New Beginnings for Women's Basketball
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA听鈥� November 4, 2019)鈥擭ew beginnings surround the 大发六合彩 women鈥檚 basketball squad this season. Forced into a brief hiatus due to low numbers, the Phantoms are back and ready to be heard from in 2019-20.
Leading the rejuvenation of the program is new head coach Dawn Grant. A veteran of the sidelines, Grant comes to 大发六合彩 after 25 years of coaching youth basketball at both the middle and high school levels. Grant served as a middle school boys and girls basketball coach in the East Ramapo Central School District in Rockland County, New York for five years.听
She then went on to become the head girls鈥� varsity coach at Spring Valley High School. During her 10 years at the helm of the program, Grant led the Lady Tigers to three conference titles and a final four appearance in the NYSPHSAA Section One Girls Basketball Championship resulting in Coach of the Year honors voted on by her peers for the league and the section.听
Playing at the club level this season, the Phantoms will get an opportunity to see how they match up against the rest of the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC).
A cast of newcomers will look to help Grant restore 大发六合彩 to relevancy, as well as aim for new heights. Leading the way at the guard spot will be Paige Wright, Bryce Johnson, Paige Patterson and Sophia Porras.
鈥淲right is our point guard who is a solid floor general who sees the floor well and knows how to get her teammates involved,鈥� offered Grant. 鈥淛ohnson, who has a great shot from behind the arc, is our combo guard who can play both the point and shooting guard positions.鈥� Grant is also looking for 鈥渂ig things鈥� from Patterson, who she names as one of the squad鈥檚 most versatile players due to her ability to score outside the perimeter and inside the paint. Porras, an excellent defender, will be the team鈥檚 defensive specialist this year.听
Destiney Gibson and Lorraine Marrone anchor the Phantoms inside the paint. 鈥淥ur bigs have been working on improving their post and midrange games all season,鈥� said Grant.听鈥淏oth players are quick, have a high motor and can pose matchup challenges for our opponents.鈥澨�
Added versatility comes from Molly Ryan and Tessa Landry, who will both play on the perimeter and inside for the Phantoms听this year.听鈥淏oth players have been working on improving their shooting range and will be a great asset for us this year,鈥� commented Grant.
鈥淲e are a fairly new team but play very unselfish,鈥� offered Grant. 鈥淲e like to share the ball with each other and will look to have a balanced attack on offense and we pride ourselves on being locked in defensively so that we can be in a position to win games.鈥�
The Phantoms have shown a lot of positives in early-season practice. 鈥淥ur keys to success this season is that if we work hard in practice then games will be easy,鈥� said Grant.听 鈥淲e like to communicate on the court on the defensive end and are committed to making strides to improve in all aspects of the game throughout the season. 鈥淚n practice we work primarily on honing our fundamental skill sets and individual development so that we can be the best versions of ourselves during games.鈥澨�
Grant identifies the team mantra this season as 鈥渄on鈥檛 aspire to be the best on the team. Aspire to be the best for the team.鈥� The Phantoms will look to use that same team philosophy as a foundational piece in what should be a season of growth and development along the way toward听establishing the College听as a perennial contender. The season tips off on Nov. 9 at Luzerne Community College at 5 p.m. while the home opener will take place on Dec. 3 against Lehigh Carbon Community College at Penn State-Brandywine. Find the full schedule at www.dccc.edu/womens-basketball.听
