The West Shamokin Lady Wolves girls’ basketball team takes a regular-season ending winning streak into their playoff game Tuesday night against Carlynton at North Allegheny (submitted photo).
by Jonathan Weaver
Armstrong School District has a lone team representative in the WPIAL basketball playoffs next week, but they want to become champions by the end of the month.
The West Shamokin Lady Wolves girls’ basketball team finished in second place within Section II with a 10-4 conference regular season record.
Head Coach Frank Nagy said the team was excited to receive the No. 10 ranking after ending the regular season on a two-game winning streak.
“To be the only one of the four (Armstrong School District varsity) programs makes you take a step back and realize how special it really is to get to this level,” Coach Nagy said. “It’s not something that’s easy to do.”
Nagy – son of former boys’ varsity head coach Mike Nagy and a former West Shamokin athlete all four years - expects the Lady Wolves challengers – the Lady Cougars - to put full-court pressure on West Shamokin.
“We drew a good Carlynton team, a very athletic team, so it should be a pretty good game,” Coach Nagy said. “We’re excited to be there.”
But it’s certainly not a week off for the Lady Wolves.
“We’ll practice every day except Sunday leading up to (the game) to get ready for it,” Coach Nagy said. “The coaching staff and all the girls believe that you need to get better every single day if you want to get to where you want to be. After every game, you can find little things you have to work on.”
Junior Andrea Orlosky even admitted she has holes in her game that could improve the team – including shooting the ball more.
“We go twice as hard,” Orlosky said. “At first, you’re just like ‘Ugh, so much more running!’ But, after you look at it, you (realize) it will just get you more prepared for the playoffs and even farther. Our goal is to make it all the way.
“If we want to win, we have to practice like the best.”
Orlosky hopes a student bus can be secured to have local support at the playoff game.
Senior Small Forward Steph Schrecengost has been on four playoff teams and said the entire team is ready for Tuesday night.
“I’m more comfortable, and I can tell that my teammates are comfortable as well,” Schrecengost said.
With a victory Tuesday evening, West Shamokin could have the opportunity to play against their conference foes from Burrell Friday.