2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29 -- Linesville Nov. 30 -- at Jamestown Dec. 2 -- Clarion Dec. 4 -- West Forest Dec. 7 -- at Cochranton Dec. 12 -- Reynolds Dec. 16 -- at Mercer Dec. 27-28 -- Commodore Perry Christmas tourney Jan. 4 -- Conneaut Lake Jan. 9 -- at Kennedy Catholic* Jan. 13 -- at Greenville Jan. 16 -- at West Middlesex* Jan. 20 -- Mercer Jan. 23 -- at Sharpsville Jan. 25 -- Meadville Jan. 27 -- at Reynolds Jan. 30 -- Kennedy Catholic* Feb. 1 -- Venango Catholic Feb. 6 -- West Middlesex* Feb. 10 -- North Clarion Feb. 11 -- at Meadville Feb. 13 -- Sharpsville    #=MCAC-A contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

A perennial underdog in Mercer County Athletic Conference's Class A division, the Commodore Perry Lady Panthers of third-year mentor Rick Adsit think that they are ready to make the leap to a higher level of play in 2002-03.

"We're losing one player from last year's 9-15 team (Tina Ramer), and Sharpsville (moving up to double-A) isn't in our league this year," Adsit explained. "We feel like we're a program on the rise. We want to be a program on the way up."

Led by high-scoring seniors Allison George (274 points in 2001-02) and Shannon Greathouse (254), Commodore Perry returns six letterwinners from a year ago who are hungry for success and poised to make a run at a District 10 playoff berth. George, a 5-foot-8 guard/forward, and Greathouse, a 5-2 point guard, accounted for roughly half of the Lady Panthers' tallies last season. "Shannon's probably one of the quickest girls in the league," Adsit said. "She's one of the toughest to guard in single-A, as far as quickness and foot-speed are concerned."

Adsit is also hoping that 5-10 senior Kayla Sindlinger is able to compete as she recovers from a shoulder injury suffered during the volleyball season. "If she's not playing, we lose some of our senior leadership, and she's one of our biggest players on the floor when she's out there," he said.

Results of an MRI on Sindlinger's shoulder were not yet available, but in the meantime she will continue to play unless advised otherwise by her family or physician.

"We want her to play, obviously, but we want to do what's best for her," he continued, explaining that if the injury turns out to be a torn rotator cuff, Sindlinger will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

While Adsit said that he will tailor his starting five to each opponent, likely to appear in CP's lineup are juniors Crystal Lazzar (5-8 forward) and Carrie McConnell (5-6 guard) and 10th-grader Carrie McKelvely (5-4 guard). A deep bench will be composed of senior Jess Gainor (5-1 guard), junior Bobbie Boyles (5-9 forward), and sophomore guards Lauren Defrances (5-3) and Sarah Sterling (5-4). Also, a trio of freshmen -- Bethany VanSickle (5-11 forward), Ali Ruddy (5-6 guard) and Cheraya Nagel (5-5 guard) -- are inexperienced but talented and will likely be asked to contribute after gaining some seasoning early in the year.

Adsit believes that his group, which he characterizes as taller, stronger and quicker than in years past, is ready for a playoff run, and a propensity toward single-A adversaries on the Lady Panthers' schedule places their destiny firmly in their own hands.

"Every coach's goal should be to make the playoffs," expressed Adsit, who is assisted by Marsha McKelvey. "But how can you say that Kennedy isn't the odds-on favorite to win the MCAC -- and they (District 10) only take one automatic bid from the MCAC.

"We need to look at getting one of the three at-large bids, and we're going to have to beat Middlesex. Also, 12 of our 23 games are against single-A teams -- a lot of those are FCVC (French Creek Valley Conference) teams -- and we have to be realistic, so those games are going to be weighed heavily (to determine playoff status)."

Early-season non-conference games are often regarded by coaches as tune-ups for league play, and Adsit admits that his team will face added pressure given the importance of its matchups with non-league foes.

"You hate to start the season with games that matter, but that's what happens," Adsit related, adding that seven of the Lady Panthers' first eight contests are with single-A opponents. "In the big picture ... it's not going to be important how you do against (double-A) Greenville or Mercer -- but Linesville and Conneaut Lake are really going to matter." -- By Russell Adkins, sports writer