by Following an 18-5 record last year and with 4 returning starters, (Nora Bruder, Olivia Dewey, Elizabeth Lang and Claudia Roche) the River Pirates girls basketball team is the favorite to win the CWC conference this year. Last year they split the regular season crown with Co-Champion Westlake. Outside of the CWC schedule, their opponents are absolutely challenging with matchups against Waynedale, Magnificat, SVSM, Lutheran West, Cleveland Hts, Avon and several other big matchups planned including a trip to the Shot Clock Classic in Canton. This tough slate will not only help them prepare for the CWC schedule, but make them better for it.
The expectations for River this year will be high, and they should be! This is one of the best well rounded coached teams you will find. Led by 4th year head coach Jamey Pfahl, it is a coaching squad that truly get’s the most out of their players while encouraging and motivating them all at once.
I spoke with Coach Pfahl who explained how this team will need to handle the high expectations placed upon them this season, “ As a team we have decided what our standard is and that is what we hold ourselves to every time we take the court. They run from one area to the next and everything we do is with a purpose, that is our standard. “
Coach Pfahl went on to explain what the most important attribute this team has that will help them on their path this year, “This team has a lot of players on it with a high basketball IQ. They know the game of basketball and it helps when we need to make adjustments. We let the girls talk about what they are seeing and that helps. “
With several teams in the CWC coming back better this year, including the dangerous Ziley Minich of Normandy, the Pirates know the path won’t be easy. Coach Jamey talked about the biggest challenges that lie ahead as well, “ Getting to the next level, we put together a tough schedule and put together the lessons we’ve learned not to just compete in those games, but to win them. “
I spoke with the four returning starters who are also captains this year and they had a lot to say about their expectations for the season, “We want to win the conference and have a positive team culture with a great fun experience with all my best friends this season”, said senor leader Claudia Roche. My expectation for the season is to win the conference and also get far into the playoffs because our team has value,” added Olivia Dewey.
Sharpshooting ace Nora Bruder shared the desire to want to win the CWC Conference as well, she also added, “I feel like this team has a lot of potential and I also hope we grow closer to each other and reach our full potential this season.”
You can call her Liz, Libby or by her full name Elizabeth, but no matter how you say it, Lang is one of the best players in the area this year and stands out in that amazing Junior class. Lang had this to add, “I want us to win the conference while advancing far into the playoffs. We will need to practice hard while also having fun.”
Assistant coach and defensive specialist Jeff Hammond recently donated a kidney in hopes of helping a family member, this is just one small example of how special this team is, coaching staff is, and quite frankly, community is. Coach Jamey Pfahl spoke about Jeff’s decision on how that reflects the togetherness spirit this team shares, “One of our motto’s is together, and Jeff just has the greatest heart. He is an amazing person and we are so lucky to have him on our staff. Everyone from the girls and parents loves Jeff and we are so proud of him. “
Here are just a few photo’s taken from media day by the incredibly talented Ben Nichols Photography.
