Freedom’s girls basketball team will use speed, defense, and transition to challenge its opponents throughout the upcoming season under second-year head coach Steve Raysely.

Assisting Raysely will be Lauren Wolk, Bill Dosedlo, Ashley Husser, and Allison Hontz.

“We are a young team, losing four seniors, three of them starters, and one of them (1,000-point scorer) Kailey Turpening,” said Coach Raysely. “Getting them to gel and play together is where we will need to improve.”

Freedom’s key returners will include senior point guard Keturah Stewart, senior forward Julia Heineman, and junior forwards Jordan MacIlroy and Allie Sena.

“In one of our scrimmages, I was pleased with the adjustments the girls were able to make, both offensively and defensively, throughout the game,” Raysely said.

Freedom has seen extensive preseason competition, ranging from this summer’s Allentown Throwdown Tournament to tournaments at DeSales University and Kutztown University.

Scrimmages will have included games against Pen Argyl and Holy Redeemer in Dunmore, Pa., and this weekend, the Patriots will compete in the Perkiomen Valley Tip-Off to take on teams from District 1.

Then, the Lady Pates will travel down the road to Bethlehem Catholic for their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference season opener on Dec. 6.