Plum girls learning new system under 1st-year coach Elsier

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2017 | 8:06 PM

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Alexa Seigh understood the process.

The Plum junior and a number of her teammates went through the transition of a coaching change 18 months ago, so they knew the feeling when they had to do it again over the summer.

Lindsy Muchnock resigned in June after one season with the Mustangs to take over the girls program at Hempfield. Steve Elsier, with a decade of head coaching experience in eastern Pennsylvania, was hired in August.

“When I heard that (Muchnock) was leaving, I was like, ‘Oh, not again.' We had to go through that all over again,” said Seigh, the lone returning starter to a team that went 10-13 overall last year and earned a WPIAL playoff spot out of Section 4-5A.

“We've had three systems in three years. Hopefully, we can continue building in the new system. I feel like we can be a decent team and challenge for a playoff spot. The foundation is set, and we just have to get more comfortable working together in the system.”

Players met for open gyms once a week through the fall and also took part in a fall league, but with several girls participating in fall sports, the full team didn't get down to business until the start of preseason practices Nov. 17.

“I think it will be something to see over the first quarter of the season, if we are where we want to be implementing the system,” said Elsier, who coached boys basketball the past eight seasons at District 3's Biglerville High school.

Elsier, an IUP graduate, feels his young team, with a number of players battling for the four open starting jobs, can do some good things this season.

“We competed very well in a fall league without any practice, so my expectations are that when we hit the season, we will be on a different level,” Elsier said. “I've seen a lot of improvement as the players get used to the new system.”

In addition to Seigh as the only starter back, Jamie Denzer, a 5-foot-7 post player, is the lone senior on the roster.

“Alexa did well in the fall league,” Elsier said. “Her leadership will be important, on and off the court, along with the Jamie and the other juniors.”

Junior Kelsi Zik, a 5-9 guard/forward, saw a good amount of playing time last year.

“We have high expectations for her,” Elsier said. “She has good size and is a good shooter. We want her to be aggressive and make things happen at both ends of the court.”

Mackenzie Lake got playing time last year as a freshman, and junior Aly Bryner is expected to see her role increase this season.

Sophomore Gianna Trombetta, Elsier said, showed flashes in the fall league and will be in the JV/varsity mix.

Supporting the returning players will be a group of freshmen, led by 5-6 guard Amoni Blackwell and the team's tallest player, 5-10 forward Kennedie Montue.

Elsier said up to an eight-player rotation is possible.

“We'll see how things shake out in the scrimmages,” he said

Plum hosts a scrimmage Saturday morning at 10 against Butler and will take on McDowell and North Hills in a scrimmage at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“I want to see us executing our defensive schemes and see us moving on offense. Those are the two biggest things,” Elsier said.

“We want to get the ball up the court. We want to push, but we want to make sure we don't force it if it isn't there. It's run, but not necessarily always gun. We have to see what the other defense gives us.”

Elsier said Mars and Hampton again are shaping up to be two of the tougher teams in the section.

“They both have a number of starters back with good senior leadership,” he said. “Indiana, Armstrong and Franklin Regional will be there again to challenge for playoff spots. It will be competitive.”

Eliser said his assistant coaches — Brian Dunaway, Erin (Maloy) Cubarney and Allison (Ballina) Wade — have been a great help in getting the team together and the season rolling.

Dunaway also serves Plum athletics extensively as the Mustangs golf coach. Cubarney played on championship teams at Penn Hills in the early 90s and also played at Pitt. Wade is a 2008 Plum graduate who played on Plum teams from 2004-07.

“It's an awesome staff, probably the best I've ever had,” Elsier said. “They've been great, not just with the basketball X's and O's, but in making the transition as smooth as possible.”

Plum begins its season Dec. 8 at the McKeesport tournament against the host Tigers. The Mustangs are slated to face West Mifflin at the tournament Dec. 9.

“Patience will be key,” Seigh said. “We started with the basic offense and defense and have grown from there. It's going to continue to be a lot of work, but I think we are ready for it.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

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