Cardinal has a new coach and a new starting lineup as it readies for the 2019-2020 season but the young Huskies have the potential to be competitive in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
“This season is going to be a learning year for sure,” said Joe DiMattia, Cardinal’s former JV coach who is in his first year leading the varsity. “We have lost all five starters from last year’s squad and return only two people with any real varsity experience. I like the competitiveness I’ve seen in the girls so far, and I know how they can compete on the court being the JV coach the last few years. It will be interesting to see how we compete in the new alignment of the league.”
Cardinal finished 13-11 overall last winter and 9-5 in league play.
This winter, the Huskies can match that mark if the girls come together to play as a team and respond to any adversity they face and with a limited roster, they will face their share of challenges.
“The lack of experience on the court is going to be a huge challenge this year,” DiMattia said. “There are going to be times where we struggle. We will have to keep our heads up and remember that every difficulty that we face will help us grow as individuals and as a team. Every bump on the road has to be looked at as a learning point and grow from them. We are also pretty low on numbers with 12 total girls in the program. We are going to do the best we can to play a full JV and varsity schedule. We will have a lot of girls playing five quarters a night.”
Senior Taylor Soltis and sophomore Haley Domen return after logging quality varsity minutes last winter.
Soltis is a guard/forward while Domen, a CVC honorable mention selection last season, is a guard.
“Taylor got a little bit of experience last year at the varsity level. She is a good shooter and will be a vocal leader of the team. She is the only senior on the team so I’m hoping she steps up and is a leader on the team. She can play a couple different places on the court and should be able to be a big contributor for the team this season,” DiMattia said. “Haley is going to be the heart of the team this year. Teams are going to focus on shutting her down, so she is going to have to do a lot of things without the ball and get other people involved. I’m confident she will be able to do this and have another good season.”
Juniors Brianna Doolittle, Julianna Pollack and Lorena Fortenbury round out the projected starting lineup.
Doolittle and Fortenbury are forwards while Pollack is a guard.
“Brianna has had a good start to the preseason. She is working hard and getting into basketball shape. She is one of the most versatile players on the team. Last year, she played every spot on the floor. She has a nice shot and when she is on, she is a strong player on both ends of the court,” DiMattia said. “Lorena is another girl who can play down low but can also step out and hit some shots. She is the quiet leader of the team so far and has the potential to become one of the main leaders on the team. (Pollack) has been a steady JV point guard the last few years. She doesn’t do anything flashy but can take care of the ball and get past defenders. She is a key 3-point shooter for us and hope to use her to open the court up a little bit to give our posts some room to work down low.”
Sophomores Belle Kattas and Megan Ehrhart and freshmen Hailey Keller, Ronee Collins, Cassie Nguyen, Madi Rosenberger and Maddy Hemrock will provide depth for the Huskies.
“Belle is new to the program, but I like what I have seen so far. She is aggressive and can play down low, but can also handle the ball a little bit. I’m excited to see what she will contribute to the team,” DiMattia said. “Megan has some work to do but she is able to get down low and be physical.”
The freshmen group includes two guards, two forwards and a post.
“Hailey can be a huge part of the team this year. She can play down low, she can hit threes, she can block shots; she can do a little bit of everything,” DiMattia said. “Ronee is pound for pound the toughest girl in the program. She is a scrappy player who can shoot the ball and play some defense. She doesn’t back down from anybody and plays her heart out. Cassie is a non-stop ball of energy. She is really going to make her mark on the defensive end and doing the little things. She is working with Coach (Gubanyar) on her shot and will also be able to help on the offensive end as the season goes on. Madi is another girl who will be playing a few different positions this season. She has some height and will get some time out on the wing as well. Maddy has been working hard and really absorbing everything that the coaches have been saying to her. I’m excited to see her grow this season.”
DiMattia and the Huskies have set realistic goals of competing in every game and growing as a team as the season progresses.
“We have to do the little things,” he said. “There are no easy games this year. We have to work hard and do the little things on the court that make a difference. The coaches have to get the players prepared for every game and let them know what to expect and how to deal with what they will see.”
Despite the lack of experience, the Huskies do have the pieces to put together a competitive and competent team.
“We have a good mix of people that are good at different aspects of the game,” DiMattia said. “We have people that can shoot, people that can drive, and people that will be able to D up. The girls have been really pushing themselves, getting ready for the season. They are excited to play. We are going to find the combinations that work the best and put the best possible five out on the court.”
