Different Look For Sharon Girls Basketball

With a smaller lineup and a new system, the varsity girls basketball team will seek its fifth consecutive postseason appearance this winter.

"We have a smaller team this year, so we are running a new system," said Kate Horsmann, who is in her fifth year as head coach, having taken the Eagles to the postseason in her previous four seasons.

"It will be a huge transition for the girls. We will need to see what works and what doesn't work. Our goals this year are to play as a team and get into the tournament. Getting into the tournament will be the biggest thing for us."

The Eagles have lost three senior captains from a year ago in Liz Daley, Ally Vitkauskas and Ariel Somers. Daley was a two-time Hockomock League All-Star.

However, Sharon has a number of talented players returning this winter, led by senior captains Liz Wluka, Aly Handler and Steph Bartas.

Wluka, a forward, was a league all-star a year ago. Handler is a guard, while Bartas will play forward this season.

Seniors Franny Santiago (guard) and Julia Rotman (forward) will both be looking to make major contributions to the team this winter, as will junior guards Anne Fritzson and Melissa Mulvany. Sophomore guard Katie Lowerre is looking to play a key role as is freshmen guards Karlie O'Driscoll and Lily Abarbanel.

"The strength of our team this year will have to be defense," Horsmann said.

"Admittedly, we were not a good defensive team last year, but we will need to do a really good job on defense this year. We have a small team, so we will have to be scrappy. We really have to box out and keep people off the boards."

"We need to create offense from our defense. We will press and hope to create chaos. We have averaged about 65 points a game the last few years, but we will probably be down in the 40s this year. The lower the score of our games, the better it will be for us."

The last two seasons the Eagles have finished with a record of 13-8 and been eliminated in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional Tournament both years.

A year ago, the Eagles finished with a 13-7 record during the regular season. They entered the Division 2 South Sectional as the eighth seed, but dropped a heart-breaking 63-62 decision in overtime to ninth-seeded Bishop Feehan (14-8) in the first round at Sharon High. Daley completed her Eagle career with a 30-point effort in that game, while Wluka scored 12 points, including 10 combined in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Eagles also finished with a 13-7 mark during the regular season in 2008-09. They entered the Division 2 South Sectional as the 14^th seed, but dropped a 60-44 decision to third-seeded and host Medfield (21-2) in the first round.

Sharon placed fifth in an ultra competitive Hockomock League a year ago. On the way to winning the Division 2 state crown, Oliver Ames captured the league title with a 19-1 overall record and 15-1 league mark. Foxboro was second with a 17-3 overall record and 13-3 league mark, while Franklin was third at 15-7 overall and 11-5 in the league.

Mansfield was fourth at 14-8 overall and 10-6 in the league, while Sharon was fifth at 9-7 and North Attleboro was sixth at 11-9 overall and 8-8 in the league. To show the strength of the league, six of its nine members made the postseason a year ago.

This winter, the league will be split into two divisions.

Sharon will be a part of the Small School Division, called the Davenport Division, along with Oliver Ames, Foxboro, Canton and Stoughton. "Foxboro could be the best team in the league overall this year," said Horsmann. "Oliver Ames is still loaded. The Hockomock is a really tough league."

The Large School Division, called the Kelly-Rex Division, will consist of Franklin, Mansfield, North Attleboro, King Philip and newest league member Attleboro.

Sharon opens on Friday, hosting Attleboro at 6:30 p.m. After a week off, Sharon will entertain Canton on Friday Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. before hosting defending Division 2 state champion Oliver Ames on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

"This is a great group of kids who work really hard," Horsmann said.

"They really enjoy being with each other. They are learning so many new things right now and they are excited for the season to get started."