Thon Dance Event Sets A Record

Tigers Alive For Division Crown

Barber, Waleski provided much needed balance to Lady Patriots offense



 

 
Freshmen Allie Barber and Liz Waleski have given the Pittston Area girls&rsquo; basketball team what they were missing a season ago.
 
 photo by charlotte bartizek 
 

At just a glance of the Pittston Area box scores this season, it could easily be determined that standout upperclassmen Mia Hopkins and Grace O&rsquo;Neill are the pistons that drive the Lady Patriots engine.
But a closer look shows that it has been freshmen starters Allie Barber and Liz Waleski that have provided the missing spark the team needed coming off a disappointing 2010-2011 season.
Although Hopkins and O&rsquo;Neill put up the same numbers a year ago as they are this season, Kathy Healey&rsquo;s team wasn&rsquo;t where they wanted it to be last year. They lacked additional punch on scoring.
This year, on the other hand, the addition of Barber and Waleski has improved the team greatly. 
&ldquo;(Allie and Liz) can score at any time. We needed that,&rdquo; said Healey in her third season at Pittston Area.
Healey said that each girl brings something different to the team. Waleski is not flashy but she is very smart, she handles the ball well, and she does the little things that count while Barber is quick and she is an intense defender. 
&ldquo;Liz knows the game well and she plays with a lot of heart,&rdquo; said Healey. &ldquo;Allie is an in-your-face defender.&rdquo;
Barber says her strengths are dribbling and driving on people. Waleski says it is her shooting and taking care of the ball that stands out with her. 
Both girls have definitely had an impact on this year&rsquo;s team. Barber says the team just meshes this year and they all have confidence in each other. 
&ldquo;I think our experience and knowledge of basketball helps the team this year,&rdquo; said Barber who was averaging 7.5 points per game heading into the season-finale against cross-river rival Wyoming Area.
 
As first-year players at the varsity level, it would have been natural to think there would have been an adjustment period for the duo. That has not been the case though.
&ldquo;(The adjustment) has been pretty good. I knew Grace and Mia my entire life and they made it easy on me,&rdquo; said Waleski, who along with Barber has started every game for the Lady Patriots this season. &ldquo;Doing summer leagues helps get ready for the season. I&rsquo;m only a freshman so I still have a lot to learn.&rdquo; 
One thing that has helped out the freshmen girls has been the support their team has offered them. Both girls have said their teammates have always been willing to help them and they are there for them whenever they need them.
&ldquo;The older girls have definitely taken them under their wing. Everyone has embraced them,&rdquo; said Healey.
Barber and Waleski both have fathers that are varsity coaches which may be a big reason for their success this season. Each of their fathers brings them different aspects to help improve their game.
&ldquo;My dad has helped me by telling me the little things I do wrong and just how to get better,&rdquo; said Waleski, who&rsquo;s father Stan a former boys&rsquo; varsity coach at Pittston Area.
&ldquo;When I have an issue, he always knows how to calm me down,&rdquo; said Barber, whose dad Steve is the wrestling coach at Valley West. &ldquo;He always has good advice and he&rsquo;s good at motivating.&rdquo;
With Allie and Liz complimenting Pittston Area&rsquo;s top players, it is easy to see why the team has been at the top of their game this season.

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