Southern Lehigh girls basketball will surely be the team to watch this winter, just as they were last season when their 27-2 record brought them to a Colonial League title as well as a District XI AAA championship.

The 2015-16 team managed to register a record-shattering season with a team of young, inexperienced players. Unfortunately for the opponents of Southern Lehigh, four out of the five starters, as well as two crucial bench players, are returning to this year’s team.

Last season was full of numerous broken records and countless blowout wins. In fact, Southern Lehigh put together a school record 27-game winning streak, in which the average win margin was an astounding 24 points. The victories included a nearly 50-point rout of Pen Argyl, as well as a landslide win in both district playoff games against Central Catholic and Bethlehem Catholic.

However, much of last year’s triumph can be credited to the all-Colonial League first team forward Sydney Cyr who graduated along with her counterpart Breanna Mobley. These two losses leave a large gap in the Spartans’ lineup. However, most of the current team is confident in the ability of this year’s seniors to fill the void in the starting five.

“I think Sydney was a large factor in our success,” sophomore guard Olivia Snyder said, “But I think that someone else will step up as a leader and help us.”

Snyder is a returning starter who played a major role for the team in her freshman year. She was the primary producer of the offense, leading the team in scoring with 383 points. As well as smashing the record for most scored by a freshman, Snyder earned second team all-Colonial League Honors.

Synder is not alone. Fellow sophomore Ellie Cassel will return to the lineup as the team’s third-leading scorer last season, along with first team all-Colonial League guard Amanda Mobley, younger sister of Breanna Mobley. These three underclassmen will be key in determining whether the Spartans can make a run deep into the state playoffs. All three held starting positions last year, and will be depended upon to keep an explosive Southern Lehigh offense operating smoothly.

“I think we are set up to have another successful season,” Cassel said. “We have a lot of good returning players but people have to step up if we want to win.”

As far as expectations for the new season, everyone shares the same mindset.

“I want to win leagues and districts, and hopefully make a run in the state tournament,” said Mobley.

High school social studies teacher Mr. Matt Cooper enters his third season as the varsity head coach. He doesn’t believe the team will be phased by the graduation of last year’s senior class.

“It’s always hard to lose valuable seniors, but the girls are a strong group and they’ve worked hard,” Mr. Cooper said. “It’s a new team and a new year; they’ll do well.”

Much of the team’s previous success can be credited to the chemistry the girls have built together, often referring to each other as a family. Many of them have been playing on the same team since elementary school.  

“The best part is playing with my best friends,” senior Jenna Cyr said. “We get along very well on and off the court so I’m looking forward to a great season,”

Cyr, the younger sister of graduated player Sydney Cyr, will also be depended on to carry a sizeable workload on both the offensive and defensive end for the Spartans.

High expectations have been set for the Southern Lehigh girls basketball team. If the Spartans are able to handle the loss of the skillful senior class, they will be sure to maintain their rank as the best girls basketball team in the Lehigh Valley.