Olympians’ memorable season not done yet

BETHLEHEM — It’s been a season of firsts for the Jim Thorpe girls basketball team. The 2018-19 season served as the Olympians first-ever undefeated regular season (22-0), their first-ever Schuylkill League championship appearance and title victory, and their first ever District 11 championship berth.

On Saturday, Thorpe (26-1) came up just short against perennial power Bethlehem Catholic in the Class 4A title game, but the time line of events leading up to the contest was full of historic moments.

Coming off a 6-16 season and graduating most of is experienced players, including all-time leading scorer Kayley Kovac, it was unclear if the talented freshman class joining the varsity ranks this season could instantly elevate Thorpe to competing for a postseason berth.

That question was answered early as the Olympians put everyone on notice with a 55-49 win over Division 1 favorite Tamaqua. Thorpe, anchored by its big three in freshman Skyler Searfoss (18.96 points per game), Leila Hurley (12.15) and Olivia Smela (11.7) were playing more like a team of seasoned veterans and sitting with a 9-0 record.

“I think we knew we could be good, but it became kind of real for us after we started playing so well against the teams in our division. The wins against Pottsville and Pine Grove early and then going to Tamaqua and getting that win, which no one expected us do, that’s when I think it became very real for us,” said head coach Rob Kovac. “The thing I was impressed with was our poise. A young team just never letting anything get to them.”

After the huge win at Tamaqua, the Olympians turned into the runaway freight train, staying on track and running through the competition. Thorpe’s closest game the rest of the regular season would be an eight-point win in its second match-up with the Raiders, but other than that it was all double digit wins for the Olympians.

In fact, Thorpe finished with an average winning margin of nearly 25 points during the regular season — an almost unheard of number for a Schuylkill League girl’s basketball team because of the overall competitiveness of the league.

The offensive firepower from the Olympians freshmen might have served as the material for most of their headlines this season, but it’s actually been their 1-3-1 team defense that has been the key to their success.

There’s no better proof of what the Olympians were able to do defensively this season than Saturday’s game with high-powered Becahi, holding it to just 16 points in the first half. On the season, Thorpe allowed just 32.7 points per game.

“We knew we could score, but one thing we didn’t have was a defensive identity. We tried a lot of different stuff early in the season with man and different zones, but one thing we just gradually improved with was the 1-3-1,” said Kovac.

“The girls then really bought in and committed to it. Now it’s just become instinctive to them and with our athletic ability we’re able to turn teams over and create a lot offense from our defense.”

Perhaps, the Olympians most special moments of the season came in the league playoffs. Thorpe handled District 4 1A champion Lourdes Regional in the semis and then in the championship game defeated District 11 2A champ Mahanoy Area to capture Schuylkill League gold.

The Olympians win against Mahanoy was maybe it’s most important win of the season because of how Thorpe won the game, highlighted by balancing scoring by the big three and key shots and defensive plays made by Thorpe’s role players — Natalia Richards, Kristin Scott and Leah Snisky.

“This team all year long has just been about buying in. To be a good role player you have to accept that role, you have to sacrifice and our girls have done that. Natalia Richards being a senior could’ve easily said she wants more shots or more plays run for her, but all she asks us is what she can do to make us better,” added Kovac.

“That’s what makes a good team great and that’s the kind of culture these girls want to build.”

Thorpe has proven it can play with some of the state’s top talent, defeating three teams that are currently ranked in the state in Weatherly, Lourdes Regional and Mahanoy Area and hanging with the No. 2 ranked team in 4A in Becahi.

It’s been a storybook season for the Olympians up to this point — and with the state playoffs ahead, it isn’t quite over yet.