Lady Tiger head coach Chris Deutsch is a basketball junkie. He loves the game. He is eager to get to practice and enjoys practice just as much, if not more than the games. He likes watching a good basketball team play.

If Deutsch wasn't piloting the 2013-14 Northwestern Lady Tigers this winter, he probably would have been in the stands at their games.

"We are awfully proud of the season we had," Deutsch said. "I don't think many people would have thought that we would have the season we did this year with graduating [Sara Jones] last year. I thought our girls had a great year and I think we were a fun team to watch."

Northwestern may have had some critics heading into this season, but a 10-0 start silenced them quickly as the Lady Tigers surged through the regular season and the playoffs finishing with a record of 24-2 overall and 14-1 in the Colonial League. Their only losses coming against Salisbury by one point back on January 9 and to Allentown Central Catholic last Wednesday. Both of those teams enter the state playoffs this weekend.

This young squad brought a lot of excitement and offense to the hardwood as it averaged 52.38 points pers game. Leading that production was senior Trista Cunningham, who contributed 12.5 ponts per game, during her very successful farewell tour as a Lady Tiger.

Cunningham made strides as a basketball player this season and was unanimously named to the First Team All-Colonial League squad and was selected to play in the upcoming Via All-Star Basketball Classic

"It has been weird going from a little freshman to one of the leaders as a senior this year," Cunningham said last week after the loss to Central. "I think our leadership had an effect on all the players and really the underclassmen were leaders themselves. We really just impacted each other with what we did."

Deutsch sees this season as a success as the team achieved its top goal.

"Our number one goal was to win a Colonial League championship, and they did that," he said. "They brought a championship back to New Tripoli and we are awfully proud of that. To tie a school record for wins in a season, win a Colonial League championship, to make it to the district semifinal, is great. I think we had an outstanding season."

Complimenting Cunningham in the scoring department and having an outstanding season of their own were junior Sabrina Mertz (10.84 ppg), junior Sarah Segan (9.35 ppg) and sophomore Erika Thomas (8.81 ppg).

Seniors Erynn Day, Kylee Bennett and Cunningham all played their last game as a Lady Tiger last week.

"I want to wish all of them the best of luck," Deutsch said. "All of them have been huge assets to the program and their leadership really got this team going this year."

All three were huge contributors with Cunningham being the team's leading scorer while Day and Bennett were the first two reserves off the bench. However, the rest of this year's squad can return and according to Deutsch, "that raises the bar for next year."

The 2013-14 season for the Northwestern girls' basketball team was a memorable one to say the least. It included setting school records, enjoying double-digit winning streaks, thrilling come-from-behind victories, hoisting a Colonial League trophy and making a run at a district crown.

The best part of it all? The Lady Tigers are poised to do it all over again next season.