With a new coach installed, and a mix of retuning varsity players and newcomers, the Whitehall girls basketball team’s season started slow but finished strong.

Coach John Madas described it as a tale of two halves. They began the year 1-8 and that put a serious damper on any postseason aspirations. But once 2019 hit, the team began to jell, getting six wins in the second half, and that will serve as a good springboard heading into the offseason.

“Early on, we didn’t click the way we wanted to,” said Madas. “It took us a little while to get going. It’s not the start we anticipated”

Madas believed that a couple factors came into play. The season began with a new coach, a new program, some new concepts, and it took everyone some time to get adjusted. They needed to get a feel for how he wanted them to play, and that process evolved as the season progressed. Still, he was pleased with how they handled everything that came their way.

“They did a good job catching on,” said Madas. “It takes a while for a new style [of play] to catch on, but they made strides midway through the season.”

With the team starting to feel more comfortable, they finished strong, going 6-7 past the midway point. That solid second half got them to 7-15 for the season.

The team will lose seniors Taryn Sayre and Olivia George. Both George and Sayre were integral parts of the Zephyrs basketball team the last few seasons, with Sayre finishing third in scoring this season for the Zephs. George was expected to be among that group as well, but an injury cut short her season for the second year in a row.

Madas said that their leadership was invaluable this season and both players will leave a big void, especially in their perimeter game. George was a good spot-up shooter, and Sayre could provide offense from the perimeter as well.

However, the Zephs retain the bulk of their team, and their frontcourt tandem of Grace Clary and Olivia Hines finished first and second in scoring, respectively. Clary can play inside or out, and was perhaps their best three-point shooter all year. Hines has good inside moves, skillfully walling off post defenders so she can get off her shot.

The Zephyrs had a big junior class this season including Katie Kelly, Cassie Due, Brianna Smith, Kristin Laky and Jaraye Jackson. That class, along with Clary, will provide a strong foundation for next season. That group logged significant minutes last season, and they’ll be expected to be the driving force heading into next season.

Also returning will be Joey Shaul who provides another strong presence inside, while Ella Laky, Meghan Hutter, and freshman Amaya Alvarez will be back as well.

It’s a substantial returning cast and Madas is excited about the upcoming season.

“We can build upon what we have [returning],” said Madas. “It’s a really nice foundation.”

Madas said that the junior class this season were all big contributors who played a lot of minutes, and that’s a huge advantage to have that many players back.

With the 2018-19 season in the books, they’ll now turn their attention to the offseason as they do some work in the weight room before a full schedule of summer basketball begins in May.