Pottsville girls basketball will have a good mix of players this season that will contribute from all classes, and head coach Drew Siebenmorgen said the biggest thing for Pottsville this season will be its depth.
Pottsville finished 14-11 last season and has three returning starters, including junior Lindsay Aday, who averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists per game.
“Lindsey is a returning forward from last season and lived a lot in the midpost but has really developed her game to be more of an outside threat this year,” Siebenmorgen said. “She can shoot the 3, can get to the rim and finish through contact and also has a great midrange game.”
Joining Aday in the post are Rilee Underwood and Layla Stroud. The coach said Underwood is a very strong kid who can play with her back to the basket but can also “face up and shoot the midrange shot.”
Seniors Julia Reynolds and Kimbra Rhodes both averaged 5 points per game last season.
“Kimbra Rhodes is another returning guard from last season,” Siebenmorgen said. “She makes defenses have to spread the floor with her perimeter shot but is also a big threat to drive and feed open players with her good interior passing.
“Julia has really improved on her perimeter shooting and also her ability to finish at the basket.”
Siebenmorgen said Tori Daniel is a returning guard who saw minutes last season. He said she has the ability to have games where she hits multiple 3-point baskets and should be a strong defender for Pottsville this season.
“Sophomore Harmony Garner has a chance to play a lot of minutes this season,” Siebenmorgen said. “She is a great ball-handler and decision-maker and is probably the most consistent 3-pointer on our team.
“She has already shown the ability to be a leader in her first year of high school ball.”
Siebenmorgen said the team’s biggest strength will be if “we can get out in transition and run the floor, but I also think that our perimeter shooting this year will be a key factor.”
The coach said every game this year will be a game to watch. Not knowing who is going to be out there on the floor to play for either team each night will make every matchup an interesting one.
“Our conference has always been competitive, and I don’t expect that to be any different this season,” Siebenmorgen said. “I do think Morrilton will be the biggest challenge, though. They won the conference last season and return all their main players.
“They should be the team to beat.”