Ligonier Valley girls look for new leaders after graduation of Petrof, 2 other starters

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 3, 2018 | 6:48 PM

The leadership baton has been passed to a different bunch in girls basketball this season at Ligonier Valley as the Rams seek their first winning record in five years.

Senior guards Alexia Boyd and Mia Lynn played in the shadow of three now-graduated veterans, including forward Lexie Petrof, the 2018 Tribune-Review Athlete of the Year.

But the Rams’ only two returning starters will be counted on to take on a bigger role in leading a predominantly inexperienced group, many of whom are stepping away from role-playing duties and into the spotlight.

“We’re not as talented or quick as last year, but we are a smart group. They’re working hard,” coach Tim Gustin said. “It’s been much better than I would have thought.”

Ligonier Valley, hoping to improve on an 11-12 record that included a season-ending, one-point, first-round loss to Tyrone in the District 6 Class 3A playoffs, will begin the year this weekend at the Greensburg Salem Tip Off Tournament against a pair of WPIAL Class 4A opponents.

The Rams will face the host Golden Lions on Friday before meeting Mt. Pleasant on Saturday.

“We have a lot of question marks,” Gustin said. “It’s just a different team than in the past.”

Gone are Petrof, an Akron softball recruit, who averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior, and two other forwards, Mackenzee Jester and Rachel Horrell. The trio combined to average 24 rebounds.

“I’d say we’ll max out at about eight people getting on the court on a regular basis,” Gustin said.

The group also includes two other senior forwards, 5-foot-11 Destiny Sheriff and 5-8 Gabby Martinez, along with 5-9 junior forward Katie Lawson, junior guard Mackenzee Lear, sophomore guard Carol Woods and guard/foward Kaelyn Adams, a 5-8 freshman whose play in the preseason has impressed Gustin’s staff.

“We’re hoping that Sheriff and Martinez, with their good work ethic, can help with the rebounding,” Gustin said, though neither has a wealth of varsity playing experience.

But Boyd and Lynn do. Boyd averaged 8.2 points and accumulated 138 assists (5.7 per game) last season.

“Boyd will be a four-year starter at point guard, and that is a ton of experience,” Gustin said. “She was involved in 85 percent of our scoring last season, whether it was actually scoring or giving an assist. She’s building a good rapport with the other girls. They’re starting to notice that if they’re open, she’s going to hit them.

“People are not going to concentrate on just one or two players on this team.”

Lynn, who averaged 5.7 points, ended the season with a breakout performance of 14 points on the strength of four 3-point shots in the loss to Tyrone.

Gustin, whose Ligonier Valley teams are a combined 30-39 in his three seasons, has been impressed with his current squad’s business-like approach to a new year.

“Almost getting a playoff win last year seems to have given the seniors now, who have been playing for four years, a different demeanor,” he said. “I’m not saying we’re going to get there again, but I am saying that if we do, I’m sure they’re not going to be satisfied until they win one.”

Ligonier Valley is aligned in the Heritage Conference South Division along with defending league-champion Blairsville, Homer-Center, Saltsburg and United.

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Ligonier Valley