, which was the last year they reached the postseason.
无毛视频淭he kids believe,无毛视频� Larkin said. 无毛视频淭hey all work hard and they play together as a team.无毛视频�
Amazing freshman Emma Larkin has been the main catalyst for the Lady Gators and she continued to show that during the win over the Lady Eagles (1-2, 6-7) who were pegged in the preseason as one of teams capable of putting an end to West Greene无毛视频檚 six-year run of first-place finishes.
Larkin, the coach无毛视频檚 daughter, poured in six 3-pointers on her way to a 45-point game, accounting for all but five of her team无毛视频檚 offensive output.
It is believed Larkin无毛视频檚 performance was the third-best in Lady Gators history behind Shelley Bortz (49 points) and Jamie Misiak (47).
Coach Larkin explained why Emma has taken off so quickly in her first year at the varsity level.
无毛视频淔irst of all she has a really high basketball IQ,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淓mma无毛视频檚 been playing a long time. She understands the game. She scores a lot but she无毛视频檚 really an unselfish player. She makes the right plays. She pulls two or three kids (to her defensively) and knows where to dish it to. She knows how to get those open looks for us.
无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 have to script anything for her. On defense, she knows where she无毛视频檚 supposed to be but if she sees something she无毛视频檒l take advantage. I give her free reign defensively.无毛视频�
Coach Larkin also pointed out one key physical attribute her daughter possesses.
无毛视频淗er speed, though, is absolutely her No. 1 asset in my opinion,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淓mma is quick defensively, she无毛视频檚 quick offensively and she无毛视频檚 just really hard to guard.无毛视频�
As the season and Emma Larkin have evolved, Geibel has gone from a team showing its no longer a pushover to one that is now a legitimate threat to make the WPIAL playoffs.
West Greene once again sits atop the standings at 4-0 with Monessen second at 3-1. The Lady Gators moved into sole possession of third place following the win over Avella which dropped into fourth. Mapletown (1-3) is fifth with Jefferson-Morgan (0-3) sixth. The top four teams qualify for the postseason.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 a tough team, a good team,无毛视频� coach Larkin said of Avella, which was led by Katie Dryer and Syd Strope with 13 and 10 points. 无毛视频淭hat was a well-coached, solid, disciplined team out there tonight. That无毛视频檚 a good win for us.无毛视频�
The Lady Eagles led 10-9 after the first quarter but Geibel pulled ahead 22-21 by halftime, built a 33-28 advantage after three quarters and hung on from there.
The Lady Gators are well aware they无毛视频檙e now in the playoff race.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 very open and honest with them. I don无毛视频檛 sugarcoat anything,无毛视频� coach Larkin said. 无毛视频淚 made my expectations clear up front. I told them here无毛视频檚 our goals for the year, here无毛视频檚 how many wins we无毛视频檙e targeting, in the playoff hunt here无毛视频檚 what we无毛视频檙e looking for.
无毛视频淲e do take it game by game but they know and understand the big picture. We无毛视频檝e got to win on Tuesday against Jefferson-Morgan then we无毛视频檒l have three section wins through the first cycle and we无毛视频檙e absolutely in it.无毛视频�
What makes Geibel无毛视频檚 ascension this season even more amazing is its dependence on underclassmen.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e young,无毛视频� coach Larkin said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e got two seniors and no juniors. The rest are sophomores and freshmen.
无毛视频淏ut they believe in each other, they support each other, they listen and they execute what I ask them to do. Whatever strategy I throw out there on any given night they go out there and do it. They无毛视频檙e smart kids.无毛视频�
Maia Stevenson is one of the seniors who has played through the bad times and now is helping in the turnaround.
无毛视频淢aia has stepped up for us this year,无毛视频� coach Larkin said. 无毛视频淪he无毛视频檚 our second-leading scorer and she rebounds like a beast. She无毛视频檚 small but she defends the biggest kid on the court every game we play. At Mapletown she had to try to stop Krista Wilson and did a good job. She无毛视频檚 not big but she plays big and has been huge for us.
无毛视频淢aia also is starting to find her voice and be a vocal leader for us, which is what I无毛视频檝e asked her to do this year.无毛视频�
Geibel无毛视频檚 starting lineup also includes senior Amanda Hoffer and sophomores Giana Holonich and Ava Partridge. Key players off the bench are sophomore Lydia Geary and freshmen Jenna Buchheit and Isabella DiCenzo.
The players are enjoying their newfound success.
无毛视频淚t was such a great feeling to see their faces light up after this victory,无毛视频� coach Larkin said. 无毛视频淭hey were cheering for each other, hugging each other, the locker room was full of excitement and energy.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a great feeling at Geibel right now.无毛视频�