Bethlehem Eagles
2019-2020 Record – 11-20
Last season, the Eagles struggled to maintain consistancy, but an 11-win season was better than the 8-20 record the previous season. Still, new head coach Jordan Cooper-Livers will try to build off last year’s improvement after taking over for Mike Deaton. The problem is replacing four of the team’s top five scorers in Lain Peake, Kruse Harnad, Zach Weston and Caleb Zerkuhlen. Peake was the leading scorer on the Eagles and led the team in made three’s. Harned was second and was the top rebounder on the team while Ryan Mattingly was second in rebounds and sixth in scoring.
Cooper-Livers does have Camden Porter returning and the junior scored 147-points last season, while Xavier Cheek will get more time on the court now that football is finished. Sophomore Zane Wickliffe will see significant minutes and the Eagles and will probably be the backup point guard, while several transfers will be integrated this season as well.
The Eagles will open up against Washington County January 5th on the road.
Bethlehem Banshees
2019-2020 Record – 31-4
Riding the high of the team’s first 5th Region Championship in recent history, the Banshee basketball team came back locked, loaded and aimed at the heart of the Region Tournament and until a tough loss to Elizabethtown in the final, it looked like their mission was accomplished. Despite struggling from the three point line and playing probably the worst first half all season, they still found themselves within five points of the lead with a little less than two minutes remaining before the roof finally caved in. Still, coming off the two most successful seasons in team history, the expectations are just as high this season with preseason prognosticators predicting another Region Run and maybe even more.
Head coach Jason Clark returns two of the best one-two offensive punches in the Region (not to mention the state) in senior guard Ameila Hodges and senior forward Ella Thompson. Hodges was second on the team in scoring and was the top three point shooter on the team. Thompson is very verstile and led the team in points scored while leading the team in rebounding. Meanwhile with Baeli Young graduated, junior guard Kasey Spalding will get more opportunities to score (she was fourth on the Banshees in points scored) and freshman Carlie Thurmond will get more playing time at guard as well. Last season, Emma Filiatreau used her height to haul in rebounds and develop a defensive prescence and this season the sophomore will get plenty of playing time. Transfer Xavier Smalley should help give the Banshees a twin towers look by seasons end.
The Banshees won’t surprise anyone, this season and with a schedule loaded with Bowling Green, Sacred Heart, Anderson County, Butler and DuPont Manuel they will be tested by the time the playoffs start in March.
