The week of Nov. 21 began one of the most anticipated times of the school year: the opening of the girl’s basketball season. In the three day span before the Thanksgiving holiday, teams began their preparation for what they hope to be the beginning of a long, winning season, hopefully ending with the coveted Tournament of Champions (TOC) Championship.

For last year’s crowned TOC Champions, the Saint John Vianney High School Lady Lancers, the start of this basketball season comes with a lot of anticipation and high hopes. Coming off of their amazing 2016 season-- winning the Shore Conference, the Non-Public A State Championship, and topping it off with the TOC crown-- this Lancers team, having graduated 7 seniors last year, is in a season of rebuilding.

This year’s returning varsity seniors, Abby Anderko (the Catholic University of America), Courtney Dobrzynski (University of Hartford), Kimi Evans (Seton Hall University), Riley Kehoe (Dominican College), and Julia Ramos (Drew University), all have to step up and fill big shoes that were vacated by last years graduating class.

“I am very excited about this year,” said Kehoe, a senior guard. “It is a new team full of amazing girls, and we are going to shock everyone with how good we will be.”

For some members of this senior class, this is their year to go out and show the shore, as well as the state of  New Jersey, their abilities and heart that give them their fighting edge.

In this year of rebuilding, Coach Karpell has high hopes for her team. Just as every year, the team’s goals are to reach the long post-season run into the Shore Conference Championship, State Tournament, and TOC Tournament. These goals, a constant reminder to the team, assist in their mental preparation and anticipation for the season.

When speaking to her team, Karpell mentioned their versatility and the depths of their abilities. “Last year, our players had set spots, shooter, post, defender, point guard, but this year, we have people who can play all positions.”

As a team, their goal is to build momentum and showcase the beginnings of their talent in the Mount St. Dominic Christmas Tournament in Caldwell, NJ. This tournament is one of the beginning markers for the season and gives the Lady Lancers a chance to showcase that they are still a threat and ready to ruffle some feathers.

The Lancers play a highly competitive schedule, both in conference and outside scheduled games.This year, besides for the highly anticipated head-off against other conference powerhouse Rumson-Fair Haven High School, the Lancers will be facing off against Christ the King (Middlevillage, NY), Rancocas Valley Regional High School (Mt. Holly, NJ),  Archbishop Wood High School (Warminster, PA), and Long Island Lutheran High School out of Long Island, NY.  

    Good Luck to our Lady Lancers in their upcoming season!