By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Aaron Gilbert

16th year at Garfield (19th overall)

215-139 career at Garfield (256-168 overall)

THE TEAM

Coaching Staff: Taylor Smith, varsity assistant; Andy Cardinal, varsity assistant; Madison Hartung, junior varsity.

2021-22 Record: 19-7 overall; 11-3 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference; district champions.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Madeline Shirkey, sr.; Nora Trent, sr.; Maggie Fogel, sr.; Zoey May, jr.; Kali Tasker, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (4): Sarah Seaman, Jenna Smith, Sydney Seaman, Caitlin Lutz. 

SEASON OUTLOOK

The G-Men have won back-to-back district championships.

They lose key contributors from last year’s team, but head coach Aaron Gilbert and his program have been in this situation before.

Like few teams in the area, Gilbert’s program has been able to reload far more often then having to rebuild.

Offensively, expect the G-Men to try to play more uptempo than they have in recent years.

“We can still run our halfcourt sets, but we will try to get out in transition more this season,” Gilbert said.

The key to the season, according to Gilbert, will be the new group’s ability to develop team chemistry.

“We have a lot of new faces on the varsity team, and we need to jell to be successful,” Gilbert said.

GUARDS

Seniors Maggie Fogel and Zoey May are a pair of returning letterwinners in the backcourt.

“Maggie knows her role very well and provides depth at the position,” Gilbert said. “Zoey is a role player, who is a very capable scorer.”

Laura McCoy will also be a big part of the backcourt and Gilbert is hoping she has the ability to push the tempo with her ball-handling.

Freshman Mandy Cardinal will step into a contributing role right from the start.

She has the ability to be a game-changer for the G-Men on both offense and defense.

FORWARDS

Senior Madeline Shirkey is the undoubted leader in the frontcourt — and the team for that matter.

She is poised to have a big season and Gilbert calls her the “glue that holds the team together.”

Another key forward for the G-Men will be Kali Tasker, who is a “role player that understands the game and provides a spark off the bench,” according to Gilbert.

CENTERS

Both Nora Trent and Karleigh Clelland will be Garfield’s contributing post players this season.

“Nora can score inside and can affect things defensively. Karleigh is a capable scorer in the paint and is a defensive presence,” Gilbert said.

WHAT MAKES THIS YEAR’S TEAM SPECIAL

“This year’s team is unique because of so many new faces at different positions, but we are still a very athletic team,” Gilbert said.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Mandy Cardinal and Karleigh Clelland.

CAPTAINS SPOTLIGHT

“Madeline Shirkey is our leader on and off the court,” Gilbert said. “She is the voice in the locker room and her energy makes everything go.”

TEAM MOTTO

Do your job.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“Our team chemistry,” Gilbert said. “Just how quickly can we jell before we get deep into conference play will be the key to our successful season.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

Gilbert pointed to defending champion Liberty, along with Champion, Crestview and Brookfield as the teams to beat in the MVAC.