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DALLAS – Brandon Kelley finds himself leading a group of players that includes some of his former teammates.
Kelley, a 2013 graduate of the school, is the new head boys lacrosse coach at Lake-Lehman.
The Black Knights won their debut under Kelley, posting a one-goal, non-league victory over Bellefonte before dropping their Wyoming Valley Conference opener, 13-3, at Dallas Tuesday night.
Kelley began playing youth lacrosse with the Back Mountain Bandits as a sixth-grader. He moved away temporarily and started his high school career at Hershey before finishing up with two seasons at Lake-Lehman.
The Misericordia sophomore is also active in Back Mountain Youth Soccer as a referee.
Kelley got involved in coaching last season as an assistant under T.J. LaBar when the Black Knights went 3-9.
After weather kept the team from playing for two weeks between its non-league and WVC openers, Kelley said the team is anxious to move into the busier part of the schedule.
“We’ve had nothing but practice,” he said. “It’s difficult to get a rhythm going.”
Although the Black Knights faltered late in what had been a close game with the Mountaineers, Kelley is pleased with the effort from a team that needs to build depth with a smaller roster than many opponents.
“It’s not for a lack of trying,” Kelley said. “My guys left it all out on the field.”