Third-year head coach Jim Burgey has yet to coach a game this season but he and the girls varsity basketball team have already faced adversity.

Junior Kelsey Farley, the team’s starting center and most reliable scorer a year ago, injured one of her knee ligaments this fall and will miss the entire season. Her absence not only removes a talented player from the roster, but it will change the way the team plays.

“We’re going to have to change our game plan with Kelsey being down,” Burgey said. “We’re going to have to be faster. We’re going to be sprinting and running all the time.”

Burgey is hopeful the increased tempo will allow the team to create turnovers and score in transition.

And despite the injury, expectations remain high that the team can build on last year’s 7-11 record with a core group of seniors.

The backcourt will be made up of two of those seniors: Victoria Christian, who will lead the team as its starting point guard, and Ariel Ayers, a talented shooter from the outside.

Rebecca Lavin, whom Burgey describes as one of the fastest players, male or female, he’s ever coached and who has the ability to slash to the basket, will play at the “three” as a sort of guard-forward hybrid.

Defensive stalwart and talented rebounder Brittney Putorti will start at the other forward position and could see some time at center.

“Brittney is our team leader. She always chattering on defense and telling the girls to get back,” Burgey said.

Burgey said he is looking at several options to replace Farley, depending on the style of play he’s looking for at any given moment.

Guard Ashley Davis, one of the team’s better defenders a year ago, will be given a look, as will newcomers Malia DeLorme, Sam Baldwin, and Taran Tracy.

Seniors Faith Eaton and Kendra Rocque will be asked to contribute solid minutes off the bench

Burgey said Fort Edward, which returns every starter from last year’s league championship team, will be tough again this year and Argyle, Lake George and Fort Ann can never be counted out in a very competitive Adirondack League.

And although Burgey admits a lot can change from one year to the next in girl’s basketball, he expects to be competitive.

“The last few years have been transition years but we expect to win some games this year.”

 

Roster

Name                           Grade               Position

Ariel Ayers                   Sr.                    G

Rebecca Lavin              Sr.                    F

Taryn Tracy                  Jr.                    G

Victoria Christian          Sr.                    G

Ashley Davis                Jr.                    G

Faith Eaton                   Sr.                    F

Sam Baldwin                Jr.                    F

Malia DeLorme            Jr.                    F/C

Brittney Putorti Sr.                    F/C

Kendra Rocque            Sr.                    F

Kelsey Farley               Jr.                    C

Girls’ Basketball Schedule

Wednesday, Dec. 5 Whitehall @ Salem 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7  Corinth  @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Mon, Dec. 10 Spa Catholic @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 12  Whitehall @ Fort Edward 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14 Whitehall @ Lake George 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 19  Hartford @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 21 North Warren @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 4 Argyle @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 Whitehall @ Luzerne ( ACC) 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11  Whitehall @ Warrensburg 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16  Fort Ann @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 18  Bolton @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 25  Salem @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 30  Fort Edward @ Whitehall 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 1  Whitehall @ Hartford 5:30 p.m

Wednesday, Feb. 6 Whitehall @ Argyle 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 8  Whitehall @ Fort Ann 5:30 p.m.