Freshmen can be a strength for Tigers

BY GREG WILLIAMS Sentinel reporter gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

COCOLAMUS – In his 15 seasons at the helm of the East Juniata Tigers, head coach Travis Quici has only started a freshman once.

With only four returning upperclassmen, that percentage is about to spike. Quici might even decide to start two freshmen.

“Seven of the 13 players on our roster are freshmen,” Quici said. “That can be a strength or a weakness. It can be an Achilles heel, but eventually having that number of young kids has to pay off.”

At 8-8, the Tigers finished in the middle of the Tri-Valley League pack a year ago. A stifling defense, which gave up an average of 30.2 points per game, kept East Juniata in most contests.

“We’ve always hung our hat on that defense,” Quici said.

The offense, which averaged 32.1 points last year, remains a work in progress. Cypress Feltman, who led the Tigers in scoring with 7.0 points per game and assists at 3.8, was lost to graduation. She also ranked second in the TVL in steals at 3.1. Feltman stood 15th in the TVL in scoring.

Senior Marissa Coudriet, who graduated and has joined East Juniata’s coaching staff, led the Tigers by averaging 3.6 steals and was second with 2.8 assists. She also ranked in the TVL Top 10 in rebounding with 7.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game.

Sharpshooter Lexie

Stuck, another senior who graduated, was fourth in three-point field goals made with 22 last season.

Junior Sara Brackbill is the lone returning Tiger to appear in any TVL statistical category. Her 8.2 rebounds per game was tops for East Juniata and was seventh in the league. “She’s a great rebounder and one of the premier posts in the TVL,” Quici said.

A forward, Brackbill was a bright spot on the boards for the Tigers, who ranked last in the league in rebounding.

Besides Brackbill, the Tigers have senior Grace Hibbs, along with sophomore Chloe Benazat Casadevall and freshman Madison Snyder, who all can play at the guard or forward spot. Freshman Landyn Cramer is also a forward.

One of two seniors on the roster, Quici is counting on Hibbs for her leadership and defensive prowess. “She’s one of the best defenders I’ve ever had,” the Tiger coach said. “She has a knack for playing defense. It’s in her DNA. She worked hard at her shot last year and she’s been a different player since then. We will really look to her to be a leader.”

Hibbs averaged 5.1 points a year ago.

The other senior on the roster is guard Emily Kerstetter, who saw limited action.

As far as filling the point guard slot, Cadee Becker also was impressive in limited action last year. The junior played in 13 games and averaged 0.9 points.

“We were pleasantly surprised with what we’ve seen from her,” Quici said.

“She understands the concepts.”

Sophomore Alicia Spade is also vying for playing time at the guard spot.

Besides Cramer and Snyder, the large crop of freshman also includes Hayden Cook, Carolyn Dressler, Adelie Fisher, Makaylyn Peters and Kennedy Seigler-Lewis, all of which play guard.

Quici said there might be growing pains with that many first-year players, but there is an upside.

“Things could be challenging but if we’re able to see contributions from the freshmen, it will only make our program stronger over the next couple of years.”

With the addition of St. Joseph’s, the 10-team TVL circuit will use an EastWest divisional format this season. The West consists of East Juniata, Juniata, Greenwood, Newport and St. Joseph’s, while the East has Halifax, Line Mountain, Millersburg, Susquenita and Upper Dauphin.

The Tigers will face teams in their own division twice and those in the East once.

“I think anybody can beat anybody on any given night,” said Quici, who comes into the season just four wins away from reaching the 200-victory milestone.

He expects Greenwood and Juniata to remain competitive, while Newport has “nice players” and newcomer St. Joseph’s is a “wild card,” Quici said.

Reigning TVL champion Line Mountain “lost a

Back lot,” while Upper Dauphin looks strong on paper and Millersburg has a “ton of young talent,” he added.

East Juniata Tigers

District 4 2-A 12-10, 8-8 Tri-Valley League; lost in District 4 2-A quarterfinals to Mount Carmel.

Head Coach, Travis Quici, 15th year; assistant coaches Wes Diehl, Noah Brackbill, Chloe Rougeau and Marissa Coudriet.