Dec 1, 2017 By Bill Hughes for The 2 min read

Last season, Belle Vernon missed the playoffs for the first time in Lisa Fairman’s six seasons.

Now in her seventh campaign, she says her senior-laden team is using the postseason exclusion as fuel.

“Our first goal is to get back to the playoffs,” she said. “Not making it last year has motivated us to get back there and has made the girls work even harder and be hungrier for it.”

Belle Vernon has five returning seniors who have started in the past, and while all five will start games, they probably won’t all start every game.

“Whenever you have a group of seniors like we have who have played together for years that are good student-athletes, we are setting the bar high and they have dreams,” Fairman said. “We don’t have any prima donna’s or superstars.

“They are all contributing every night and we have to have that every night on the court.”

The five seniors include guards Keira Boff, Kelsey Green, Taylor Kovatch and Caitlyn Trombley as well as forward Rylie Campbell.

Two underclassmen that Fairman pointed out were junior guard Lindsay Steeber and 6-foot-2 freshman center Grace Henderson, both who will see plenty of time and more than likely start some games.

Fairman said the experience that her team has gained cannot be overlooked and that it is one of several keys.

“Having five seniors with experience, you can’t teach that,” she said. “Playing together as a team on the court is another key.

“They are playing really well, sharing the ball, and hustling up and down the court. We are in sync and on the same page.”

Fairman said the seniors are fully aware that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting much bigger.

“The seniors know that this is it, we want to win and the girls are going to play with a lot of energy,” she said. “This is a special group.

“They have an internal flame to go get the job done.”

Belle Vernon opens up in the McKeesport Tip-off Tournament with an opponent to be determined.