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PA returns WVC leading scorer in Smicherko

A wealth of experience on and off the court has created a buzz around the Pittston Area girls’ basketball team as the Lady Patriots get ready to open the season on Friday.
The Lady Patriots welcome veteran coach Kathy Healey to the bench and return the Wyoming Valley Conference’s leading scorer in Lauren Smicherko along with eight other players who have varsity experience to a team that is ready to improve on its 8-14 record from a season ago.
“I expect us to be competitive,” said Healey, who has been the head coach at Seton Catholic and Wyoming Area previously. “We have seven seasoned seniors back and a great mix of underclassmen.”
Including in those returning seniors is Lauren Smicherko – a slashing guard who led the entire Wyoming Valley Conference in scoring at 19.6 points per game. The 5-foot-5, three-year starter also had multiple 30-point games as a junior, including a career-high of 37 against Tunkhannock.
Besides Smicherko, Healey is not set on a starting lineup and says there are eight other players in the mix for starting roles.
“We have nine players who are all vying for a starting position,” said Healey, who returns to the varsity sidelines after a two-year absence. “On any given night, anyone of them can step in and play.”
Among the players with experience vying for playing time are 6-foot-1 senior center Katelyn Kovaleski and 5-foot-8 sophomore forward Grace O’Neill. Kovaleski is a returning starter and O’Neill saw major minutes as a part-time starter and off the bench as a freshman.
“Our biggest strength will be our teamwork and senior leadership,” said Healey of the seven seniors on the team. “We have a lot of sophomores and freshman who can contribute. They just need time to adjust to the level of play in our league.”
Senior Brianna Dushok and junior Shannon Gilhooley – both forwards – give Pittston Area two 5-foot-9 players with experience. Combined them with freshman Mia Hopkins at 5-foot-11 and Kelly Mitchell at 5-foot-10, and the Lady Patriots will be one of the bigger teams in the WVC with six players 5-foot-8 or bigger.
Smicherko will be one of the premier guards in the league and will share the backcourt with senior guards Maria Rogo, Maura Pelligrini, Katie Rooney, and Lindsay Sutkowski. All four players saw playing time as juniors.
“I am excited about the upcoming season,” said Healey, whose team opens the season on Friday night at Old Forge against Lakeland at 6:15 p.m. in the opening round of the 10th annual Anthony “Badger” Marseco Memorial Boys’ and Girls’ Tip-Off Tournament. “Hazleton and Wyoming Valley West are the favorites to win our division, but I feel that we can compete with anyone in our league if we want to.
“The girls have been working extremely hard and have an incredible attitude.”