2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- at Kiser Classic tourney Dec. 2 -- Mercer Dec. 5 -- at Maplewood* Dec. 7 -- Greenville Dec. 9 -- Cambridge Springs* Dec. 12 -- Jamestown Dec. 14 -- Wilmington Dec. 16 -- at Linesville* Dec. 19 -- at Union City* Dec. 21 -- Meadville Jan. 2 -- Conneaut Valley* Jan. 6 -- Saegertown* Jan. 9 -- at Cochranton* Jan. 13 -- at Conneaut Lake* Jan. 16 -- Maplewood* Jan. 20 -- at Cambridge Springs* Jan. 23 -- at Jamestown* Jan. 27 -- Linesville* Jan. 30 -- Union City* Feb. 3 -- at Conneaut Valley* Feb. 6 -- at Saegertown* Feb. 10 -- Cochranton* Feb. 13 -- Conneaut Lake.*    #=FCVC contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

Lakeview High head coach Frank Shugarts shouldn't hear too many complaints about playing time during the 2002-03 season.

Only 11 girls tried out for the team this year and can barely field enough healthy bodies to scrimmage in practice.

"We can barely practice 5-on-5. We have a very small team. Basically, we had a mass exodus," Shugarts said. "We had one senior returning and she decided not to return. Two injuries have prevented girls from playing this year, and a couple of people left the team."

Despite the small turnout, the Lady Sailors, who finished 9-15 last year, will look to continue the tradition that Shugarts established when he assumed the reins four years ago.

"It's a very tough situation, but we're going to make it through. We've got good kids," he said. "We're going to try very hard to maintain our status and the type of game that we play. We'll be all right."

According to Shugarts, there are only three senior girls involved in athletics -- none of this year's basketball team -- which leaves all the school district teams void of leadership.

"The senior thing is very tough. Seniors are your leaders," Shugarts said. "In practice, everyone looks around and wonders who's going to lead stretching and do the picking up when they needed picked up."

The low numbers don't bother the Lakeview coach, because he realizes that classes like this year's senior class are few and far between and the numbers will increase.

"This isn't indicative of what is to come. This is just a bump in the road," Shugarts said. "We normally average about 14 (players). We never have big numbers. On the bright side, everyone is coming back. We'll have a lot of experienced lettermen coming back next year. It's going to be tough on all of us. Everybody will have to play a lot of minutes, and no will have to complain about playing time."

Not that there would be much complaining, anyway.

"The ones that are left here are here for the long haul. They still want to win and play hard. I'm still going to continue to coach they way that I've always coached," Shugarts said. "We've all got to come together and say 'Hey, there are 11 people that want to be here. The coaches want to be here.' We're not going to look at it as a bad thing. We have to get through this and continue to improve like any other year. Our numbers will improve."

The offense will revolve around sophomore Dana Charlton, who led Lakeview in scoring last year.

"Dana Charlton brings back the most confidence on offense. She really has come along really well," the fourth-year coach said. "She really blossomed last year. We're expecting bigger things from her this year."

Looking to get the ball into the post to Charlton will be junior guards Anna Deneen and Rachel King. Shugarts described the pair as "quick and dependable, with ever-improving shots."

Other players expected to see action are sophomore Melissa Engstrom, and freshmen Nicole Burgard, Megan Muschick, Jacqueline Armstrong and Kelly Adamson.

Shugarts said Saegertown, Maplewood, Linesville and Cambridge Springs would battle for the top spots in the French Creek Valley Conference. To beat the aforementioned teams, Shugarts knows exactly what his young Lady Sailor team will need to do: "We have to control the ball. We have to be able to break the press," he said. "We have to get the best shot that we can and play good defense."

Note: Shugarts will be assisted by Steve Aden. -- By Corey Corbin, Allied News sports editor