The 2020 Triad girls varsity basketball team is pictured from left, front row, Ashtin Fauber, Cati LeVan, Abby Walls, Frani LeVan and Madi Cox; second row, head coach Erica Trainer, manager MaKenzie Trapp, Emma Ferguson, Hailey Snider, Cayla Eaton, Kaley Nott, managers Ali Cox and Joni Russell and coach Joe Cardinal. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Triad girls basketball team has bolstered its program this season with the addition of a junior varsity squad.
Head coach Erica Trainer wants to take full advantage of the uptick in players.
“We are very excited to be able to have a JV team this season,” she said.
The Lady Cardinals have not had a JV outfit for the past two seasons, but this year Trainer received a large injection to the program with nine incoming freshmen. The experience level is mixed for the newcomers.
“We have a large freshman class that includes some girls who have never played basketball before, so we do have some who are still learning the game,” Trainer said.
The coach hopes to be able to use the freshman class to give her varsity bench some depth and her starting five some rest during games.
“We have a nice solid starting five for our varsity, but we hope the freshmen can give us some quality minutes to give our starters some relief,” she said.
The Lady Cardinals have an experienced starting five returning this season.
The LeVan twins, Frani and Cati, are on track to tally their 1,000th-career points, while senior post player Abby Walls adds much-needed height to the lineup.
“The senior twin guards should lead us in scoring this season,” Trainer said. “They both worked hard in the off-season to be ready for the year.
“Abby Walls should be a force on the boards as she has come into her own this season.”
Filling out the starting five will be returning sophomores Madi Cox and Ashtin Fauber.
While the trio of the LeVans and Walls will provide offense to the Cardinals’ game, Trainer is focusing on the opposite end of the court to help pick up wins.
“We have spent a lot of time on defense,” Trainer said. “It is always our number one priority and the starting five is really starting to come together.”
In the early season, the defense has been paying off for the Lady Cardinals. Triad holds a 3-4 record and only gave up 22 points in its first two contests.
It is the type of start Trainer was looking for as they try to accomplish their goal this season.
“We have high expectations this year,” she said. “We want to be competitive within the league and have a successful season.”
But the Lady Cardinals will have a tough schedule within the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division.
“West Liberty and Mechanicsburg will be at the top of the North side and we are hoping to find ourselves in that mix,” Trainer said.
With the program consisting of 18 players, half of whom are new, the coach is trying to foster a family relationship with her new team.
The Lady Cardinals are looking to improve on their 4-19 record from last season.
“They really are a team, a family… that is what we call ourselves,” Trainer said.
Triad’s girls junior varsity basketball team is pictured from left, front row, Bethany Hines, Lia LeMay, Cayla Eaton, Hailey Snider, Kaley Nott, Emma Ferguson, Cami Allison and Emma Orahood; second row, head coach Erica Trainer, manager MaKenzie Trapp, Cylie Nott, Kaitlyn Gregg, Jalynn Smith, Deanna Hines, managers Ali Cox and Joni Russell and coach Joe Cardinal. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)