Delco Girls Basketball Notebook: Christian Academy showing off its depth after injuries
MEDIA >> When The Christian Academy was beset by injuries earlier this season, coach Jason Wilt turned to his underclassmen to fill the void left by two senior captains.
There wasn’t a simple solution for Gracie Cryan and Carli Sitkowski’s absence. Cryan was the Crusaders’ leading scorer a season ago and on pace to score 1,000 career points.
TCA also recently lost senior guard Kaylah Robertston to injury, although she is expected to return. Cryan, Roberston and Sitkowski are the only three seniors on the team.
“Losing Gracie in the first game and Carli a little later in the season was difficult. Especially with Gracie, it’s been about learning how to play without her,” Wilt said. “Gracie kind of organized the floor … and it was tough figuring out early on what to do without her.”
Sophomore guard Lindsay Haseltine and junior forward Danay Cooks-Green helped keep the team moving the forward. When asked at practice
Monday which players have picked up the slack, Cooks-Green immediately pointed to Haseltine, a three-sport athlete with a knack for scoring.
“Gracie and Carli were the leaders our team, they were our captains,” said Haseltine, who is averaging better than 12.5 points per game. “We had to learn how the play without them, and we didn’t get a hang of it at first. We learned how to adapt, with a new team, and I think everyone really stepped up a lot.
“It’s been great coaching, too. Coach (Wilt) came to us and said that we have to step up and pull together. Everyone sort of put it on themselves to help.”
Haseltine returned to basketball after missing the majority of her freshman season with a broken ankle. With Cryan out of the picture, she has handled the starting point guard job with aplomb.
“It’s nice having Lindsay,” Wilt said. “She’s stepped up nicely as a point guard. It enables us to deal with full-court pressure because, without her, I’m sure every team would just full-court press us the whole time. She can handle that pressure.”
Cooks-Green averages just south of 10 points per game. She is a steady rebounder and defensive presence in the low post.
“It’s actually been going pretty well,” said Cooks-Green, a three-year starter for the Crusaders. “Another one of our juniors, Maddie (Dutton), she’s been great, too. We have a lot of people that are helping out.”
Wilt, a 2006 Christian Academy graduate, is in his sixth season coaching the Crusaders. While the team has succeeded every season under Wilt’s direction, he said this is the most talent and depth he’s coached since taking the helm.
“This is the deepest team we’ve had in years,” he said. “We started the year with 13 varsity players. A lot of girls have gotten some playing time, which is a good thing. It gives them more experience for the next few years.”
One player who has developed rapidly is freshman Grace Gormley, who has reached double figures in scoring in six of 16 games this season. Gormley and sophomore Zoey Zhang have been vital to TCA’s success.
“The bright spot that wasn’t expected is Grace Gormley,” Wilt said. “She’s so athletic, decently long, and is a problem for guards bringing the ball up. She’s starting to score more and more just by being aggressive, and realizing what she can do. It’s been good to have her kind of work her way in the starting lineup.”
The Christian Academy has excelled in its first season as a member of the PIAA. Next winter, the Crusaders, along with most other sports at the school, will join the Bicentennial League.
Playing as independents after years in the Tri-State Christian Conference, the Crusaders have goals of making the District One Class A playoffs. They are in the same class with traditional district powers Delco Christian, Faith Christian and Phil-Mont Christian, which is considered the favorite this year.
“It was cool because we were able to do it in soccer this year, too. We finished second for the championship,” Haseltine said. “We kind of want to make a name for ourselves, and show we’re not just the little Christian school. We want to not just get (to the district playoffs), but we want to win.”
With a 12-4 record, the Crusaders have done plenty of winning. And now they get to showcase what they can do on a broader stage come playoff time.
“I think it’s more exciting than to just have a league tournament,” Wilt said. “We’re hoping to be somewhere in the middle of the pack for districts, or if we finish the season strong, maybe a little higher. I was happy about the move and I know the kids are excited about it, too.”
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The District One power rankings have been kept under wraps all season. According to District-One.net, the first batch of rankings will be revealed Jan. 31.
But the Daily Times was able to get its hands on the official rankings — updated as of Jan. 23 — a week before they find their way on the district website.
In Class AAAA, North Penn holds the No. 1 spot. Among the Delco teams vying for playoff berths are Garnet Valley (No. 6), Springfield (No. 15), Penn Wood (No. 20), Haverford (No. 21), Radnor (No. 29) and Penncrest (No. 30). The top 32 teams qualify for the Class AAAA tournament.
In Class AAA, Sun Valley is No. 9 and Chichester is No. 12. The top 12 teams qualify.
In Class A, both Delco Christian (No. 3) and The Christian Academy (No. 4) are in good position to make the eight-team tournament.
To contact Matt Smith, email msmith@delcotimes.com or follow him on Twitter @DTMattSmith
MATT SMITH’S GIRLS BASKETBALL SUPER 7
(Records through Tuesday)
1. Cardinal O’Hara (13-2)
2. Notre Dame (13-3)
3. Episcopal Academy (9-6)
4. Penn Wood (12-5)
5. Springfield (13-4)
6. Garnet Valley (15-2)
7. Archbishop Carroll (9-7)
