By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

Head Coach: Carl Singer, 11th year, 147-98 career record.

Coaching Staff: Ira Campbell, Bryan Bedford, Kevin Kukla, Scott Clark.

2024-25 Record: 23-5 overall, 14-0 Metro Athletic Conference, Division IV regional finalist.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Carlee Bedford, sr.; Olivia Johnson-Wilson, sr.; Ava Bodovetz, sr.; Claire Campbell, sr.; Kendall Epple, sr.; Carman Marcini, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Naomi Benson, Sydney Abbuhl, Raegan Hendon.

League: Metro Athletic Conference.

TEAM OUTLOOK

“Our offensive philosophy has always been to try and play in transition as much as we can and use our athleticism,” head coach Carl Singer said. “Defensively, we know that we will need to be more aggressive this year to create turnovers and turn defense into offense.”

WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON IF…

“Everybody needs to step up. We do not have the varsity experience we have had the last couple of years and every player on our team will need to do more than they did last year.”

GUARDS

Olivia Johnson-Wilson returns for her third season as a starter and provides a strong veteran presence to the backcourt. She averaged 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.8 steals last year as a strong all-around player.

“Liv is the engine that makes our team run. We rely on her to make plays in transition and settle us down when we need to get into our offense. She is a great defender who can pressure the ball and get in passing lanes.”

Senior Claire Campbell will jump into a varsity role this season. She can hit shots fro the outside and handles the ball well in the open court.

“She is one of our players who has a very good basketball IQ, making sure she is in the right place at the right time.”

Senior Kendall Epple will also push into a varsity role and brings “great athleticism to the wing position,” according to Singer.

“She can attack the basket and run the floor. She has enough size to guard bigger guards on the perimeter and works really hard on the defensive end.”

Junior Carman Marcini is one of the fastest players Singer has coached, which makes her great in the open court. She is also a strong defensive player.

Ma’Ryah McIntosh, a freshman, is skilled and ready to make an immediate impact.

“We are really excited to see what Ma’Ryah can do on the court this year. She brings an impressive combination of athleticism and size. What sets her apart is that she also brings a lot of skill and playmaking ability for such a young player. Her potential is through the roof, and we will be asking her to do a lot for us this season.”

FORWARDS

The frontcourt is solidified by senior Carlee Bedford, who is a three-year starter and averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She also connected on a team-high 47 free throws and 30 3-pointers last year.

“Carlee is one of the best basketball players in the area. Her size and skill make her so hard to guard. She can post up to score, attack the rim and hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. She has also always been great on the defensive end, shutting down the other team’s best player many times.”

Senior Ava Bodovetz moved into a starting role last year and provided a strong all-around game (4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.8 spg).

“Ava brings a toughness to the court that is hard to match and while many would consider her an undersized forward, she makes up for it by outworking others. She has improved her shooting from last season, and we will ask her to be big on the boards for us.”

Juniors Ava Scisciani and Sara Koyan will step into larger roles this season for the Rockets and add depth in the frontcourt.

“We are excited to see what Ava can bring to the team this year with more opportunities. She has some really good footwork in the post and knows how to create good looks. Sarah is athletic and long, which are attributes that a lot of great defenders have.”

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Ma’Ryah McIntosh, fresh.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We have had a lot of longtime varsity players graduate the last couple of years, so we have a lot less experience than we are used to. We have a lot of girls who are ready for their opportunity so now they just need the game reps.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

Singer believes his Rockets can compete for the league title alongside Norton and Cloverleaf.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Rockets’ 147 wins over the last decade make up 40 percent of the program’s all-time career wins (368).