By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WILKES-BARRE – Plans and projections needed to be altered before the Berwick Lady Bulldogs even began formal preparations for the upcoming season.
“The injury bug killed us,” coach Bill Phillips said at the Wyoming Valley Conference Media Day. “We lost Gabby Starr for the season. She tore her ACL and MCL.
“We lost another potential starter, Lybbi Switzer. She had season-ending shoulder surgery from soccer.”
At the time of the media session, Phillips was dealing with uncertainty on another injury to a key reserve.
“We have three returning players that have varsity experience,” Phillips said. “We’re playing a lot of young kids.
“We have one senior on the roster who is playing.”
Rachel Whitenight, a 5-foot-9 guard, is the one senior and one of the experienced players.
Whitenight has joined junior point guard RaeAnna Andreas as the team leaders.
Andreas was a second-team Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 all-star selection last season by NEPABasketball.com (now part of NEPASportsNation.com).
Starr was an honorable mention on the all-star team after being Berwick’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder.
Andreas and Whitenight have handled the bulk of the team’s offensive production so far this season.
Sophomore point guard Carly Ochs and junior guard Alysa Lewis are the other experienced players who have stepped into more prominent roles.
“We’re very young,” Phillips said. “We’ll take our lumps, but it’s a good challenge.”
The Lady Bulldogs opened on the road, playing on even terms for a half with Scranton Prep, the No. 1 Big School in the Riverfront Sports Super Six Basketball Power Rankings of District 2 teams, and are 1-2 through three games in the first two weeks of non-league play.
Berwick will be involved in the first league game in all of District 2 basketball. Its WVC Division 1 opener at Pittston Area was switched to an earlier date. The teams will meet Dec. 19, two days before everyone else joins in.
MORE
The WVC Division 1 girls basketball schedule: Girls basketball schedules – Wyoming Valley Division 1 – NEPA Sports Nation.
