This winter, expectations again are high surrounding the Catasauqua girls’ basketball team.

The Rough Riders made a late-season run last year, and missed a district playoff berth by one game with a 10-12 overall record. A five-game winning streak ended in a season-ending loss to Northwestern.

One major flaw the Roughies will look to avoid is inconsistency. Before their season-ending winning streak, Catty dropped five straight.

This season, the Roughies have begun the season with a 3-1 record through their first four games.

It has been a welcomed, yet somewhat expected start for head coach Mark Seremula’s club. Seremula will look a veteran core returning to set the tone.

“We have some really good, senior leadership,” said Seremula, who begins his sixth year at the helm. “We’re making a lot of things happen on the floor. These kids just don’t quit.”

The Roughies’ offense will again revolve around sophomore point guard Hailey Jenkins, who made an immediate impact as a freshman averaging a team-high 11.7 points last season.

“She leads by example out there,” said Seremula. “Hailey is the floor leader, and she can make so many things happen. All the hype around her is real. She has the poise and skills of a senior leader, and she has a year under her belt.

“I believe Hailey is the most dynamic player in the Lehigh Valley. She will only get better.”

Senior Heaven Jenkins, who is playing for the first time, is part of a solid senior core of returnee Delaney Troxell, Jordan Soltis, Alivia Bear, Sophia Becker and Rhianna Martinez.

“Heaven is all over the floor,” said Seremula. “She is diving for every loose ball, and leaves it all out on the floor. She can score and rebound.

“Delaney has been playing great defensively, and she can give us a double-double in points and rebounds. Jordan is one of our better passers, and she does a lot of little things. Sophia has been a force down low with her scoring and rebounding, and Alivia is our best defender and has good court sense. Rhianna has been playing a lot of minutes and has been steady contributor.”

Troxell understands the significance of her team’s fast start.

“The 3-1 start puts us in great position,” she said. “We have shocked many teams, and we will continue to do so. Being 3-1 gives us confidence for the upcoming weeks. The team has great chemistry, and it continues to grow after every game and practice.”

Seremula has been impressed with his team’s grit and determination as they battled back from deficits in games against Executive Education and Northern Lehigh to post victories.

“We’re doing all things besides scoring and overall defense to be successful,” he said. “We have done a good job rebounding and avoiding turnovers.”

Seremula sees a huge test for his club with games against Bangor, Northwestern, and Palmerton ahead on their docket. They also will face Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg.

“Those games will be a good gauge for us,” he stressed. “We just have to take one game at a time. The three games can be a challenge, and we have to play tough.

“We have a lot of expectations for ourselves, and we have to keep moving forward.”