By Kyle Moylan, Sports Editor
One can call the Allentown High School girls’ basketball team a lot of things, but “lucky” would not be on the list.
Allentown made the state tournament last year with a lot of hard work and great play. They were rewarded by playing the seventh-seeded Willingboro squad in the opener. Willingboro would go on to win the Group III state championship.
”As I told the girls, they were the best (seventh) seed we are ever going to face,” laughed Linda Weise, who will be entering her third season on the job when Allentown hosts West Windsor North at home 7 p.m. on Friday.
Unable to count on luck, the Allentown players will have to count on themselves. This is a young team that is also an experienced one. Only one starter (Jenna Winston) graduated from last season’s 12-15 squad.
Weise was greeted by a strong incoming freshman class when she took the job before the 2005-2006 season. Last season’s freshman class was also very talented, with a good portion of them playing for an undefeated middle school team.
As a result, the four returning starters are only juniors. They are Bea Pesciotta (guard/forward), Angela Scibilia (guard), Haley Wilhelm (center) and Amanda Turowski (point guard).
Brittany O’Brien, a senior that plays forward, will replace Winston in the starting lineup.
The other members of the team are all underclassmen. They are Lindsay Bacovin (guard), Heather Gurdon (guard), Erin Brink (guard), Kelsey Glover (forward) and Samantha O’Brien (guard).
”These girls came into school together, have played together for years and in the summer league,” noted Weise. “There definitely is a chemistry there.”
Unfortunately, the Colonial Valley Conference isn’t one that allows teams to break into a new season slowly.
In addition to West Windsor North in the opener, Allentown has a CVC game scheduled at Steinert 7 p.m. on Tuesday and next Friday (December 21) at home against Ewing. There are also non-conference games scheduled against South Hunterdon at 6 p.m. on Saturday and on Wednesday at home against South Plainfield at 5:15 p.m.
”We’re going to be tested right off the bat,” Weise said. “We should be able to compete against these teams and, hopefully, pull out a few victories.
”I think we’re closing the gap (on the top teams in the CVC). Trenton High will still be the toughest, but we’ve closed the gap some with Steinert and the West Windsors.”
Allentown again is one the smallest CVC schools in terms of enrollment. That’s why out of conference games will be a factor in whether the team makes the state tournament and what type of seed it can earn.
Allentown will host a holiday tournament, but the details have not been finalized because one of the teams backed out. Right now, Princeton and Delran are the only ones committed to play. If another team can’t be added, a round-robin style might be used.
While this would prevent a typical championship game from being played, every contest on the schedule is a big one for Allentown. This is a team with talent, one that could take off in the state tournament if it survives the season grind in the CVC.
If it gets that far, it’s highly unlikely Allentown will be facing a team as talented as Willingboro in the state tournament. In fact, Allentown has been brought back to a Group II team again.
”The girls are excited about what they can possibly do,” Weise said. “They want to put up some sort of banner in the gym for basketball.
”I’m looking forward to the season. Hopefully we can fill the stands and they all can see some fun girls basketball.”

