NTL GIRLS BASKETBALL: MILLER LOOKS FOR EXPERIENCE, VERSATILITY TO CARRY ATHENS IN 2019-20 (2019-12-12)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports ReportATHENS "” Athens girls basketball coach Brian Miller said his team will lean on its experience and versatility as it heads into the 2019-20 campaign.
(Athens opens the season tonight at home against North Penn-Mansfield.)
"I think experience is going to be a strength for us," said Miller. "We lost one very good role play in Sophie Adams, who was a hustler, rebounder and team leader, but the core of our team - points, rebounds, assists, and steals are back. Our top three scorers and rebounds are all back.
"Another one of our strengths is we shoot the ball well from the perimeter," noted Miller. "We have a lot of guards - three or four kids who can really knock down the 3-point shot.
"And, we have some interior players who can score in Caydence (Macik) and Rachel Stevens, as well as Olivia Bartlow coming off the bench.
"I think we're pretty versatile," he added.
Senior Avery Priester will start at point guard, with junior Kayleigh Miller at the 2-guard, senior Haley Barry at the 3-guard, junior Rachel Stephens at forward, and sophomore Caydence Macik at center.
The first three off the bench will be junior shooting guard Megan Collins, senior forward Kassidy Peterson, and sophomore center / forward Olivia Bartlow.
Miller will also be looking for minutes from senior guard Hannah Forbes, junior guard Hannah Blackman, and senior forward Jocelyn Murray.
Juniors Lillian Sitzer and Charelle Jandoc will both play JVs, but will suit up for varsity as well.
Miller believes his team will need to maintain a high level of consistent play in order to win in the NTL.
"The league is pretty strong," he said. "I think there are four or five teams that on a given night, if we're not playing to our potential could upset us. I guess that's a good thing because it will prepare us in the long run.
"We're not overly strong enough to blow teams out by 40, so we have to play well every night to beat 70 to 80 percent of the teams on our schedule," Miller added.
In his days at Waverly, Miller was known for pressing teams from the opening whistle to final horn, but that is not the case for this Wildcat squad.
"We'll pick our spots to press," said Miller. "We don't have the athletes and depth like I did in the past with those teams, so we'll probably pick our spots to press, and our teams to press.
"I think we're a little bit more comfortable pressing, after doing it some last year, and a lot this summer, but the 32 minutes of pressing probably won't be there," he added. "I also want to keep kids fresh, and out of foul trouble, etc."
Miller and Macik were the main scorers for the Lady Wildcats last year, but Miller believes they'll get some help this season.
"Haley Barry is one to watch," he said. "She averaged 7 or 8 points a game last year, and she's had a really good preseason in our practices and our scrimmage.
She's very athletic. She can put the ball on the floor, gets to the basket, and gets to the foul line," noted Miller. "She's been shooting the ball very well this preseason, which is a plus.
"Rachel Stephens has also worked on her game this summer," continued Miller. "We're counting on her for 6 to 8 points per game, and 6 to 8 rebounds per game.
"Kassidy Peterson is another one. She's done very well this preseason offensively, so we're expecting some good things out of her as well."
"I think we'll be more balanced," added Miller. "We can't just rely on one or two kids to score 20 points because teams are going to key on them. They can score, but you have to have other kids step up and score as well."
Miller is hoping the Lady Wildcats can take the next step in 2019-20.
"I expect us to compete for a division title and the NTL Showdown," said Miller. "We were one game away from winning (the division title) last year, just behind Wellsboro.
"We did make the Showdown, that was a good thing, we got an extra game.
"The elite teams of Wellsboro and Sayre lost a bunch to graduation, so I think we're definitely in the mix for one of the top teams in the Large School, as well as winning the overall NTL," he noted.
Once we get to Districts, we'll readjust our goals, see who's out there, and go from there," added Miller.
ARUOND THE NTL: "I would say Towanda is probably the team to beat in the Large School," said Miller. "They return a good core, plus it has a lot of good incoming freshmen who will contribute at the varsity level.
"They have a stud freshman in 5-11 point guard Paige Manchester," noted Miller. "She plays a lot of basketball throughout the year, and will present a challenge for a lot of teams, including us, because she's a tall point guard.
"Wellsboro lost a lot, but they have a couple of good girls back from last year. They will be competitive," added Miller. "And, Wyalusing only lost one to graduation, they will be competitive. They do have a new coach, so you never know how that is going to effect the dynamics."
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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Kayleigh Miller (left) and sophomore Caydence Macik.
