December 16, 2011
2011/2012 Team Preview: |
 |
Junior guard Shannon Folger is one of four first-year starters for Holy Family Academy. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Holy Family Academy Falcons Photo Gallery |
By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
|
|
After years of being focused on scoring forwards, Holy Family had to make a significant adjustment. Gone are 1,000-point scorers Christina Gill (graduated in 2010) and Diane Forker (graduated in 2011), shifting the focus towards guard plays and quickness.
"We just don't have the big personnel that we've had before," head coach Pat Longo said. "It's a totally different game. It's a totally different team, it's just a totally different mix of people and skills. You have to work with what you have."
This year, the attention will be on the trio of guards in Kaydee Murphy, Shannon Folger and Alexis Ogbin.
Murphy, the lone returning starter from last season's county semifinalist, has been a solid pass-first guard. As she enters her senior season, the 5-foot-3 Murphy will be asked to add more scoring.
"Her passing ability is just so good, she just has a great eye for the court," Longo said. "I just expect Kaydee to step up a little more with scoring because we lost that punch that we had inside. She'll have to produce some points also."
Ogbin, a 5-foot-5 junior, and Folger, a 5-foot-6 junior, are elevated into the lineup after coming off the bench a season ago. Longo cited both as the most improved players from a season ago and will be asked to fill the scoring void from the graduations of Forker and swing Samantha Sysak.
"Shannon is quick, she has a little bit of size so she can play inside as a small forward, yet she can handle the ball," Longo said. "Alexis is a guard who can handle and can shoot."
Five-foot-eight junior Kaitlyn Karteron has the unenviable task of replacing the points lost in the paint from a season ago. Karteron doesn't possess the offensive talent of her predecessors, but according to Longo might be an upgrade on the defensive end. She is joined up front by 5-foot-6 junior Jessie McGlone.
Depth is a critical concern for the Falcons, especially with sophomore guard Lacey Micewicz sidelined with an injury. Junior guard Liana Novenbrino will see plenty of action and is one of their better outside shooters. Sophomore Sarah Jane Derowski will also get a lot of minutes as Holy Family's rotation may only be seven or eight deep.2011-12 Holy Family |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
