Wvc Seniors Enjoy Mixed Success In Indoor All-star Games

2 Men Hurt In Attack At W-b Group Home

By COLLEEN DEMPSTER; Times Leader Sports Correspondent
 Sunday, February 08, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 10 





HAZLETON- In a turnaround that can only be described as amazing, the Bishop
Hafey girls basketball team (9-4) stands in second place in Division III of
the Wyoming Valley Conference. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Lady Vikings, 2-14 in conference play only a year ago, were not
expected to break .500, much less earn a Class A playoff berth. However, in
defiance of all their critics, that's just what they did. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One person not surprised by the team's good fortune is first-year head
coach Adrienne Mangler. "I knew when I started that this team had a lot of
talent. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Each girl brought a different strength to the team," she said. "The
problem was, the girls needed to learn to put all that together and we had to
find a way to do that. If we did, I knew we would be successful." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Vikings trail only Seton Catholic (12-1) in Division III. Seton's lone
conference loss, incidentally, was to Hafey in the first half of the season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mangler said that her job was to find the combinations that clicked, most
important, a strong and unified starting five. She found that combination with
Michelle Dougherty, Melanie Isley, Randy Baran, Erica Kanzler and Melissa
Savage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before the season, the players became determined to defy the expectations
of people- including some at this newspaper- who predicted the team would have
a lackluster season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "When the girls read the basketball preview in The Times Leader, it really
inspired them," Mangler said. "The article said that we wouldn't reach .500
this year. It drove them, and they set out to prove something to themselves
and everybody else." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This Vikings team is young; its starters include only two seniors,
Dougherty and Isley, along with a junior and two sophomores. One of the top
reserves is a freshman. Usually, so much inexperience on a team signals it's
in a rebuilding season. Not for this team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There is a lot of leadership on this team," Mangler said. "The older
players really help the young ones, and the whole team is just so close and
respectful of each other's talents." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mangler talked about some of the younger, up-and-coming stars. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Erica Kanzler and Melissa Savage are sophomores, and both are aggressive,
strong defensive players," she said. "Melissa has also come a long way
offensively over the course of the season. Janelle Hopeck is only a freshman
but has earned a lot of playing time and now plays as much as any starter.
She's a real spark plug for our team." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The girls' preseason goal- of winning their division- is still in sight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Don't ever count them out," Mangler said. "They always give 110 percent,
and for th

Bishop Hafey Girls Turn Critics Into Believers 
Rebuilding Efforts Going Faster Than Expected For New Coach Adrienne Mangler, 
Who Has Lady Vikings Off To 9-4 Start

Bishop Hafey Girls Turn Critics Into Believers Rebuilding Efforts Going Faster Than Expected For New Coach Adrienne Mangler, Who Has Lady Vikings Off To 9-4 Start