The Blue Ridge girls basketball team is trying to start the way it finished a year ago.
The Lady Raiders went from 2-10 in Lackawanna League Division 4 and 2-13 overall in the shortened 2020-21 to 6-6 and 10-13 last season, largely because of an in-season improvement from a group of players that is back for more.
“We finished our season strong last year with an 8-3 record in February,” Blue Ridge coach Mike Courtright said. “We’re looking to build on that momentum heading into this season with most of our starters back and a more mature team.”
So far, so good.
The Lady Raiders, the last District 2 team to get this season started, take a 2-1 record into holiday tournament action.
Emma Button, a 5-foot-4 point guard, led the team in scoring last season as a freshman.
Juniors Libby Zick, Leigha McCain and Abby Laude also broke into the lineup as freshmen and are now in their third years.
Sophomore center Kaelynn Brant, at 5-8 the tallest player on a small team, also was a part-time starter last season.
Junior guard Ella Robinson saw significant playing time as a sub last season and has been the first option off the bench.
Without a senior on the roster, the Lady Raiders have the potential to continue their improvement.
