Highlands girls turning the page after disappointing season

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 27, 2017 | 8:00 PM

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Ask Highlands girls basketball coach Drew Jonczak if his team underachieved last season, and he'll nod his head without hesitation.

A team stocked with two 1,000-point scorers in daughter Ashlyn Jonczak and Nicole Boda, the Golden Rams entered last season full of promise and high expectations but ended up closing out the regular season asking the question: What happened?

“Without a doubt,” Jonczak said. “We put in a Super Bowl schedule. We played five games against WPIAL winners or teams that were in the finals in Winchester Thurston, Oakland Catholic, North Catholic and Blackhawk.”

Only once during the season was Highlands able to string back-to-back wins together, and the team hit rock bottom during a six-game losing streak that lasted from mid-December to New Year's Eve when the Rams knocked off Shady Side Academy, 51-36, at the West Shamokin tournament.

A 68-27 win over Section 1-4A rival Valley had Highlands thinking it had righted the ship, but inconsistency plagued the Rams the rest of the season.

“We didn't play as a team last year,” Jonczak said.

Highlands is trying to turn the page. For the first time in Jonczak's three seasons as coach, the Rams will boast a roster of players he guided in middle school.

Enthusiasm surrounding the program has grown, too. In his first season as coach, Jonczak's roster consisted of just eight players. Now, it has grown to 19. The Rams might be young and inexperienced, but they're not new to Jonczak's coaching style.

“They're going to be years ahead now because they're coming through (the system),” Jonczak said. “When they come in, we don't have to explain every little thing we do. We're going to get T-shirts made this year, and I think that our slogan this year is going to be ‘Shock the World.' ”

Before Highlands can do that, Jonczak must first sort through his stack of young talent and come up with a starting five. Jonczak named just one starter in senior guard Renee Cebula.

A four-year starter, Cebula will to step into an all-new role. For the past three seasons, the 5-foot-5 Cebula has passed the ball to Boda and Jonczak. This year, she will be focal point of the offense, a role she's looking forward to playing.

“Obviously, with Ashlyn (Jonczak) and Nicole (Boda), I (didn't) have that responsibility by myself,” Cebula said. “I've been preparing myself. I have been talking to Ashlyn about it and having her give me pointers.

“I think as long as I can make the best out of it for me and the girls can enjoy themselves, I think it'll be a good season.”

After Cebula, Jonczak said his starting lineup will change often during the first part of the season depending on the opponents' strengths and weaknesses. Junior Jaharee Holt's size makes her a shoe-in at the center position. The 6-foot Holt will take over Nia Thomas' spot. After Holt, the starting spots will be earned during practice.

Seniors Aliseea Branch and Lydia Garvin are in the mix for a starting spot, as well as sophomores Brie Hemingway, Alexa Marasco and Sarah Sawhook.

“Defense is our No. 1 thing this year,” Jonczak said. “We have to play defense. We don't have the luxury of scoring 60 points a game this year. We have to fight for every point, and defense is going to be key.”

Jonczak said while this year will be challenging, he believes when it's all over, the 2017-18 season will be special.

“I think this year will be my most rewarding year in coaching,” Jonczak said. “Accountability is big this year, and we have to do all of the little things perfect.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Highlands