Donny’s Dish | Though the King’s College Women’s Basketball team’s playoff hopes have ended, the strides the Lady Monarchs have made all season is indicative of how talented of a squad they will become in the year’s to follow
The King’s women’s basketball team fought until the very end this season.
A loss to Delaware Valley last night ended the playoff chances for the Lady Monarchs. This year’s version of the Lady Monarchs was a very young squad that seemed to be building for the future rather than being in the hunt for a conference playoff spot.
Sporting just one senior on the roster, the Lady Monarchs showed that the future will be bright inside Scandlon Gymnasium. With the youthful roster, Coach Brian Donoghue got a chance to see what his younger players could do for him.
And they did not disappoint.
King’s sophomore class, which consists of just three players, was terrific this season.
Kayla Feairheller, one of the three sophomores, led the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game along with the second highest amount of three point field goals, 37. The team’s leading three point shooter was a sophomore too. Kasey Seitz hit 40 three-pointers this year while averaging 9.3 points on the year which was good for third on the squad.
The third sophomore, Shae Grim, came off the bench and provided quality minutes at the guard position in all 24 games this year. Grim averaged 15 minutes a game this season, and her role should increase in her next two season in the red and gold.
With two seasons left for these three players, the numbers that they are putting up now figure to get even better, as they develop as players and mesh together as a whole unit.
The junior class saw two players see action in all games that they were available this year. Jennifer Fabian and Tara Zdancewicz, the two that saw extensive minutes, will be looked upon not only as the senior leaders next year but to provide great play on the floor to help the squad. Fabian, was a staple in the starting lineup for the majority of the season, averaged 7.8 points per game which was fourth on the team.
Also, the junior from Downingtown, PA corralled in 6.5 rebounds per game which ranked third on the team behind senior Marissa Manning.
Zdancewicz, on the other hand, was used almost exclusively off of the bench this year only starting one contest this year. Zdancewicz, averaged four points per game this season but will almost certainly see a bigger role next year when second leading scorer Manning (10.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG) graduates in the spring.
The freshman class, which consists of four players, saw two girls get time regularly, one of which contributed greatly to the team and another saw time in most of the contests this year.
Olivia Hoffman was a huge bright spot for the Monarchs this season. Hoffman, a freshman from nearby Wyoming Valley West High School, started in every game this year and averaged 24.8 minutes a game this year. Hoffman averaged 5.5 points per game and shot an extremely efficient 44.7 % from the field this year.
Another freshman who saw time in almost every game, Rachel DeTore, will make a mark on the program for years to come. Lastly, the two other freshman, Maggie Michael and Hayleigh Hanson, played in 18 and 16 games, respectively this season. The two have expanded roles next season to help the Monarchs make a push for the conference title.
The young squad that has been put out on the floor this season for the Lady Monarchs is gaining valuable experience that squads in the Freedom are not able to give to their first and second year players.
The future is looking bright on North River Street for the women’s basketball team, as just one player departs the roster on a team that made some noise this year in conference.
Donny Hopkins is a college freshman from Mountaintop, Pa, studying mass communications. His email address is DonaldHopkins@Kings.edu. HIS OPINIONS ALSO DO NOT EXPRESS THOSE OF WRKC OR ITS STAFF. “Donny’s Dish” appears every Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @HopkinsDonny