With four returning starters and a new division to compete in, Perry’s girls’ basketball team is eager to tip off the new season.
The Pirates, who finished 15-8 overall and 10-4 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division, moved into the Chagrin Division this season.
“We are very excited about the upcoming season and the progress our players have made since last season,” said Perry coach Roy Infalvi. “We have a great group of competitive and hardworking players. We have four returning starters and three others who made contributions to the varsity team last season. Our practices have been really good and competitive.”
New division nor not, Perry’s strategy hasn’t changed.
The Pirates will hang their hats on defense.
“We will have a little more experience and depth this season and plan to use multiple defenses to our advantage,” Infalvi said. “That will be the key to our success this year.”
Four out of five Perry starters earned all-conference honors last season.
Senior Victoria Lynch, a 5-foot-5 guard, was a first-team selection.
“Victoria is a dynamic player that can score in many ways,” Infalvi said. “Defensively, she can create havoc and turn the tide of a game. She will be a difference maker for us.”
Senior Audrey Austin, a 5-foot-5 guard, was named second-team All-CVC.
“Audrey is a leader on and off the court,” Infalvi said. “On the court, she has a great basketball IQ and is solid offensively and defensively. Audrey brings a wealth of experience and leadership.”
Senior Rosalyn Tharp, a 5-foot-9 forward, and junior Jaidyn Newsome, a 5-foot-6 guard, both were named honorable mention.
“Ros is headed for a breakout year for us offensively. She has great skill and is very versatile. She works hard daily, and it will pay off for her,” Infalvi said. “Jaidyn made great strides as a sophomore. She really developed into a great defender who can guard bigger guards. Offensively, she is one of our better shooters but can also score around the basket.”
Rounding out the projected lineup is sophomore Mia Lynch, a 5-foot-8 forward.
“Mia had a great freshman season and continues to get better each and every day,” Infalvi said. “Having some experience under her belt is going to allow her to be more confident and to play more freely. She is a great rebounder and a physical presence inside for us.”
The Pirates have a host of players competing for minutes this winter.
Senior forward Eva Jean’s offseason work was impressive and now she’s in a position to make key contributions to the squad.
“Eva has probably made the biggest improvement over the course of her four years in our program,” Infalvi said. “She is a solid defender and rebounder and a great teammate.”
Sophomore guards Payton Winters and Andora Porcello both got a taste of varsity play as freshmen.
“Payton is a basketball junkie and is always working to get better. She has a great outside shot but has shown great improvement in her ability to get to the basket. She continues to get better defensively and as a rebounder,” Infalvi said. “Andora played major minutes for us toward the end of last season. She is very athletic and has great instincts. She passes the ball well and knows when to take advantage of a defender and get to the basket.”
Junior guard Audriana Polzer and sophomore guard Emma Bartlett also will contribute.
“Audriana does a lot of little things very well for us. She knows how to read defenders and has great instincts. She works very hard, is very coachable, and continues to get better daily,” Infalvi said. “Emma is an athletic guard who is a good defender. We are happy to have her back on our team. She suffered an unfortunate injury in soccer but should return around Christmas.”
The Pirates also have seven freshmen who could see action this season.
Forward Emily Mechenbier, guard Sophie Sivon, forward Teagan Pfeister, and guard/forward Addie Flenner are among the newcomers.
“Emily has done very well in practice to start this season. She has stepped right into varsity practice and competed well. She will be a big part of our varsity team this season and into the future,” Infalvi said. “Sophie handles the ball well and is a great passer. She has a nice shot and is smooth with the basketball. Teagan is a very skilled player. She does a lot of things really well and will develop into a great player. She works very hard, and it will pay dividends for her as the season goes on. Addie is one of our most fundamental sound players. She does a lot of things well and is super coachable. We love her work ethic and the potential she has.”
Savannah Holmes and Kayley Erickson are forwards and Zeamara Jackson plays guard.
“Savannah has done great in practice to start this season. She works hard and keeps improving,” Infalvi said. “Kayley is working hard and developing well. She has improved her defense and, offensively, has shown great progress. Zeamara is turning into a very good defender. She is quick and can cause some problems for offenses.”
With a deep and talented roster, one of Perry’s biggest challenges is getting everybody on the same page and ready to compete against a grueling schedule.
“Along with our experience we will have some new players on the varsity level and getting them up to speed and ready is always a challenge,” Infalvi said. “Although we have more depth than last season, it still is a concern.”
The Pirates have their sights set on winning a CVC and district title.
“We need to play solid defense and limit turnovers,” Infalvi said. “If we can be consistent in these areas I think we should be successful.”
