JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
WITH JUST ONE STARTER BACK IN THE MIX (SENIOR FORWARD BRITTANY RYDER), LANCASTER CATHOLIC IS NOT THE USUAL RUNAWAY FAVORITE IN THE SECTION RACE. BUT NEVER, EVER COUNT OUT THE CRUSADERS - ESPECIALLY WITH RYDER ON BOARD
When Brittany Ryder surveys the court, she doesn’t see too many familiar faces.
Lancaster Catholic’s senior forward is the lone returning starter from last season’s District 3 Triple-A runner-up team.
Lightning-quick guard and New Era All-Star Amy Pickard? Gone.
Reliable shooters – and twins – Jaclyn and Mackenzie O’Grady? Adios.
Speedy open-court guard Dani Artman? Transferred back to Manheim Central.
“We definitely have some people to replace,” Ryder said.
Catholic’s backcourt took the biggest hit – Pickard did a majority of the ball-handling and was terrific in transition. The O’Grady’s had ice water in their veins. And Artman can hit the 3-pointer and get to the rim.
Catholic coach Lamar Kauffman was quick to point out that the kids who moved on hit 98 3-pointers last season. That’s a lot of production.
That’s where Ryder comes in.
Kauffman is hoping the 5-10 forward grabs the leadership role by the horns.
“I’m hoping the other kids will see what Brittany can do and try and play like her,” Kauffman said. “She can post up, she can play at the top of the key, she can handle the ball well, she runs the court well and she rebounds well.
“And now her shot production is going to have to double. If she took 10 shots a game last season, she’ll need to take 20 shots a game this season.”
Which is cool with Ryder, who is ready for an expanded role. She might even step back and play some guard in certain sets to take advantage of her athleticism.
“Last season I just sort of followed everybody and did what they told me to do,” said Ryder, who averaged 10.7 points a game last season, when Catholic rolled to a 16-0 mark in Section 4 and won one game in the PIAA tournament.
“There was no pressure on me last season,” Ryder said, “this season will be different.”
A lot different.
With all of those guards gone, Catholic will have a different look, considering three players with the most experience coming back – Ryder, Maggie Sweeney and Monica Barnett – are all forwards.
So the backcourt, with senior Molly Holt running the point, junior Emily Weaver on the wing and Megan Fessler helping out in transition, will be jelling on the fly.
Fessler, who earned a soccer scholarship to James Madison University, is back on the team after spending the last two years concentrating on soccer. She should be a welcomed addition.
“Our kids need to reach a confidence level to where they feel that they can actually go out and do this,” said Kauffman, who has 602 career victories. “We’re not going to get to that elite level until these kids get a lot of playing time and can develop some confidence.”
Having Ryder back in the paint to lead the way should help speed up the process.
“Coach has already told me that I’ll need to step up and be a leader,” she said. “And I realize that I’ll have to do that. I’ll do the best I can with it.”
While Catholic breaks in four new starters around her.
“Everyone will still try and knock us off because we’re Lancaster Catholic,” Ryder said. “I guess it’s fun being the team to beat, but it’s going to be tougher this season for sure. But I do think we’ll surprise some people.”
Odd to hear the words “surprise” and “Lancaster Catholic” in the same breath.
The Crusaders might not be the runaway favorites in Section 4. And it will be tricky for them to get through section play unscathed again.
But Ryder will do everything in her power to make sure Catholic is the last team standing come February.
