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With limited numbers entering the season, a question was raised to see if the Lady Lopes could even field a Junior Varsity team. This question has been completely thrown out the window, as the 15-girl squad is on a six-game winning streak, as they improve to 6-1.
The girls opened the season against Seton LaSalle in the Deer Lakes Tip-Off Event. In the back and forth contest, Seton LaSalle would come out on top 35-30. After the season-opening loss, the Lopes have been dominating their recent competition, outscoring their opponents 306-122.
They would finish the Tip-Off Tournament with a 57-11 win against Riverview. Standout freshman point guard Greta O’Brien was named to the All-Tournament Team, after notching double-digit points in both games.
The girls would then move onto their home opener, in which they won a close 32-27 game against OLSH. The 2-1 Antelopes then beat Keystone Oaks 44-18 in their first section game of the season. They extended their winning streak again after beating South Allegheny the following week, once again resulting in a 44-18 win.
They’ve certainly already made their case for the postseason, as Freshman Noah Goetz assured us, “They’ll definitely make the playoffs.” Noah is the brother of both Maggie and Rebecca Goetz, two dominant players on the team. Freshman Billy Onyshko, a brother of another player, also weighed in on the subject, “I think that they are going to make it further in the playoffs than they ever have in recent years.”
But nothing showed their claim for the post-season more than their two most recent games against Ellis and East Allegheny. The Lopes steam-rolled both teams, overtaking Ellis 62-23, as Rebecca Goetz scored a season-high 21 points.
The Lopes were then scheduled to play Sto-Rox on December 30, however, it was canceled for reasons not stated. The break did not slow down the girls whats-so-ever though, as they then returned from Christmas break to defeat East Allegheny 67-25, with freshman Greta O’Brien tallying 23 points on the night.
The Lopes are looking forward to a chance at a deep playoff run, and with the talent found in younger grades, the expectation of the team only increases into the future. Merely a month into the season, the Lady Lopes have their eyes on the prize, as they hope for a shot towards the WPIAL.
Additional Reporting by Garrett Dzubiek
This article kept me engaged. I loved hearing how people in our school view the varsity team. Great job!
I really liked this article, it’s interesting that you touched on what other students think of the team and definitely gives a better understanding of how they’re doing for people who don’t play basketball.