Lancer Girls basketball on the Rise

Things are moving in the right direction for the Livingston girls basketball team, which won more games last winter than it had in the previous two seasons combined.

Three seasons ago the girls went 3-21, two years ago they got to 6-16 and last spring was another step forward, as the girls finished up with a 10-13 mark and a first round exit in the North I Group 4 state sectional playoffs.

"I thought it was a good season. I've been on the team for a while and it was the best season that I've been a part of," said co-captain Brianna Padilla. "I was actually very proud of ourselves."

The  good news is that they only lost three seniors from last winter. The bad news is that they have not been left with a great deal of varsity experience. So although they have more seniors on this year's team than last, it doesn't make them a veteran squad.

"I think we have a very promising season ahead of us," said senior co-captain, Carly LaGrotta. "We have a lot of new younger girls, but we have a lot of new talent on the team and I think it's going to be a good season coming up."

The biggest senior loss was last year's co-captain, Ally Boni, who head coach Patty Kaes referred to as the glue on the court.

"She played the back of the one-three-one and was the leader and all that kind of stuff. She was pretty solid in that respect," Kaes said. "That being said, as far as scoring and stuff like that, we still have the scorers."

The key returning players for the Lancers are LaGrotta and , along with Sam Rothenberger, who made an instant impact as a freshmen a year ago. Senior Ece Cetinkaya will also assume a spot in the starting five. LaGrotta figures to be a perimeter threat for the Lancers, while Rothenberger will likely assume the lead scoring position.

"She's probably the most versatile of our players and she can score from anywhere," Kaes said of Rothenberger.

Another addition to the starting five is junior Katie Horiuchi, who will likely man the point guard position.

"She brings a lot to the table," Padilla said. "She starts the plays off she helps us all around, she's a very good shooter, she handles the ball well."

"She's going to be a good person up top to have handle the ball," LaGrotta said.

The strength of this Lancer team is going to be on the perimeter, with the team having a host of good shooters. The weakness may be in the post game and getting the ball down into the paint for higher percentage baskets, according to LaGrotta.

Livingston competes in the Super Essex Conference Independence Division, after moving down from the Colonial last season. It's difficult to say where Livingston fits in the conference with Newark Tech, Nutley and Arts High School to name a few, but the Lancers should enter as contenders to win it.

"I think our biggest obstacle this year is going be overcoming our first few games and figuring out how we all mesh, where everybody is going to play, what everybody is going to do," LaGrotta said.

Livingston's season gets rolling on Friday night at home against Newark Academy.