2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- Kiser Class tourney Dec. 4 -- North East Dec. 6 -- at Franklin Dec. 9 -- at Greenville Dec. 12 -- at Wilmington Dec. 13 -- at Reynolds Dec. 16 -- West Middlesex Dec. 19 -- Oil City Dec. 20 -- at Cameron County Dec. 23 -- at Mercer Dec. 27-28 -- at Saegertown tourney Jan. 3 -- Greenville Jan. 9 -- at Slippery Rock* Jan. 13 -- at Kennedy Catholic Jan. 16 -- Hickory* Jan. 20 -- Wilmington Jan. 23 -- at Sharon* Jan. 27 -- East Jan. 30 -- Slippery Rock* Feb. 1 -- at Taylor Allderdice Feb. 6 -- at Hickory* Feb. 13 -- Sharon.*    #=MCAC-AAA contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

Grove City High girls basketball coach Roger Flynn admittedly might be facing his biggest rebuilding year since taking over the program more than a quarter-century.

That could be expected after losing about about 95 percent of his offense from last year's PIAA quarterfinalist team, and nine seniors.

"We're young, small, inexperienced, and we didn't have a very good offseason," Flynn said. "Other than that, things are going great."

Seniors Amber Chutz (5-7) and Hannah Gargasz (5-7) are the only two returning letterwinners from last year's 25-6 squad that finished as co-Mercer County Athletic Conference Class AAA champs with Sharon, then ended third in District 10 play.

Gone from that team are leading scorers Chelsea Smith and Amber McFeely, who are playing college ball at Bucknell University and Slippery Rock University, respectively.

While those two, along with the departed Carly Denniston, Shannon O'Neil and Amber Burke helped make the Lady Eagles a formidable inside-outside team, Flynn expects this year's team to be a little bit different.

"We are very athletic and very quick, and that can make up for some of our other deficiencies," Flynn said.

One of those, he feels, is not having a player over 5-foot-8. However, Flynn feels guards Ashley McKnight, a 5-5 sophomore who didn't play last year, and freshman Julie Molloy (5-6) have come along well during camp.

"Both are excellent ballhandlers," Flynn said. "I think Julie will remind a lot of people of Amber at the ninth-grade level. An area of concern in fact has turned out to be a strength."

Flynn also expects juniors Sarah Noone (5-8), Jessica Taylor (5-4) and Amy Molloy (5-4), and sophomore Alissa Chutz (5-8) to contribute as well.

"We're a small team," Flynn said. "We do have good perimeter shooting and hope to make up for a lack of height with that. We have to apply a lot of defensive pressure, because we're not going to replace all of those points and rebounds from last year."

If there is one similarity to last year, Flynn expects to use an 8- or 9-player rotation.

"We have eight players, possibly nine, who are pretty even," he said. "We'll have a different starting lineup many nights. And we'll be able to substitute three, maybe four players in early." That being said, Flynn expects to be "a pressing team, hopefully, an aggressive defensive team, and we're going to run the ball up the court."

As for the league, Flynn thinks Hickory is the prohibitive favorite.

"I don't think there's anybody in our league who can catch up to them, although we're going to try and make them sweat a little bit," Flynn said. "They have everything they need to have. They're a strong team."

Flynn expects to battle for the second playoff spot.

"It depends on how much we improve and challenge the top teams," Flynn said.

The Lady Eagles will have plenty of time to prepare for their league slate, playing 13 games -- more than half of their season slate -- before Jan. 1.

"We have to be ready very quickly," Flynn said. "Truthfully, we did not have a good offseason, but we're making up for that very rapidly. We do not have the experience that other teams have gained by playing a number of games over the summer."

One plus, however, is that the Class AAA league games don't start until January.

"We really have a long time to get ready for the league, and that very busy month of December will get us ready," Flynn said. "I just hope we're ready for that very busy month of December."

Note: Assisting Flynn is Mike Hostetler. -- By Brad Isles, Allied News editor.