Returning everyone from the previous season, only losing two shooting guards Justine Carroll and Maddie Schutte, the Bethel Park Lady Hawks will be the team to look out for this 2012-2013 basketball season.
The Lady Hawks start a solid, intense line-up including myself, Mariah Penascino, a senior point guard, two junior shooting guards, Megan Marecic and Harper Zimmer, one junior forward, Sami Simpson, and a sophomore forward, Paige Kochka-Puskar. Coming from the bench includes some key players such as guards Lizz Neal (junior), Lauren Shaffer (senior), Shannon Conely (freshman) and forwards Katie Chess (sophomore), Jess Beckwith (sophomore), and Alexis Taylor (freshman).
Coach Burke hopes to go farther than last year which resulted in the semi-final game versus Oakland Catholic losing by a small amount of 5 points. Since I am a currently a Lady Hawk myself, my perspective on this upcoming season is that as a team we should make it far because our team is basically the same as it was last year. Also, every single girl on the team understands what our goals are and how we will achieve them which happens to be a huge need of any sports team.
Starting shooting guard Megan Marecic stated, “If we win our section, then we should win WPIALs because our section is the hardest.” Megan, being a junior, is very wise and knows that this season will be eventful and special. Megan also feels the Lady Hawks’ strengths are the strong, vault defense and rebounding.
“We should get every rebound!” Megan Marecic exclaimed. She is referring to the multiple players on the Lady Hawk team blessed with tall height to help us get every rebound.
Harper Zimmer, a junior starter, said, “We can make it all the way if everyone stays focused and dedicated.” This all goes back to the overall outcome of their season that Megan stated which is to win sections and WPIALs.
Asking Harper Zimmer about the Lady Hawks’ strengths, she said, “We are very strong defensively, and since we are a close team, that will give us the extra player on the court.”
To continue, everyone who has ever been a Black Hawk knows the biggest rivalries of Bethel Park are Mt. Lebanon and Upper Saint Clair. The Mt. Lebanon Girls Basketball Team will appear weaker than they ever have before since they lost so many key players. The USC Girls Basketball Team, on the other hand, seems like they will be a threat due to the fact they lost nobody and will return everyone from the previous year. To add more to this rivalry madness, the Chartiers Valley Colts will be coming up to Section 4, the hardest section in the WPIAL, to see if they can make a run in this section. Other teams that the Lady Hawks compete against include Peters, Baldwin, Trinity, Seneca Valley, Allderdice, and Norwin.
Ultimately, the Lady Hawks realize this season should go farther than most people expect it to and way farther than last year. Beginning with the end in mind, winning scctions and a WPIAL championship, the Lady Hawks completely understand what they must do to come out on top this 2012-2013 season. Keep your eyes open and do not sleep on the Lady Hawks!
