Experienced Raider squad hopes for more success

The need to succeed!

It may just be the battle cry for the Tamaqua girls basketball team for the 2019-2020 season.

The Blue Raiders have had success in recent seasons, but there are still plenty of hurdles to overcome.

A clamoring for a Schuylkill Girls Basketball League championship is one item on the agenda. A District 11 crown is on the list as well. A way to get through the first round of the PIAA state playoffs is also a goal.

Tamaqua has four very skilled players — Emma Kuczynski, Emily Titus, Jen Fredrickson and Jamie Zuber — who will be the force behind the drive to accomplish those goals.

That quartet has been together since they were sipping milk bottles as toddlers — or so it seems.

“We’ve known each other for ages,” said Kuczynski.

“Yeah, we are familiar with each other since probably third grade,” added Titus.

Ask Fredrickson and Zuber, and they’d have a similar refrain.

But as tight as the Raiders’ bond is, and as outstanding as there talent is, reaching their goals won’t be easy.

That’s because the competition is as loaded as the Raiders. One need only to look at the defending SIAL champions Jim Thorpe — a team that returns four of five starters and a few newcomers that are expected to bolster its claim to the title.

But there is no fear of the competition. These Raiders know they have to take care of business and not worry about anyone else.

Fifth-year coach Erika Davis said this team is senior heavy with a lot of starts under their belts.

“This year we are focusing on finishing in big games,” Davis said.

Davis is looking to create more balance up and down the lineup so opponents can’t key on the talented Kuczynski, who has scored well over 1,000 career points and is also close to the grand mark in rebounds.

“We had a good summer season,” said Davis, who liked the fact that most of her players stayed busy in the fall as well.

“I like the fact that they play two sports,” Davis said. ”I’m a big fan of multi-sport athletes.”

Even though the go-to gal is Kuczynski, Davis said the need for balance is the key to success. So look for Titus, Fredrickson and Zuber to make that happen. And it’s not just about putting points up on the board, but defending and getting rebounds to start the transition game.

In addition to the aforementioned foursome, senior Baylee Reinhardt should be the fifth starter. Rebekah Hromyak, Emma Hope and McKenna Kane will all be key rotation pieces. Sophia Boyle, who is also expected to be a key contributor, will be out until January with an injury suffered during soccer season.

Kuczynski said the Raiders are ready to take the next step.

“We want to build off of last year,” she said. “We want to leave everything out on the court. We want to focus one game at a time ... go 1-0 every night we go out on that court.”

Titus agreed.

“We’re hoping for a big year,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of experience coming back and we want to be as good as we can possibly be this season. “

The only downer for Titus is that this will be the final run with her friends.

“After playing with these girls since elementary school, it’s sad that it’s coming to an end this year,” she said.

Titus, Kuczynski, Fredrickson, Zuber and the rest of the Raiders are hoping to make it a run to remember.