Dialog reporter
and Jason Winchell
For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – After finishing the 2014-15 season at 14-8, including a win in the state tournament, Padua starts its new season tonight with a new approach. The Pandas, under second-year coach Emily Grugan, will be a smaller, faster team after losing most of their height to graduation.
“We graduated a lot of height,” Grugan said at a recent practice. “We’re looking to be faster and get up and down the court, score more in transition.”
“Defensively, we may be undersized at times, so we have to work that much harder and just play smarter, better defense. That’s what we’ve been working on. And to build a program of good defense.”
The three returning starters are seniors Gabby Julian, Mackenzie Scully and Meg Mallon. Grugan said she is looking for junior Liv Craig and sophomores Camryn Scully and Bella Julian to step up. The Pandas also have one freshman on the varsity roster, Haley Scott, whom they are very excited about.
Mallon, the point guard of the present, said Craig is quiet but will make noise with her shooting, and Scott is the point guard of the future. The Pandas spent a lot of time working on their conditioning over the summer trying to get prepared for the transition game they will employ.
“We’re not that big this year, but I don’t think that’s going to stop us from getting rebounds and pushing up the floor. We’re a pretty good shooting team,” Mallon said.
The season begins tonight at 7 p.m. against Archbishop Prendergast (Pa.), which sent four starters from last year’s team to Division I college programs. A tough slate also includes Virginia’s Bishop Ireton this weekend at the She Got Game Tournament in Washington, D.C., and nonconference games against Sanford, Caravel and Concord, in addition to the tough Catholic Conference. Grugan said she wants her girls used to playing as tough a schedule as possible in order to be in the best position come tournament time.
Mallon said the Pandas will be a good test for their opponents. “Hopefully, we’ll make it to the Bob this year.”
Schedule (Home games in CAPS)
Wednesday 12/9/15 ARCHBISHOP PRENDERGAST (Pa.) 7 pm
Saturday 12/12/15 vs Bishop Ireton (Va.) @ St. John’s ( D.C.) 11:30 am She Got Game Tournament
Tuesday 12/15/15 TATNALL 7:15 pm
Thursday 12/17/15 @ Ursuline 7:30 pm
Saturday 12/19/15 @ The Hun School (N.J.) noon
Monday 12/28/15 vs Central Bucks East (Pa.) 2:15 pm Diamond State Classic
Tuesday 12/29/15 vs TBA 7 or 8:30 pm Diamond State Classic
Thursday 1/7/16 ST. MARK’S 7:15 pm
Saturday 1/9/16 @ St. Elizabeth 1:45 pm
Friday 1/15/16 NEWARK CHARTER 5:15 pm
Friday 1/22/16 @ Sanford 7 pm
Monday 1/25/16 @ Archmere 6:15 pm
Tuesday 1/26/16 CONRAD 7:15 pm
Friday 1/29/16 @ Concord 5:15 pm
Tuesday 2/2/16 URSULINE 7:30 pm
Saturday 2/6/16 DELAWARE MILITARY ACADEMY 2 pm
Tuesday 2/9/16 @ St. Mark’s 7:30 pm
Wednesday 2/17/16 CARAVEL 7:15 pm
Saturday 2/20/16 ST. ELIZABETH 1:45 pm
