Ashley Hall Basketball Building for Better Future
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Charleston - The old adage of “learning to crawl before you can walk” certainly applies in many respects to building a successful athletic program. It certainly describes what the basketball program at Ashley Hall is working towards as they seek to become a competitive program in the SCISA ranks.
Wins have been hard to come by as Ashley Hall competes in a region that is considered among the most competitive in SCISA with First Baptist and Northwood Academy annually competing for state championships in the largest classification.
Bryan Bednar is in his first season as the varsity head coach and has worked to begin the rebuilding process with a large number of underclassmen. The Panthers finished last season with one win and the current team had not won a game as of Jan. 15, but has been competitive in several contests.
“The region is competitive and experienced at the top. The leading contenders are veteran teams with strong upperclassmen, physical play, and established systems,” reports Bednar. “They tend to execute well, defend consistently, and close games late, which separates them from younger programs.
“Overall, it’s a region where experience, depth, and discipline matter, and most contenders have been together for multiple seasons.”
Bednar has focused on development and gaining experience this season. He has seen improvement in those areas, as well as other aspects of competitive athletic teams.
“This team’s potential is in its growth and development,” he says. “With three juniors and two freshmen starting, we are a young group gaining valuable varsity experience. While the record isn’t where we want it, our focus is on improving fundamentals, competing harder, and building confidence and accountability.
“My expectation is that we get better each day, play with more consistency and effort, and lay the foundation for long-term success. This season is about learning, resilience, and setting the culture for the future.
Forming the starting lineup for most games are three juniors and two freshmen. The junior starters are guards Molly Mettler and Sally Rowson, and forward Catherine Perkins. Freshmen starters include point guard Camille Marier and forward Amelia Lennon.
Bednar says Marier, Mettler and Perkins are performing as the top leaders within the program. He counts on their leadership and experience as player to set the tone and bring the motivation to work and compete.
Seeing time off the bench this winter junior guards Mary Collins and Minka Tang; sophomore guard Erica Green, and freshman guard Adya Sharma.
