Falcon girls seek encore; boys on 'hold'

Coudersport junior Kelly McVay (10) applies the defensive pressure during the Falcons' first preseason scrimmage Monday evening against ECC.

Six letter-winners and several other players with varsity experience return for coach Brian Green as he embarks on his second season at the helm of the girls' basketball team at Coudersport High School.

Meanwhile, Coach Chris Fink must be the most patient man in town as he waits for most of his squad, including all of his upper-classmen and returning lettermen, to close out their high school football obligations so they can report to practice.

Green expects returning Northern Tier League all-star Jessica Wilson to be one of the league's top inside players. A 5-10 junior, Wilson averaged nine rebounds, 12 points and two blocks per game last year.

Second-team NTL all-stars Hope Morris (5-8), the lone senior on the team, and junior Kristy Kamper (5-10) also return. Morris came on strong last season, averaging 11 points per game. Kamper is multi-

skilled, averaging eight points, six rebounds and two steals per game.

Also returning with experience are three guards - juniors Kelly McVay and Jordan Bright and Karlie Duffee (soph.). The scrappy McVay was a sparkplug off the Falcon bench last year, averaging five points, five rebounds and two steals per game.

Yet another guard, the pesky sophomore Kayla Bohn, will also return for the Falcons.

The guards are filling the big shoes of the Danielle Furman/ Chelsey Tuttle tandem, lost to graduation.

Sophomore Sabrina Hershey (5-8) figures prominently in Coach Green's plans. Two other sophomores, Stephanie Kelley and Tigan Chiumento, along with freshmen Maureen McCusker and Emily Giannotti, round out the varsity roster.

Coudersport's traditional pressure defense and up-tempo style will return this season, as Green strives for transition scoring and substitutes often to stave off fatigue.

The Falcons are coming off a 25-3 season that ended with a loss to Monessen in the state's Sweet 16.

"It should be a competitive Northern Tier League this season," Coach Green said. "Northern Potter, Austin and Smethport will likely give us a battle."

"Our goals are the same as last year -- the NTL and District 9 championships," Green added. "Elk County Catholic, Clarion-Limestone and Union are all looming down the road once we get to the D9 playoffs."

The 2006-07 girls' campaign kicks off with the Cowanesque Valley Tournament next Friday and Saturday, followed by Coudersport's own Citizens Trust Classic Dec. 8-9. That event opens with Coudersport vs. Wellsville, N.Y., at 6:00, followed by St. Marys Public vs. DuBois Central Catholic.

Coudersport's boys were supposed to kick things off next Friday night with a home game against Galeton. However, that game has been postponed. Should the football team keep winning, other postponements are likely.