'99-00 SCHEDULE

Dec. 3 -- at Greenville       6 -- Farrell       8 -- Oil City       11 -- Mercer       13 -- at Meadville       15 -- Franklin       18 -- Greenville       20 -- at Wilmington       23 -- at Mercer       28-30 -- Brookfield Tournament Jan. 3 -- Reynolds       6 -- Sharpsville       8 -- Meadville       13 -- Wilmington       17 -- at Reynolds       25 -- Lakeview       27 -- Grove City       31 -- Hickory Feb. 3 -- at Slippery Rock       10 -- West Middlesex       14 -- at Grove City       17 -- at Hickory       21 -- Slippery Rock

By The Herald Sports Staff

Coach Mary Jo Staunch is in the precarious position of trying to replace the combined 780 points and Herald Fabulous 5 efforts of Muhsinah Saleem and Jenny Bell.

Saleem, last year's MCAC AAA MVP, finished her career as one of the best players ever to come out of Sharon. She had 1,576 points, 557 steals, 426 rebounds and 419 assists. Bell, an All-MCAC first team pick, finished her tenure at Sharon with 1,056 point, 617 rebounds and 108 3-pointers.

But it wasn't just those two who helped lead Sharon (25-4) to a co-MCAC AAA title with Grove City, a third-place finish in the District 10 AAA championships and a berth in the state playoffs. Also gone are Mary Odem (181), Alana Zajac (114 points), Katie Banick (81), Katie Suvoy (79) and Jen Gavala (52).

Staunch's key returnees include Tricia Sinkuc, one of just three senior letterwinners, and sophomore Julie Bell. Sinkuc was fourth on the team last year with 174 points. Bell provided 75 points off the bench.

Entering her seventh year with a 102-72 record, Staunch will rely on those two to be the team's leaders, but she wants the other members to contribute as well.

"I'm looking for the others to really step up and earn the respect of the other teams," Staunch said. "I think this year could be a shining moment because they don't have a lot of expectations right now. I think they're up to the challenge."

Despite being so young, Staunch is pleased with her team's work early on.

"We're working hard and we're continuing to improve," Staunch said. "This year we've had to do a lot of instruction. We don't have a lot of experience. Last year we had a good fundamental team and they're continuing to get better."

Staunch said there will be a lot of new faces on the floor, but a pair that will be familiar, along with Bell and Sinkuc, are seniors Ajaya Harrison and Erin Santillo. Harrison (26 points last year) is an inside player who will team with Bell underneath to form a difficult interior to get past.

The inside looks to be Sharon's strong suit and "is probably the biggest team since I've been here," Staunch said.

A trio of junior forwards fit that bill in Ashley Palmer (6-0), Angela Johnson and Angela Dolci (5-8). Also, there are sophomore forwards Megan Gill and Bell.

"We've usually not had a dominant inside game," Staunch said. "This year I think we can use that."

Guards include Santillo, juniors Lakisha and Shareka Phillips and sophomore Erin Leyde.

"She's kind of trying to fill Muhsinah's shoes," Staunch said of Leyde. "She's doing a great job. You'll see her take that leadership role out on the floor. Erin Santillo is picking it up and shooting well, too."

Whereas Staunch could previously rely on the consistent play of Saleem to bail the Lady Tigers out of difficult situations, she doesn't have that luxury this year.

"We need to depend more on everybody contributing," Staunch said. "We don't have that one go-to player at all times, but I think there are kids who towards the middle and the end of the season will have that capability."

Freshman include guards Gina Fragle, Monica Esenwein, Morgan Bradley and Nicole Valentino, and forward Charene Jackson.

Staunch is assisted by Kevin Washington, Bonnie Dickson and Ellen Banick.

As for the league, Staunch feels this is Hickory's year. "I think they lost some key players, but they have a lot returning. They look real strong and I know they're in the gym working hard. Grove City always has a great program and are right there. Slippery Rock always seems to come on. I think triple-A will be a strong division."