Dec 5, 2016 By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read

Lisa Fairman led her young Belle Vernon Area squad a year ago to a playoff spot for the fifth time in as many seasons, and if the team will make it six for six, she knows it won’t be easy and her girls will have to be “All In.”

“We are in a very competitive section,” Fairman said of Section 3-AAAA. “Our goals are to battle every game, finish on top, earn a berth to the playoffs and take it one game at a time.”

The other teams in the section are Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Keystone Oaks, Mount Pleasant, South Park, Southmoreland and Yough.

“Being in a new section, it is difficult to label who the favorites are,” Fairman said. “I feel that our team has to focus on what we can control on the court and play our game.

“We have to come at every opponent giving everything we have and to be the most competitive team on the court day in and day out.”

The Lady Leopards won a playoff game a year ago despite being young, and the team is still young as only two seniors will be in the eight-player rotation early on.

Seven returning players started multiple games last season, although Fairman is not ready to name a starting five.

“I am not sure of an actual starting lineup yet,” she said. “We have eight players battling for a starting role, but they will all play regardless if they start or not.”

Junior Kelsey Green (10.6 points per game) led the team in scoring, steals and assists as a sophomore and will be a player to watch in the section.

Other returning players who started last year were junior Caitlyn Trombley (8.6 PPG), senior Ashley Russell (7.3 PPG), junior Taylor Kovatch, junior Rylie Campbell, senior Caitlyn Szakal and junior Keira Boff.

Sophomore Lindsay Steeber will also see productive minutes.

When asked about team leaders, Fairman did not name anyone but had a unique answer.

“I think we have a team of leaders,” she said. “We don’t have a stand out on the court but instead we have a balanced team that plays well together, is unselfish and leads by example.”

For the team to get back to the playoffs, what do they have to do?

“We have to have team work, play strong defense every game and rebound,” Fairman said. “We have all of the tools for success now and we have to have consistency and play as a team.

“We have to play with heart, play together, and be ‘All In!'”

Belle Vernon opens its season at the Ambridge tournament.