2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- at Reynolds Tipoff tourney Dec. 9 -- Monaca* Dec. 12 -- at Cornell* Dec. 16 -- Western Beaver* Dec. 19 -- at Quigley* Dec. 21 -- at Reynolds Dec. 29-30 -- at Brookfield Christmas tourney Jan. 2 -- Our Lady Sacred Heart* Jan. 4 -- Warren-JFK Jan. 6 -- at Sewickley Academy* Jan. 9 -- Union* Jan. 16 -- at Monaca* Jan. 17 -- Shadyside Academy* Jan. 20 -- Cornell* Jan. 23 -- at Western Beaver* Jan. 27 -- Quigley* Jan. 28 -- Beaver County Christian Jan. 30 -- at Our Lady Sacred Heart* Feb. 3 -- Sewickley Academy* Feb. 6 -- at Union*    #=WPIAL Section 1 contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

It's not easy promoting girls basketball at Farrell High.

At a school where volleyball is the undisputed queen of girls' athletics, Ed Turosky seeks to right the vessel that is Steelerettes' basketball after a 3-19 performance in 2001-02.

A close look at the girls basketball roster yields a quartet of names -- juniors Kelly Davis and Susan Saunders, sophomore Tarrah Graham and freshman Dierica Blackwell -- that should be familiar to those who followed Farrell's march to an eighth PIAA volleyball crown in November, and Turosky wouldn't mind some of that winning spirit rubbing off on his squad as it competes in a strong WPIAL Section 1 in 2002-03.

"Harriett Morrison does great things with the volleyball team, and Kelly, Susan, Dierica and Tarrah come in ready to work," Turosky said of the champions' work ethic. "It's tough to get girls to play basketball at Farrell sometimes, but they come in and Kelly (an all-stater in volleyball) leads by example ... she gives us 110 percent."

Turosky has reason to be encouraged about his team's potential, as he says that a shift in spirit and added resolve is evident in the Steelerettes' performance at practice and in games.

"We've had a tremendous change in our attitude at practice -- it's really been remarkable, and I'm really looking forward to the season," the third-year coach related. "They're taking it upon themselves to provide motivation," he continued. "They said they want to post a sign at the gym that say '3-19' to remind them of all their hardships from last year."

Turosky's corps will be led by a single senior, 5-foot-5 guard Dani Purich, who will be joined in the backcourt by 5-5 junior Maria Ross and Ja'Kendra Langford, a 5-3 sophomore point guard. Expectations are high for Langford, whom Turosky expects to take on a leadership role along with her point guard duties.

"I put a lot of pressure on her as a sophomore to lead the team," he related. "I want her to be the floor general, and she's learning to understand our role as she plays more."

Occupying the frontcourt slots will be Davis, a 5-9 junior, and a pair of sophomores in 5-9 Felicia Jackson and 5-10 Ashley Pendleton. Amber Chambers, a 5-7 junior, will play both guard and forward. Turosky expects to rotate his starting lineup, depending on the strengths and size of the opponent on a given night.

Backcourt players Saunders (5-6 junior), Graham (5-6 sophomore), and Blackwell (freshman) will come off the bench for Farrell.

Regardless of which starting five is used, a number of young players will see significant action for Turosky, who is banking on the fact that his underclassmen will develop as the season progresses. Tursoky thinks that his club's learning curve was helped along by the valuable experience gained participating in the Hickory summer league and a team camp at Thiel College.

Unlike previous editions of Steelerettes' basketball that often relied upon one or two top players, Turosky thinks that the '02-03 version will feature a balanced offensive attack.

"We're very balanced right now -- they all understand their roles and it's working out well. These kids are molding into a unit, and they're very unselfish."

While the Steelerettes are showing potential, Turosky is cautious not to ask too much of his young team. WPIAL Section 1 promises to showcase a number of talented squads, headlined by Sewickley Academy.

"After last year, the key is teaching them how to win. ... we're taking it one day at a time, and there aren't any real high hopes right now," Turosky said, admitting that he does have his eye on a Dec. 9 matchup with defending section titlist Monaca, which lost five seniors from last year's team. "We're really looking forward to that game, and if we can pull it out it would just be a huge win for us," Turosky revealed.

Note: Turosky will be aided by Tiffany Holden and Joanne Sharper. -- By Russell Adkins, sports writer