Lady Raiders taking aim at playoffs
Waynesburg Central coach Dave Sarra breaks a huddle with his players after a timeout during the Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls championship game against Frazier on Dec. 28, 2019. The Lady Raiders won the tournament. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
Waynesburg Central's Clara Paige Miller displays the plaque she earned by being named to the聽Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls all-tournament team last year. The Lady Raiders won. Miller returns for her junior season after leading Waynesburg in scoring and rebounding as a freshman and sophomore.
Waynesburg Central's Nina Sarra goes in for a layup against Frazier during last year's聽Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament girls championship game. The Lady Raiders won.
Waynesburg Central was a perfect example of a team that was better than its record indicated last girls basketball season.
The Lady Raiders were 7-15 overall and 1-13 in Section 2-AAA but they were in most of their games and their lone section win was on the road against a Charleroi playoff team that was in first place at the time.
Waynesburg was outscored by an average of just 4.6 points per game and suffered seven losses by 10 or fewer points.
鈥淟ast year we were in a lot of games,鈥� fourth-year coach Dave Sarra said. 鈥淲e won at Charleroi. We played South Park really close at home (56-45 loss to the section champion).
鈥淲e鈥檝e been closing the gap on those teams. So I think this year it鈥檚 realistic for us to make a push to make the playoffs.鈥�
The Lady Raiders have just one senior on their roster but still have plenty of experience returning.
鈥淔our of our starters this year also started most of the games last year,鈥� Sarra said.
That group includes Sarra鈥檚 daughter, guard Nina Sarra, along with senior forward Riley Morehead and junior forwards Clara Paige Miller and Brenna Benke.
鈥淐lara Paige was our leading scorer and leading rebounder last year and also in her freshman year,鈥� Sarra pointed out.
Completing the starting lineup will be a talented newcomer.
鈥淥ur point guard is going to be a freshman, Kaley Rohanna,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a really good player with a huge upside. We鈥檙e expecting a lot of good things from her.鈥�
Sarra also has the luxury of a deep bench.
鈥淎nother freshman who鈥檒l likely be our sixth player is Josie Horne,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淲e also have (junior guard) Lily Rush, (freshman forward) Addison Blair, (freshman guard) Emma Kindervarter, (sophomore forward) Jordan Dean 鈥� we have a little bit of depth this year.鈥�
One of the highlights of the Lady Raiders鈥� 2019-20 season was winning the Carmichaels Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament, which was a positive experience for Sarra鈥檚 squad.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always looking to gain experience in a tournament but you鈥檙e in it to win it, too,鈥� Sarra said. 鈥淚t was big for us and provided some excitement on the team.鈥�
When asked who his team leader was, Sarra said his team had several.
鈥淣ina is coming along in her leadership role but we have a lot of people leading by example right now and some vocal leaders, too,鈥� he said.
Waynesburg is the same section again but with a slightly different lineup. Brownsville, Charleroi, McGuffey, South Park and Washington remain with Seton LaSalle departing and Bentworth moving in.
Sarra will be assisted by Natalie Blair.