Optimism abounds for Ligonier Valley girls basketball

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, December 5, 2017 | 9:00 PM

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Ligonier Valley girls basketball coach Tim Gustin knows winning the District 6 Heritage Conference title will be difficult, but he believes putting together a winning season is a realistic goal.

The Rams were 8-15 and 6-8 in the conference last season. They ended the season with a 60-50 loss to Penns Valley in the Class 3A district playoffs.

Ligonier Valley graduated its top player Olivia Miller, a three-sport athlete who is at Carlow and competing on the track and cross country teams. Miller averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds. Key contributor Kacie Flickinger also graduated.

But the Rams return three starters — senior Rachel Horrell and juniors Alexia Boyd and MacKenzie Jester — and got senior Lexie Petrof back after she missed last season following ankle surgery. Petrof averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore.

Junior Mia Lynn and sophomore Jenna Moore are expected to see a lot of playing time. Gustin said Lynn gives the Rams another scoring option.

“We’re very optimistic about the season,” Gustin said. “We’re beginning to build a foundation for the program. We’re looking for a winning season and being competitive in the conference.”

Gustin said last year’s record is a deceiving because the nonconference schedule was made tougher with the thoughts of having Miller and Petrof together.

“The schedule is still the same, but Tyrone and Northern Bedford lost a lot,” Gustin said. “In the conference, Blairsville should be one of the top Class 2A teams in the state.”

He also expects Homer-Center, West Shamokin and Penn Manor to be strong.

“The conference will be competitive,” Gustin said. “This is a really good bunch of girls. We can have a different leading scorer every game. Our intensity and effort on defense will be a key to the season. We slacked off defensively in a scrimmage and we can’t do that.”

Gustin said getting Petrof back is important because of her leadership skills.

“She’s a competitor,” Gustin said. “It’s huge getting her back.”

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Ligonier Valley, Penn Manor