By David Steinbacher
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 12/18/03)

The Bishop Ireton Girls basketball team is off to an excellent start this season. The Cardinals, coached by Marty Goodhart, currently weigh-in with an overall record of 4-2 in the early stages of the current basketball season.

"We return a good blend of veteran players. At the same time, we also have some very good first-year players," said Goodhart.

Starters for the "Cardinal and Gold" include sophomore point guard Becky Fernandes, senior shooting guard Claire Kugler, senior forwards Beth Dalmut and Allison Goodhart and senior center Clare Neller.

Key reserves include senior Kari Morrison, juniors Kristin Filler and Sheba Newman, sophomores Christina Franz, Shaniece Roseborough and Gwen Holdgreine, as well as freshman Chrissy Sborz. This year’s captains are Dalmut, Goodhart and Neller.

"Elizabeth (Beth) performs a lot of the intangibles. She works well with the other players. She’s a very good leader and it is not always by word of mouth," said the veteran coach.

"Allison brings a lot of experience. She has honed her skills fundamentally. She doesn’t score in great numbers, but she does a lot of things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Her leadership and rebounding are also very good.

"Clare transferred in last season. She is definitely our vocal leader on the team. All the younger players look up to her," said Goodhart.

In chronological order, Ireton dropped a tight game to Seton (Manassas) and then reeled off consecutive victories versus Episcopal (50-30), St. Catherine’s, Richmond (78-39), Holy Child, Md. (61-27) and Calvary Christian, Norfolk (77-12).

Most recently, the Lady Cardinals dropped a tight game on the road to Georgetown Visitation.

"We lost a couple of games that I really thought we could have won. I have been out sick for a while, so our ability to practice cohesively has not been what I would have preferred," said Goodhart.

Thus far, Fernandes, last seasons leading scorer as a freshman, has poured in 98 points in the six contests.

Sborz, off the bench, erupted for 20 and 22 points in game four and five. Dalmut has scored in double digits twice; Kugler, Morrison and Roseborough have scored in double digits once apiece.

Ireton will play in both the "Georgetown Visitation Tournament" (Dec. 18-20) and the "St. Pius X (Atlanta) Christmas Tournament" (late December) before starting WCAC play in January.

"We’re not that big in terms of size. We’re a better team than our record currently indicates. Our experience will be key. Hopefully we can get back on track," said Goodhart.

Ireton Boys Gain Experience

The Ireton Boys have an inexperienced team this season. The Cardinals, coached by Pete Hamer (eighth season), currently weigh-in with an overall record of 1-3 after graduating eight of 12 players off of last season’s varsity squad.

"We've got a young team. We’re going to have to get our big men involved in order to be successful this year," said the veteran coach.

Starters for the "Cardinal and Gold" include junior point guard Chad Wilson, senior shooting guard Will Viilo, junior and sophomore forwards Daeshawn Branch and Andy Burns respectively and junior post Buddy Buckner.

Key reserves include senior Mike Borges (injured during the soccer season), juniors Drew Gaskins, Zzantel Boxley, Brendan Fuller, Matt Wood and Brian McSween as well as sophomore Jon Kappeler. The captains are Viilo and Branch.

"Will has been working his tail off. He’s a bright kid. He has gotten more aggressive offensively. He’s a good shooter," said Hamer. "Daeshawn is our best returning player from last seasons senior-laden team. He’s physical and aggressive. He’s not at all afraid to take it to the basket."

Branch made some huge plays during the Cardinals first time ever victory against DeMatha last season.

In chronological order this season, Ireton has dropped games to St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, Episcopal and Flint Hill before winning impressively on Dec. 12 versus Calvary Christian, Norfolk (68-48).

"We played quite a bit better against Flint Hill and we played well against Calvary Christian," said Hamer.

Thus far, Wilson and Branch have poured in 62 and 43 points respectively in the four contests. In addition, Gaskins has scored at least seven points thrice; Buckner and Burns have scored at least seven points twice and Viilo has scored at least seven points once.

Ireton will compete in the St. Alban’s Holiday Tournament Dec. 20-22 as well as in the St. Pius X (Atlanta) Christmas Tournament in late December before starting WCAC play in January.

"We’ve got some athleticism on this team. We need to mature. We need to get our big men more involved. Our younger guys are getting better. The junior and sophomore classes will prove to be very good (before they graduate)," said Hamer.