2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- Reynolds Tipoff tourney Dec. 5 -- Kennedy Catholic Dec. 9 -- Hickory Dec. 12 -- at Commodore Perry Dec. 13 -- Grove City Dec. 14 -- at Union Dec. 18 -- at Slippery Rock Dec. 21 -- Farrell Dec. 26-28 -- at Linesville Tournament Jan. 3 -- West Middlesex Jan. 6 -- at Kennedy Catholic Jan. 9 -- at Mercer* Jan. 13 -- at Sharon Jan. 16 -- Wilmington* Jan. 20 -- Sharpsville* Jan. 23 -- at Greenville* Jan. 27 -- Commodore Perry Jan. 30 -- Mercer* Feb. 3 -- at West Middlesex Feb. 6 -- at Wilmington* Feb. 10 -- at Sharpsville* Feb. 13 -- Greenville.*    #=MCAC-AA contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

If given a choice, any high school athletics coach would certainly prefer a roster packed with battle-tested seniors to lead the team into action.

For Reynolds High girls basketball taskmaster Justin Magestro, this year's senior class consists of a single player, 5-foot-11 forward Heather Miller. According to Magestro, however, Miller can more than fulfill the leadership expectations often placed on an entire group of seniors.

"She (Miller) brings a lot of experience to our team," the fifth-year coach said of his Miller, a 2-year letterwinner. "She's a smart player, and she's been very dedicated and loyal to the program. It's good to have seniors, but we'll take quality over quantity, and we definitely have a lot of quality."

Miller will definitely not asume the leadership mantel alone, however, as the Lady Raiders feature a slew of experience juniors to help shoulder the load.

"We're young, but we're experienced," Magestro said, adding that as many as five juniors are vying to join Miller in Reynolds' starting lineup. Among the top 11th-graders are a trio of 5-6 guards -- point guard Jessica Saul, Marti Shellenbarger and Michelle Cullen, a pair of frontliners in 5-9 forward Natalie Kennell and 5-7 forward Rachel McBride. Saul and Shellenbarger both seek their third varsity letter this season, while Cullen, Kennell and McBride all have lettered once. Together, Magestro's juniors bring well-rounded ability and balance to the squad. All told, the Lady Raiders will feature six returning letterwinners in 2002-03.

"Jessica Saul is a junior with experience," Magestro said. "She's been with us in the playoffs two years in a row, getting experience as a playoff point guard and leader."

Shellenbarger also has extensive playoff experience and will be expected to join Miller and Saul in a leadership role. And wth a season of varsity experience under their belts, Magestro thinks that Cullen, Kennell and McBride are ready to shine after a summer of hard work.

Cullen proved to have a significant presence in the scoring column this winter. "She gives a dynamic scorer out there," Magestro related. "She's been with our program for three years, and she can flat out fill it up."

Kennell provides a second post option to complement Miller, and Magestro also complimented her rapid development. "She went from crawling to walking real fast, and she's just getting much better every year."

McBride however, promises to be the Magestro's most pleasant surprise this season and figures to be Reynolds' most improved player.

Meghan Miller, a sophomore forward and younger sister of Heather, is slated to be the lone 10th-grader making an impact on the varsity club. Along with freshmen forwards Melissa Michaels (5-7) and Lynn Renwick (5-8), Meghan Miller will add frontcourt depth for the Lady Raiders. Junior Tera Laaks (5-8) and freshman Shaina Smith (5-6) are backup guards.

Magestro says that his team is hungry and poised to make a run at a third consecutive playoff appearance.

"Once you taste the candy you want to go back and get some more," he said of the playoffs' appeal. "The girls are very focused on that, and although there might be some big hurdles to overcome. We want to vie for the MCAC (Class AA) title and make the playoffs."

Those big hurdles will include the customary double-A opponents (Mercer, Wilmington and backyard rival Greenville), but this season another obstacle has in the Sharpsville Blue Darlings, who move up after reaching the PIAA playoffs in single-A last season.

Reynolds will use a high-tempo offense and man-to-man defense built around its team quickness in its quest for an MCAC title, but the Lady Raiders are fortunate to have another veteran presence on hand as they battle for a playoff berth -- assistant coach and former Sharon mentor Gene Sarazen. "Gene Sarazen is a couple extra points on the bench," Magestro said. "He brings to my staff (which includes former Sharon cager Jesse Coon) a plethora of experience -- he's been in basketball for 30 years, and the girls really respond to him." -- By Russell Adkins, sports writer