Feb 19, 2007 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

The Jefferson-Morgan girls basketball program has made huge strides over the last four years. The Lady Rockets could muster only one victory three years ago, but improved to 7-16 the next season.

Last year J-M went 6-18 overall and 6-6 in Section 2-A to finish fourth and qualify for the WPIAL playoffs. Jefferson-Morgan lost to Quigley in a preliminary-round game, 55-44.

This year, under first-year coach Larry Kraft, the Lady Rockets put together a winning record in the regular season for the first time in several years at 12-11. They were 6-4 in the section to tie for third place.

That earned J-M the No. 14 seed in this year’s playoffs. The Lady Rockets have a tough task ahead of them in No. 3 Avonworth, a perennial power. The two will meet at Woodland Hills High School today at 6:30 p.m.

The best season Jefferson-Morgan has fashioned in years didn’t come easy.

“We had to fight through some injuries and a couple girls got suspended, but the kids fought through all that,” said Kraft, was took over the head coaching job after serving as an assistant coach last year. “Rachel Weaver was coming off a surgery when the season began and missed some time, and Ashley Phillips, fractured a bone and was out about four or five games.

“The kids were always there to pick each other up, though. We had a good season, and most of that was because of our five seniors. They have a lot of pride and they’ve come a long way.”

Weaver heads that group of seniors, which also includes Lindsay Olson, Sarah Olson, Maddie Snyder and Colletta Cermak.

Phillips is a junior point guard.

Kraft believes his team will be better prepared for a post-season game this year.

“Last year we hadn’t been in the playoffs so long, the girls had like the deer-in-headlights look,” Kraft said. “I don’t think they’ll be so nervous this time around. We didn’t finish the season real well (three losses in their last four games), but we had a good week of practice, so I think we’ll be ready.

“We realize what we’re facing. Avonworth only lost three games all year and one was to Mount Alvernia and the other two were to (top-seeded) North Catholic. They’re big and fast and they play good defense, so we have a rough road to go.”

Here’s a breakdown of today’s game:

Jefferson-Morgan vs. Avonworth

Scenario: Class A girls, first-round game.

Nicknames: Jefferson-Morgan Lady Rockets; Avonworth Lady Antelopes.

Coaches: Jefferson-Morgan, Larry Kraft; Avonworth, Bob Schulz.

Site and time: Woodland Hills High School, 6:30 p.m.

Seeds: Jefferson-Morgan is No. 14; Avonworth is No. 3.

Records: Jefferson-Morgan is 12-11; Avonworth is 20-3.

Section: Jefferson-Morgan was 6-4 and tied for third in Section 2; Avonworth was 9-3 and finished second in Section 4.

Non-section records: Jefferson-Morgan was 6-7; Avonworth was 11-0.

Scoring averages: Jefferson-Morgan, 44.0 offense, 42.8 defense; Avonworth, 58.1 offense, 30.7 defense.

Common opponents: None.

Next up: Winner advances to quarterfinals to play No. 6 Quigley at a date, site and time to be determined. Quigley defeated No. 11 Duquesne, 48-44, on Friday at South Fayette High School.