Bentworth girls preview: Lady Bearcats hope offseason work pays off with playoff berth
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
High school sports used to be seasonal, but along the way, many of them have become year-round activities.
While coaches can’t officially have practices outside of their respective seasons, players now put in time with trainers and in other approaches.
Donna Sallee is in her seventh season as the Bentworth girls basketball coach. She praised the work her players put in during the offseason and what she hopes it leads to in the 2023-24 season.
“This offseason we had 13 girls participate in the Brownson House League, two competed in the Grebb League, and two trained at Shoot 360 in Bethel Park,” explained Sallee. “Our goal is to make the playoffs.”
The offseason work could help them reach that goal, and the Lady Bearcats will need solid contributions from their two returning starters to do so.
The senior duo includes point guard Amber Sallee and Ava Massucci, with Sallee making second team All-Section last season after averaging 12.6 points per game.
Other returning players who will play key roles include junior forward Aubrie Logan, junior guard/forward Kayla O’Dell, senior guard Taylor Aubrey, and sophomore guard/forward Jesse Laskey.
New players to the program include a pair of freshmen guard/forwards, Bella Moyer and Elizabeth Wade, junior forward Kyleigh Glaze, and senior forward Gianna Brown.
Bentworth is in Section 4-AA along with Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier and Washington.
“Chartiers Houston and Wash High are the top teams in the section,” Sallee said.
Sallee outlined where her squad needs to improve to make a push to the playoffs.
“We have to control the boards offensively and defensively,” said Sallee.. “Teams cannot get more than one shot during a possession.”