Print

Share

• Email to a friend
• Add This

Article Rating

Current Rating: (

0

/5)

Low High

(Rated

0

times)

By Tom Ash, Sentinel Reporter, tash@cumberlink.com

Last updated: Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:49 AM EST

How long has it been since the Trinity girls’ basketball team last missed out on the PIAA state tournament?

Those involved with the program couldn’t tell you without exerting a great deal of effort and research. Most records don’t even go back that far as it is.

In each of his 23 years as head coach of the Shamrocks, Harry DeFrank guided the team to the PIAA postseason.

In truth, it’s been at least 26 years since Trinity didn’t qualify, if not longer.

And this season, despite some preseason doubts, first-year Trinity head coach Kristi Britten continued the program’s tradition with another trip to states.

“There were a lot of nay-sayers when I got the job,” said Britten. “A lot of people (within the program) were crossing their fingers that the success of the program and what coach DeFrank established will march on.

“I was just hoping I wouldn’t fail miserably.”

The team’s 2007-08 campaign has been far from miserable. Trinity already duplicated its 2006-07 District 3 tournament success by reaching the district finals — its fourth trip in as many years.

Now, the team is setting its sights on the state playoffs, where it has reached the Eastern finals in each of the last three seasons.

“A goal of the team was to make an appearance and to do well in the state tournament,” said Britten. “We’re there, we have our chance now. (The girls) have certainly worked hard for it.”

Despite their age, this year’s Shamrock starters have some PIAA experience. Junior guard Alexa Barbush scored 40 points in seven state playoff games over the past two years. Sophomore guard Laura Murray has 33 points in four state games. Senior guard Rachael Holt participated in two state trips, scoring 23 points in seven games.

However, the Trinity starting cast has little postseason experience as a unit. Holt, one of just two seniors on the team’s roster, didn’t participate on the varsity squad in the postseason last year — Murray’s first season with the team.

Sophomore forward Caroline Lauer saw limited time with the varsity squad in the PIAA playoffs last year, junior center Nicole Gilbertson spent her 2006-07 campaign on the JV squad and often-used freshman reserve Ashley Betz-White wasn’t even at the high school last year.

However, Britten isn’t worried about that lack of experience, siding instead with her team’s natural skills and ability to limit mistakes.

“Individually, we have some kids with a decent amount of experience, but not as a team,” said Britten. “Even Laura Murray, last year she got a lot of playing time but (Gilbertson, Lauer, Betz-White) I don’t think were dressing varsity.

“We do make some mistakes caused by inexperience, but I don’t think they are overwhelming and won’t make or break a game for us. Even though they are young, they have tremendous big-game experience ... All of these Blue Chip tournaments and the college exposure they go to now, I don’t think inexperience is an excuse for anybody.”

At any rate, the Shamrocks will want to take as much out of this year’s state playoffs with them as possible because next season, the PIAA playoffs will be new territory.

“Next year, we’ll move to AAA and the Philadelphia Catholic League is coming into the PIAA,” said Britten. “Next year is going to be twice the challenge ... our challenges will be completely different, teams we’re unfamiliar with.”

The Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) carries several talented Class AAAA and AAA girls’ basketball teams, and Trinity’s return to the AAA bracket — its first time competing at that class since 2004, when the Shamrocks fell to Allentown Central Catholic in the opening round.

Trinity will kick off its 2008 PIAA state playoff run Friday against District 4 No. 3 seed Lewisburg at Milton Hershey School. Game time is 5 p.m.

----

PIAA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

CLASS AA

Trinity Shamrocks (3-2, 22-4) vs.

Lewisburg Green Dragons (4-3, 16-11)

at Milton Hershey School, Friday, 5 p.m.

Coaches: Trinity - Kristi Britten; Lewisburg - Phil Stamm

Key Players: Trinity - Laura Murray (5-10 G, So., 17.0 ppg); Alexa Barbush (5-8 G, Jr., 12.5 ppg). Lewisburg - Chloe Albright (6-0 G, Sr., 14.2 ppg); Casey Miller (PG, Sr., 7.0 ppg).

Offense: Trinity - 59.9; Lewisburg - 48.0

Defense: Trinity - 45.3; Lewisburg - 44.0

How they got here: Trinity fell in overtime to York Catholic 58-45 in the District 3 Class AA finals Friday. Lewisburg defeated Central Columbia 50-32 in the District 4 Class AA consolation game last week.

What’s at stake: The winner advances to the PIAA Class AA second round and will face either Dunsmore (2-1, 27-1) or Delco Christian (1-2, 21-7) at a site and time to be determined Tuesday.

Notes: Chloe Albright is the key to Lewisburg’s success -- when she is hitting her shots, her team’s offense will flourish. Should she struggle, however, her supporting cast will likely not be able to pick up the slack. The next-highest scorers for the Green Dragons all average under eight points per game. To make matters worse for Lewisburg, senior forward and primary inside defensive presence Erin Johnson was lost in the final week of the regular season with a shoulder injury. Though Trinity didn’t win the District 3 title this year, it is still a big step above most of the Class AA state qualifiers and shouldn’t have too much trouble here.