MORGANTOWN — With all five of its starters back and a deeper bench, the University High School girls’ basketball team could make some noise during the 2022-23 season.
“I feel like the experience we got last year is going to really help,” second-year head coach Nick Lusk said. “Many members of this team got experience last year as freshmen and sophomores. They got some valuable experience and I just look at us still being more experienced than we were last season.”
The Hawks finished 12-12 last year with a regional loss to eventual Class AAAA state runner-up Morgantown.
This year, Lusk said UHS is hoping that the experience from last year along with improvement from the players is going to lead them to a winning season.
UHS returns seniors Eden Gibson (5-foot-4) and Emily Sharkey (5-5) in the backcourt along with fellow senior Aza Boateng (5-11) in the middle. Also back in the starting lineup is junior Ella Simpson and sophomore forward Lyla Byers (5-11).
“Emily has looked really good shooting the ball in practice,” Lusk said. “Ella is always going to give you 12 to 16 points and I think any one of them can score if needed.”
Lusk said the Hawks are drastically improved from a year ago on the bench. He plans on carrying 13 players on varsity and on any given night, Lusk thinks 10 could see significant minutes.
“I think our depth is going to be key,” Lusk said. “We are a transition team. I think we have to push it and we are going to try some different things on defense.”
Last season, the Hawks relied on a match-up zone that Lusk said just didn’t work. UHS also found itself to be challenged in the half-court offense. A run-and-gun offense is going to be featured heavily this season with some ball-hawking pressure defense.
Off the bench, Lusk said he is really excited about junior guard Ashlyn Weaver who was hurt last year and battled an illness.
“Ashlynn is back strong,” Lusk said. “She did a really nice job in a scrimmage against Brooke. It all goes back to our depth and getting out in transition.”
Sophomore guard Hannah Stemple along with sophomore guard Julia Maisel saw minutes last year and Lusk said both are expected to contribute more this year. Lexi Simpson, a 5-11 sophomore, is also expected to provide some size off the bench for UHS.
Where the Hawks could struggle is in the rebounding category as only three of them measure above 5-10.
“Hopefully we can rebound the ball better than we did last year,” Lusk said. “That was something we struggled with. Changing the defense around is going to help as well. We have a bunch of guards and if we can get the loose balls, we can get out in transition.”
Lusk said his guard-heavy team will look to deny the ball on defense and put pressure on the opposition.
“We are very quick,” Lusk said. “That will help with our ball pressure. If you can put pressure on the ball, that helps everyone out.”
University opens play on Friday when it travels to John Marshall. The Hawks also will travel to South Carolina for a tournament, visit Beckley for a tournament and host their own tournament this season. Those tourneys along with regular contests against MHS, Wheeling Park, Bridgeport and Buckhannon-Upshur should prepare this team for a possible tournament run.
“We are going to face a lot of talent,” Lusk said. “It’s only going to make us better.”
By ERIC HERTER
TWEET — @DomPostSports
