The home stretch

The Johnston girls basketball team entered the 2020 season with a new look.

Between a small roster and a new coach in Meghan Reall, the Panthers were unsure of how they would fare in the always-tough Division I group.

The Panthers have held their own, tipping their season off with a 4-4 record and remaining right in the playoff hunt as they enter the second half of their schedule.

Entering Wednesday, the Panthers dropped back to back games, but are still confident as they continue to work through the midseason grind.

“The girls are hungry. They’ve hit a bit of a rough patch in the schedule so it’s good to be busy and to try to get back into the win column. To be 4-4 is great, especially in Division I, but we’re not satisfied and we want to get better. That’s the attitude that they have which is good to see,” said Reall.

With a new feel this year, Reall has appreciated the leadership that her upperclassmen have demonstrated both on and off the court.

“The older girls have done a great job and they’ve been great to collaborate with. They’ve been receptive to the things I’ve wanted to implement both on the floor and off the floor,” said Reall. “Kaylin Zalewski has been great both skill-wise but also as a leader, she’s always willing to help the younger girls. Maddie Dannenfelser is a great verbal leader and keeps the girls motivated, Caroline Howe and Meg Philbrick have been great and get plenty of playing time. We’re small, so everyone has a role that they have to play and so far everyone is trying to play their part.”

Johnston has also had to step up in times of injury.

“Losing Emily Iannuccilli has been a tough loss since she would probably have been our starting point guard, but the younger players have done a good job of stepping up. Abby Clesas has been running the offense a little more, everyone has stepped up.”

The Panthers took on powerhouse La Salle on Wednesday evening, but the results were not available at press time.

Reall and company hope to play their best down the stretch and to make some noise as the postseason approaches.

“We have yet to play to our truest potential. I have seen it in spurts, but I feel like now is the perfect time to hit it,” said Reall. “We’re starting to figure out the pieces of the puzzle and I think if we hit our stride the girls will believe even more. We have the pieces and we have the potential, we just have to figure out what works best.”