BY MORGAN SCHMITT
Staff Writer

Not having a single senior representing a sports team is uncommon, but that was the situation that the girls basketball team faced last season.

The girls team finished its season in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs last year, which was pretty remarkable considering that they had no senior leadership.

This year’s players feel that they have amazing camaraderie. They had a team sleepover over the summer and ever since that night, they’ve all been inseparable.

“We have a great opportunity to win a lot of games this year,” senior Nikki Corcoron said. “Our team chemistry is great, we all get along so well, and we are a very deep team with many girls who will contribute.”

Two seasons ago the team made states, and many of the players on this year’s team played on that team.

“I think the reason why we had success last year without having a single senior was because many of the players had two varsity seasons under their belts and had the chance to play at a high level in states the previous year,” senior Mandi Johnston said.

Johnston, a returning point guard, also gives credit to the coaching. Head coach Gavin Prosser is in his third season and has all of his players believing in his teachings, Johnston said.  

After making the playoffs the past two years, there is a lot of pressure on this year’s team to go far into the post-season. The seniors especially would love to go far because they feel as though they have been given two senior seasons, since as juniors they were the oldest veterans the underclassmen could look up to.

So far this year, the team has won the McKeesport Tip-Off Tournament and also has beaten Chartiers Valley.

They have also suffered defeat against Fox Chapel, a team that was ranked the second-best team in WPIALs in the preseason. The 49-41 loss was disheartening, but the team looks to use it as motivation to get better.

This year’s team has unbelievable talent and has brought much college attention to the Baldwin program.

Senior Taylor Letender signed her letter of intent on November 15 to continue her basketball career at Shippensburg University. Fellow seniors Johnston and Corcoron have also had colleges look at them including, Seton Hill, Thiel, Allegheny, and Penn State Behrend.

Underclassmen are also a big part of the team. Key underclassmen include Carly Lutz, who is a sophomore and was also contacted by several colleges after her freshman season, and freshman Taylor Gilbert.  

“I want to get better every day,” Lutz said. “I want to be the person my team needs me to be every day.”

With young talent being led by veteran talent, the team looks to be heading to a strong and potentially playoff-bound season.