NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: NEB LOOKING TO CONTINUE STRING OF STRONG SEASONS (2022-11-30)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The potential couldn’t be higher for Northeast Bradford girls’ basketball this season. They return three of the five starters from last year’s team, and have quite a few talented younger players they’re excited to mix in.

That also means the expectations will be higher, too.

“Our practices have been going really good,” said point guard Alena Beebe. “I have a lot of confidence in the team, and I’m super excited to see what we can do this year.”

The Panthers won their third straight division title a year ago, going undefeated against Small School opponents. 

In district play they went toe to toe with state runner-up Southern Columbia and state semifinalist Mt. Carmel, losing both but playing well.

NEB is hoping to carry over that success to this season.

“We definitely want to keep the same momentum as we did,” said guard Kayleigh Thoman. “Our offense is still fast paced, and definitely keep our defense as good as it usually is.”

Thoman is their top returning scorer, averaging 10.8 PPG a year ago, along with 3.0 SPG and 3.7 APG.

Beebe and Thoman are two of the better defensive guards in the league, and with 6-foot, 2-inch Kate O’Connor behind them, they know they can pressure as much as they want.

“It’s great,” O’Connor said about being one of the tallest players in the district. “I feel awesome.”

She knows a lot of eyes go on her the minute she walks into the gym, but, against the better teams, she knows it’ll take more than size to succeed.

“I think I kind of learned to work in there,” O’Connor said about stepping into the starting role last year. “I learned really to crash every rebound, and fight. I would say that’s probably the biggest think I’m bringing into this year.”

O’Connor averaged 6.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 1.4 BPG a year ago.

They’ll have to replace the two seniors they lost, particularly Maisie Neuber. Neuber, a 1000-point scorer, was a 2-way monster for them, and won’t be easily replaced.

“Definitely our defense and offense both,” said Thoman. “Our defense, we just have to be more help side because Maisie had that length last year. You’ve got to fill in that. And our offense we’ve just got to work it in the post a little bit more.”

They did play a couple games when Neuber was hurt a year ago. They lost to Athens in the first round of the NTL Showcase, but did beat Muncy in the district playoffs.

Beebe really stepped up during that stretch - she had six 3-pointers in the win over the Indians - a good sign going into this season.

She averaged 9.8 PPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.4 APG, and finished 52 3-pointers a year ago.

“It gives me a lot of confidence that I started shooting at the end of the year last year,” Beebe said. “Hopefully, I can carry that to this year.”

It’ll be the last rodeo for Beebe, and her backcourt mate Thoman, who’ve been playing together since kindergarten.

“I’m super sad that this is our lat time,” Beebe said. “We have a really good connection . We can pass and we play super good together. For example, our 2-3 defense, we have really good communication, it’s awesome.”

Having such a veteran squad is making like easier for coach Ben Beebe, especially since they start the season a week earlier this year.

“They make coaching look easy,” he said. “When you don’t have to yell and take time to go over 18 different plays, it’s fun.”

They had one of the better JV teams last year, fueled by a talented freshman class. Now sophomores, those players may see some more action off the bench.

Lone freshman, coach Beebe’s daughter, Leah Beebe, will also be looking to get some time off the bench.

“It’s easy for her because she’s been around,” said coach Beebe. “And the other girls, these guys just embrace them. They teach them, and I can step back a little, and let those girls jus play.”

Juniors Emma Neuber and Lani Thomas both saw some playing time last year, and will step into bigger roles this year.

“We have a very tight knit team,” O’Connor said. “I think we all kind of build off each other’s energy. We really encourage each other, and I think that we really do, we keep the attitude up. We keep everyone’s energy kind of high just by supporting each other.”

Goals this year not only include a fourth straight NTL title, but also beating Towanda, whom they’ve lost to the last two years.

“We definitely feel like we can beat Towanda this year,” Thoman said. “Our shooting this year has been really good so far.”

Coach Beebe, though, isn’t taking any team for granted, especially with Canton, Athens, Troy, and Wellsboro returning quite a bit from a year ago.

“We circle every game,” he said. “These girls have been working so hard, and they just love the challenge. We love playing good teams.”

That includes non-league as they have Mt. Carmel and Bloomsburg both on the schedule.

“They don’t shy away from anything,” coach Beebe said about his team.

Even though Southern Columbia and Mt. Carmel got moved up a class, they still have to deal with Muncy and South Williamsport (a state quarterfinal team a year ago), with Northumberland Christian also in AA after winning a state title last season.

However, seeing those two coal country teams go as given NEB even more motivation this year.

“We feel like we can win districts this year,” said Thoman. “It will be a challenge, but we’ll get there.”

ROSTER (Grade)

Alena Beebe (12)

Kayleigh Thoman (12)

Kate O’Connor (12)

Anna Towner (11)

Lani Thomas (11)

Emma Neuber (11)

Lilah Hughes (10)

Lillie Maynard (10)

Becca VanDeMark (10)

Abby O’Connor (10)

Leah Beebe (9)

SCHEDULE

Dec. 2 - at Millville Tournament

Dec. 3 - at Millville Tournament

Dec. 6 - vs Troy, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 - vs Williamson, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 - at Wellsboro, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 - at Canton, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 - vs Bloomsburg, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 - vs Sayre, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 - at Muncy, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 - at Tunkhannock, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 4 - at NPM, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 - vs CV, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 - at NPL, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 - vs Athens, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 - at Wyalusing, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 - vs Towanda, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 - vs Canton, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 - at Sayre, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 - NPM, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 - at CV, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 - vs NPL, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 - at MCA, 5 p.m.