The Riverside Lady Panthers will travel to face Mohawk on Monday, January 11th before settling in to its first home game on Thursday, January 14th versus the Laurel Spartans. The team will welcome the long overdue season and begin with new faces, players and coach, on the bench.
“We lost a lot of scoring due to graduation, so we will need players to step up into the role of scoring production,” said first year head coach Renee Drake.
Drake was appointed head coach of the girls basketball team by the Riverside School Board in June. Former head coach John Wolf retired in the offseason turning the reigns over to a new coach for the first time in over two decades.
Seniors veteran fowards Maura Rosenburger and Sam Finch will be expected to increase their offensive productivity. Finch will provide a threat in the paint with aggressiveness and strength while Rosenburger will provide leadership on the floor and will have to be versatile in giving the Lady Panthers an option outside the paint in addition to her post play.
Juniors Megan Zelch and Sam Prestia will also be expected to step their game up as experienced veterans.
“Zelch will provide a lot of leadership at the point guard position and will run our offense for us and Prestia provides aggressiveness as a post player and has a nice touch around the hoop,” said Drake.
The team does not have a lot of depth according to Drake and the coach has put in a new system that will put a lot of emphasis on the defensive end.
“We will need balanced scoring production in order to win,” said Drake. “Our success will be determined by a full team contribution on both ends of the court.”
The Riverside girls will host their rivalry game versus Ellwood City on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
“It doesn’t take a new coach long to know that our games against rival Ellwood City are always games we highlight every year,” said Drake.
Fans can expect the team to work hard for every opportunity on the court this year. Last year the Lady Panthers finished 4-10 in Class 3A-1 (11-11 Overall)
“Nothing is going to come easy and we have some tough opponents but this team is a type of team that will leave everything out on the court,” said Drake. “Our toughest opponents will be North Catholic and Avonworth.”
Mohawk (12-2, 3A-1) was atop the section last year along with Beaver and Avonworth.
Drake thinks obstacles presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could be viewed as life lessons.
“Our motto is “Adapt to Win.” It’s a life lesson. Just like in games or during the season things in life don’t always go as planned, but you have to adapt and still figure out a way to get the job done.”
For the Riverside boys basketball team, making their mark in Class 3A, Section-1 along with the likes of Lincoln Park, Beaver Falls, and Aliquippa always presents a challenge. This year may be no different with a new wrinkle in the challenge.
“We are going to be a very young and inexperienced team,” said head coach John Rorick.
“They are working hard to get better each day. It has been very challenging, but we are making the best of it.”
Overcoming COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns have presented some obstacles but coaches and players are eager to start the season.
“We have been paused for a while now so we are happy to be able to do whatever we can,” concluded Rorick.
The Panthers boys basketball team, who finished 2-10 in Class 3A Section 1 (8-14 Overall) will host their rivalry game versus Ellwood City on February 19, 2021.
(team photos courtesy of J Halls Photography. jhallsphoto.com)
UP NEXT: EllwoodCity.org will be preparing a Q&A Series to spotlight select Riverside players.
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