“I've never looked at the season from what we have accomplished,” said Retif “but instead to what is ahead.  I don't believe our players have looked at the year that way either, they are all pretty forward thinking individuals.”

Individuals indeed… As the saying goes “you are only as good as those you surround yourself with”.  Well for Retif, her surroundings have been pretty spectacular and like any great coach will tell you- each team they mentor is truly unique.

“We have depth on this team like no other team in the past.  Our starters Grasela, Lindahl, Oeth, Bolen and Polisano are tremendous, but having Starzecky, Naessens and Balzer come off the bench early allows a constant defensive, rebounding and shooting presence in our lineup.  For example, Alexa Naessens had 17 points and 10 rebounds the other day against PC, experience and depth gives us a one-two punch”

It’s that one-two punch according to Retif that comes from the top and filters down to the hardwood.

“Our greatest strength is in our captains' leadership,” said Retif. “Not only are they all three year starters, they complement a competitive will to win with maturity and trust.”

“Erin Lindahl has a full throttle motor that drives both our offense and defense.”

“At the point position, Kendall Grasela demonstrates poise under pressure, handles and distributes the ball with confidence and leadership.”

“Lauren (Oeth) is perhaps the most underrated post in the area.  Her defensive instincts and rebounding abilities has led our inside game for three years.”

“To complement our captains, Lilly Bolen brings guard and rebounding skills in her 5'11 frame scoring double digits in several games.”

“Sophomore Cat Polisano rounds out the starting lineup.  She is a gifted athlete who never takes a play off.  Her work ethic is just as important as the 9 points she is averaging a game,” said Retif.

“The Team” is made up of 5 seniors, 3 juniors, 5 sophomores and 7 freshmen. Retif explained that it is the veteran members that set the tone for the entire squad.

“Our five seniors, Maeve Connor, Erin Lindahl, Kendall Grasela, Lauren Oeth and Leena Kardacz are great people as well as exceptional basketball players,” said Retif.

“They create an inclusive environment where everyone is a part of the program.  Our JV and Varsity practice together and do a lot of the drills together.”

“When we were in Florida at the Naples Holiday Tournament, the JV had a game at 8 am against a local team.  The entire varsity was awake early and at the gym to support the underclassmen.  Our five seniors have set the tone for the year, and consistently raise the bar for our younger players,” said Retif.

So about that winning streak--when asked how she and her team handle that sort of pressure Retif more or less chuckled and said that it never crossed their minds.

“It isn't something anyone talks about,” said Retif.

“The five seniors established some team essentials at the beginning of the year, for example taking pride in our team defense and consistently bringing more energy to the court than our opponents. They expect one another to practice with intensity and play together as a team.  They are committed to making each other better and pushing through adversity with courage.... that is where the focus is now and has been all year”, said Retif.

So what’s the secret to those victories one after another…?

“Before the games we talk about personnel matchups and I usually quiz our starters about who they are guarding. We also discuss keys to victory,” said Retif.

“Coach (Maggie) Lucas and Coach (Joe) Magarity are the team motivators. They give good speeches before the games.”

“Recently, before a game, I said, “Okay, what is most important in today’s game… and one of our seniors quickly answered, “have fun!”.  It wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but it broke any nervousness and had everyone more relaxed.”

Oh, so that’s it…

The Patriots play this Friday at home against Agnes Irwin.