Back Mountain lady cagers moving up this season

The Dallas and Lake-Lehman girls basketball teams are moving up for the 2012-13 season.

Dallas moves from Division 2 to Division 1 in the realigned Wyoming Valley Conference. Lake-Lehman moves from WVC Division 3 to Division 2 and also bumps up an enrollment classification to join Dallas in Class AAA for Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 2 playoff competition.

Both teams will have key returning players leading the way as they try to continue success while competing on the higher levels.

Lake-Lehman won the Division 3 first-half title and lost only to all-season champion Nanticoke in WVC play during a 17-7 season, its first under coach Charlie Lavan.

We're in Triple-A, which will be a bit more challenging, Lavan said. We have a lot of tough Triple-A games. We'll find out right from the beginning with Scranton Prep (Friday) and Pittston Area (Saturday).

Dallas had winning records in each half, then reached the District 2 Class AAA semifinals before having its season end at 14-8 with a two-point loss to eventual champion Honesdale.

While Dallas returns its top three players among a large group of experienced players back, Lake-Lehman returns the two other all-stars behind team leader Nikki Sutliff, who graduated.

There are a number of combinations that we're looking at, Dallas coach Kelly Johnson said. I'm kind of excited about it right now because of the depth.

Seniors Ashley Dunbar, Tanner Englehart and Jess Hiscox all return to lead Dallas.

Dunbar runs the offense from the point guard position and also led the Lady Mountaineers in scoring last season.

Englehart provides an inside presence on a team that may rely on many guards, including Hiscox.

We have six guards who could all be a significant part of the rotation, Johnson said. Depending on our needs and our opponent, our lineup will be adjusted.

There will be games when it is three guards and two forwards. There might even be times when it is four guards and one forward.

Junior Sam Missal, a 3-point shooting threat, and sophomore Talia Szatkowski, who joined Dunbar in double figures in scoring in the season-ending loss, are part of the guard combination with Dunbar and Hiscox. Juniors Kaite Comitz and Taylor Kelley, who are among the 10 players with varsity experience, are the other guards.

Senior Rachel Olszewski and juniors Maggie Michael and Steph Cybulski are the other experienced forwards.

Dallas opens in the Wyoming Valley West Tournament Dec. 8 and 11.