CLINTON TWP. — Lackawanna Trail girls basketball head coach Lauren Strempek is hoping a change in her coaching philosophy will translate into more success for the Lady Lions.
“I think I’ve turned a big leaf this year,” Strempek said. “I’m trying to get more of the girls’ opinions and to get them to open up to me. I’m trying to improve myself to get the best for the girls. I seem to have a pretty good rapport with all the girls this year. They all seem to be getting along and are expressing themselves more to me so I can make adjustments. It’s not just them and it’s not just me … we have to work together.”
The Lady Lions return two starters in senior guard Rachael Beemer and senior guard/forward Cali Fauquier. Senior guard Samantha Baltrusaitis has also served as a part-time starter.
Fauquier has been trying to attack the hoop more during the preseason.
“I’ve been working on going to the basket more because my coaches have always told me that I need to score and look to the basket more often,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get tougher.”
While Fauquier hopes the team can reach the district championship game, she believes they have to take small steps.
“I just want to start winning games,” Fauquier said. “I think once we start winning, we’ll get a lot better.”
Baltrusaitis believes that cohesion on the court will be vital in order for the group to accomplish their goals.
“We have to play as a team to succeed,” she said. “It comes down to teamwork, working hard in practice and having fun with the girls, but also being serious at times.
“I want to win our league, but we can only do that by working together.”
Senior Alyssa Fowler is expected to contribute as a guard/forward, senior Morgan Krzywicki is back as a forward, junior Lexi Deutsch should see minutes as a guard, junior Monica Stuenzi will likely contribute as a guard/forward, sophomore Abby Wilson is back as a guard/forward and sophomore Kassidy Kostick returns as a guard. Freshman Emma Oswald may see minutes at center and freshmen Megan Gatto and Amaralis Thiel may see time at guard.
“They click really well,” Strempek said. “I have to get them to score a little more and not make the extra pass once in a while.”
Beemer, Baltrusaitis and Fauquier has been playing together at the varsity level the past three seasons and have developed a bond on the court.
“I think from practicing and constantly playing together we know how each other plays, where they are and how they look to the basket,” Beemer said.
The Lady Lions finished 4-8 in Lackawanna League Division 4 play last season and Strempek is focusing on the fundamentals in order to help the team become more consistent.
“We need to finish easy baskets and finish on the defensive end with a rebound,” she said. “We play good initial defense, but we’re not finishing the play.”
Strempek also believes the group’s team-first attitude may lead to more wins this year.
“I don’t think anybody cares about the box scores and their stats,” she said. “I think they’re going to be more successful because they just win to win and they don’t care who scores. They realize that if more girls look to score, it’s going to be harder to defend them.
“I thought they looked pretty good and they had fun in our first scrimmage.”
The Lady Lions will open their season at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 on the road at Tunkhannock.
