PHILADELPHIA, New York (WWNY) – The 2023-24 high school basketball season got underway this week with area teams taking to the court for the first time.
For one area team, it’s the start of a season they hope brings them another Sectional Championship.
The Indian River Lady Warriors enter the season looking to repeat as Section 3 Class A champs.
Coach Jim Whitley’s team beat Central Square 35-26 to capture the program’s first sectional crown since the 2007-2008 season and advanced to the state quarterfinals where they lost to Averill Park.
Coming off a 22-3 season that saw Indian River run the table in the Frontier League’s A Division, Whitley knows his team will have a bullseye on their back this season.
”We return our top 6 players. We’ve got 3 girls from the JV’s that came up that are going to make us a lot deeper this year. We’re cautiously optimistic. The girls know they still gotta work hard for everything that they get and that we’re gonna have a target on our back. Every team that plays us, we’re gonna get their best game,” said Whitley.
Indian River will have a grueling Frontier League schedule this season and a slate of non-league games headlined by contests against Utica Notre Dame, Westhill and CBA.
Whitley says a schedule like this year’s is one he likes to play so his team can be ready and firing on all cylinders when the post-season rolls around.
”It is and we try to spread those non-league, competitive games out throughout the year. Some at the beginning, some at the end. We’ve got a tough league schedule as well,” said Whitley.
The Lady Warriors return their top 5 scorers from last year’s squad and the players say the strength of this team this year is the balance they have on both ends of the court.
”I think that we all have trust in each other and we just know that no matter who you pass the ball to, they’ll do their job on the court. Same thing goes for defense. We’re always there to help each other out,” said Ravan Marsell.
”Definitely our defense and being strong at the block. Making sure we all work together as a team since we’ve been playing for so long together. We’ve only lost a couple seniors last year, so we’re still gonna be working good,” said Michaela Delles.
In order for Indian River to have another successful season, Whitley says one thing has to happen that has nothing to do with x’s and o’s.
”We have got to stay healthy. That’s really out of my control for the most part, but we have to stay healthy. That’s the key. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’re gonna be healthy this year,” said Whitley.
If the Lady Warriors avoid the injury bug, look for them to be in the hunt for another sectional title this season.
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