LANCASTER — If you’re an old-school basketball buff, it’s pretty tough to beat sitting in an empty gym, watching Lancaster Catholic veteran coach Lamar Kauffman drill his team on the intricacies of full-court and half-court traps.
That’s good stuff, right there.
Kauffman, back for his 32nd season in the driver’s seat of Lancaster Catholic’s girls’ program, had his whistle at the ready on Wednesday afternoon, guiding his team through drills as the Crusaders prep to open up defense of their L-L League championship.
One year after going to the PIAA-AAA state championship game, Lancaster Catholic was back at it last season, going 30-2 overall.
The losses: 59-53 to Susquehannock — after a 26-0 start — in the District 3-AAA quarterfinals. And a 78-52 setback to Blackhawk in the state quarterfinals.
By the way, Lancaster Catholic got a little revenge with an 89-79 double-OT win over Susquehannock in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.
But there was no return trip to the state finals. And no district repeat. But another Section 4 crown and another L-L title for the Crusaders, who will have some familiar faces back from that team in the rotation this season.
Like senior swing guard Danielle Atkinson, who averaged 9.7 points and dropped 11 3-pointers last winter. She’s also a dangerous defender in Kauffman’s press-until-you-drop scheme. Atkinson returns for her third season as a full-time starter for the Crusaders and she’s the big sister of the bunch.
INTERVIEW WITH ATKINSON ABOUT THIS SEASON’S EXPECTATIONS AND HER LEADERSHIP ROLE:
Like soph post threat Caroline Scarff, who had a superb breakout freshman season in the paint, starting from Game 1 and averaging 7.8 points while wearing out a path to the foul line. Definitely keep an eye on her moving forward; should be a fun three years for Scarff, who has a mega bright future.
INTERVIEW WITH SCARFF ABOUT BREAKING IN AS A FRESHMAN AND THIS SEASON’S EXPECTATIONS:
Like spunky point guard/3-point sniper Erin Holt, who averaged 4.5 points and splashed 28 3-pointers as the first guard off the bench last season. Holt hit the game-winner against Oley Valley in the District 3-AAA title game as a freshman two years ago. She’ll join the starting lineup this time around. Holt is a bundle of energy, and should thrive in the Crusaders’ full-throttle, press-you-silly attack.
Three departures: Baseliner Emily Martin (Elizabethtown College), two-time all-state combo guard Porscha Speller (West Chester University), plus junior Lil Veronis, who did not come back out for the team this season so she can concentrate on indoor tennis.
Looks like G Emily Colon (3.3 points, 7 3-pointers off the bench last season) and F Hannah Knowlton (2.1 points in spot time off the bench last season) will round out the starting five.
Like Atkinson and Holt, Colon should thrive in Lancaster Catholic’s up-tempo attack, and Knowlton is the reigning L-L long jump champ, so she’ll bring plenty of athleticism to the court. She’s a jumping jack.
As for Kauffman, 75, he says he’s taking it a year at time. He’ll begin this season with a jaw-dropping 739-139 overall record — and with a team with enough experience to certainly be the Section 4 favorite, and most likely a favorite to defend its L-L crown come early February.
Reinhart’s girls’ basketball camp tour:
CUMBERLAND VALLEY ANGLING FOR RETURN TRIP TO STATE FINALS