NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: NEB LOOKS TO KEEP STRING OF STRONG SEASONS GOING (2024-11-30)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportNortheast Bradford girls’ basketball has been on quite the run the past few seasons, and, despite losing players to graduation, the Panthers keep reloading. They have that same mentality this year as they go for their sixth straight NTL divisional title, and finally nab that District IV title that has eluded them.
“It feels good, but the past is the past,” said NEB coach Ben Beebe. “We’re just looking for the future. Hopefully we get number six as the girls are working hard.”
The good news for them is they return one of the most potent backcourts in the NTL with Leah Beebe, Lillie Maynard, and Becca VanDeMark.
Beebe averaged 13.1 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 3.6 SPG, Maynard had averages of 7.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 3.0 APG, while VanDeMark put up 8.9 PPG, and 2.6 SPG.
“It’s makes it even more exciting,” Beebe said about bringing back that trio. “We’re probably going to drive more, get it in and move the ball around.”
Also, look for them to speed up the game a little more, though they did that plenty last season.
“I think last year we were more guard oriented because our posts weren’t that tall,” Maynard said. “So we’re kind of used to it.”
Coach Beebe enjoys have the veteran backcourt after they were pretty young last season.
“They make practice easy for me,” he said. “I don’t have to do a lot. I just give them the game plan, and they go, and run the show. They push each other, they encourage each other, but they don’t let each other slack, either.”
Besides their two graduates, Emma Neuber and Lani Thomas, they also lost last year’s reserve big, Katrina Russell, to injury, leaving them a little thin in the middle.
They return Lilah Hughes and Mallorie Maynard, both of whom saw time last season, and coach Beebe expects them to pick up on the boards.
“I want everybody to play every position,” he said. “They all know they need to tackle the rebounds, even my small guards know they have to be inside and get physical.”
They know their big test in the NTL will be Large School champions Troy, while within the division Williamson moves down from Large School, and Canton is hoping to take the next step this season.
“It makes it that much more exciting,” Leah said about the competition, particularly Troy.
Beyond the league the team is still reeling from last year’s close loss to Muncy in the District IV, Class AA title game.
“We sure do,” Maynard said about having a chip on their shoulder from that game. “It gives us that extra motivation to just keep working harder.”
Muncy is in the same boat, returning much of their same team but also looking to fill in holes from graduates.
“I think that we’re at the caliber of team that we were last year, with more experience,” said coach Beebe. “I hope we’re back in the same situation.”
Regardless the players don’t want this year to be the year that they backslide, even if they have a bullseye on them.
“People, even back before I made it this four years, they really put us in some big shoes to fill,” remarked Maynard. “So we’re going to do our best.”
ROSTER
Lillie Maynard
Becca VandeMark
Lilah Hughes
Leah Beebe
Mallorie Maynard
Aurelia Kolesar
Kara Dughi
Sarah Gray
Ireland Coats
Sydney Howland
Carlie Wheaton
SCHEDULE
Dec. 5 vs Elk Lake, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 vs Blue Ridge, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Williamson, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Troy, 7 p.m.
Jan. 3 at NPL, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs St. John Neumann, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Canton, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs Muncy, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 at CV, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 vs NPM, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 at NPL, 7 p.m.
Feb. 1 at South Williamsport, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Canton, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.
Feb. 8 at Bloomsburg, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs CV, 7 p.m.
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