Baldwin girls seek improvement behind experienced roster

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Baldwin’s girls basketball team finished 9-13 overall in 2023-24.

The Highlanders are looking for a vast improvement on that record in 2024-25.

“We have very high expectations this year,” Baldwin coach Jamal Woodson said. “We have been in the gym non-stop, and we have been working on developing a different culture this year. We have had lots of team bonding and tons of leadership which makes practices and our work ethos top-notch.”

Two integral players on this year’s team are Mary Vargo and Lynsey Bernotas, both returning backcourt starters.

“We pretty much have the entire team coming back with the exception of Katie Lucarelli, which are very hard shoes to fill,” Woodson said. “We rotated the starters a lot last year; almost everyone on the team started at some point.”

Vargo is an athletic 5-foot-4 senior guard. She also competed in soccer at Baldwin and was named all-section this past season.

“Mary Vargo is a senior and looking to go out on top,” Woodson said. “She has been a good leader and works hard every practice and every game. I have high expectations for Mary.”

Vargo has an optimistic outlook for the Highlanders in 2024-25. She’s looking for the team to make a strong postseason run.

“I believe we have a skilled and competitive group of girls that will go far in the playoffs,” she said. “We are starting fresh trying new stuff, and I can see lots of hard-fought wins in our future.

“Our team’s strengths are our speed (outrunning our opponents), being disciplined, our competitiveness and our shooting.”

Bernotas is a 5-7 sophomore guard and second-year starter. She is well-schooled in the game of basketball.

“Lynsey is in her second year (at Baldwin),” Woodson said. “Her freshman year, she started every game and I also have high expectations for her. I’m looking for her to be a huge contributor.”

Other players looking to make contributions this season include junior guards Jules Ott, Bella Niles, Laci Bernotas and Jacey Klingensmith and sophomore guard/forward Kelsey Meyer.

“Jules Ott has been developing as our true point guard,” Woodson said. “Bella Niles has really been stepping up her game. She’s been very physical on defense and as a true team leader. Laci Bernotas and Jacey K have been showing why they are top shooters. And Kelsey has been expanding her game as a post player and a guard.”

One of the top freshman prospects on the team is Hannah Prilla, a 5-10 frontcourt player.

“Hannah is our newest incoming freshman player and the only freshman on the varsity team,” Woodson said. “She has a really good size to her and does really well inside. We’re looking for her to make an impact in her first year on the team.”

Vargo and Rebecca Knight, a 5-11 center, are the only seniors on this year’s squad at Baldwin.

“This is a very unique year as I feel like we as coaches have so much trust in our group,” Woodson said. “There can be a different starting lineup every game depending on matchups and I feel that our players will play a lot. We have really been working on building together as a team.”

Baldwin is a member of Section 4-5A this season along with Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and Uniontown.

The Highlanders begin section play Dec. 17 against Peters Township, which won the WPIAL Class 6A championship last year.

“The great thing about this team is that the girls have bought into our culture and team first mentality,” Woodson said. “Getting a team to buy in is the biggest part of basketball.”

Tags: Baldwin