Tyrone Lady Eagles look back on 2014-2015

After starting out 1-3, it wasn’t apparent that the Tyrone Lady Eagles basketball team would go on an incredible win streak and end their season with a 19-6 record.

The girls battled back after the slow starting season to go on a 16 game win streak which included many close games.

The Lady Eagles defeated Penns Valley three times in the season and became Mountain League Champions for the second year in a row.

They lost to rival Bellwood in the district semi-finals, and their season came to an end after losing to Westmont Hilltop in the district consolation game.

Despite the two losses at the end of the season, this was a very successful year for a very young team.  With only two graduating seniors, the future looks bright for the 2015-2016 Lady Eagles.

Before closing the book on the 2014-2015, we asked Coach Rhoades and all the girls on the team to answer a few questions about this season.

Here’s what they had to say:

Head Coach Luke Rhoades

Favorite game, and why: Any game we play hard and as a team is my favorite.

Favorite memory: Being 1-3 and finishing the regular season 18-4.

Biggest team accomplishment: Same as above

Message to the seniors: Good luck, work hard and don’t ever give up.

Goals for next season (underclassmen): Work hard and get stronger during the off-season.

Senior Amber Reese

Favorite game, and why: Central game when McGraw missed two wide open lay-ups.

Favorite memory: Amber Chamberlin riding the bus with us and becoming more of a team as the season went on.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Actually playing.

Future plans: Go to Penn State Altoona majoring in biology.

Senior Lindsey Kemp

Favorite game, and why: The away Penns Valley game because we won the Mountain League.

Favorite memory: Winning the Mountain League making it far in playoffs. Also the amazing back massages from Amber Chamberlin before games.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League and playing Bellwood again.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Becoming a leader on and off the court, and being a better post player.

Future plans: Attend Penn Tech and major in nursing.

Junior Marissa Sprankle

Favorite game, and why: Bellwood game because it was a big game and had so much energy.

Favorite memory: Celebrating winning the mountain League.

Biggest team accomplishment: Being 19-6 and winning the mountain league.

Biggest individual accomplishment: N/A

Goals for next season: Have a good off season and improve on everything.

Junior Madison Noll

Favorite game, and why: Game two verses Bellwood. Even though we didn’t win we gave them a good fight and we made a statement to everyone that we can play with them. The dawg pound and atmosphere were awesome.

Favorite memory: The bus rides and winning at Penns Valley.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League and being in the semis for districts.

Biggest individual accomplishment:  N/A

Goals for next season: Win the Mountain League, beat Bellwood, and win Districts.

Junior Amber Gill

Favorite game, and why: Penns Valley game at the end of the regular season because we won the Mountain League and we were so set on beating them.

Favorite memory: Sitting at Home Delivery Pizza after the Penns Valley game and watching Kasey open the sugar packets and eat them. After that Finnley took the packets and put them out of Kasey’s reach.

Biggest team accomplishment: Making it to playoffs and having a 19-6 record.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Coming closer with the team and not having any regrets.

Goals for next season: To get better and hopefully play at St. Francis for the District 6 Championship.

Junior Finnley Christine

Favorite game, and why: Central at their floor and the Penns Valley playoff games because they had huge atmospheres, and came out with wins.

Favorite memory: Walking onto the floor at Hollidaysburg for our game against Westmont and seeing such a big crowd supporting us.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League for the second year in a row. Beating Penns Valley 3 times in a season.

Biggest individual accomplishment: N/A

Goals for next season: Beat Bellwood, Mt. League trio, and make it further in the playoffs to win Districts.

Sophomore Alexis Cannistraci

Favorite game, and why: Bellwood because they’re good competition and it was an exciting atmosphere.

Favorite memory: The exciting atmospheres during the playoff games.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League.

Biggest individual accomplishment:  N/A

Goals for next season: win Districts.

Sophomore Kasey Engle

Favorite game, and why: Bellwood game in the playoffs because the atmosphere was great and I loved the intensity of the game.

Favorite memory: Celebrating our win after beating Penns Valley for the Mountain League Championship.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Being a part of this team.

Goals for next season: I think we have a real shot at winning a district championship. I want us to compete in states as well.

Sophomore Cherah Mountz

Favorite game, and why: Playoff game against Bellwood. We knew it was going to be tough but we kept our heads up and played our best game.

Favorite memory: Beating Penns Valley and becoming Mountain League Champions for the second year in a row.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League after having a slow start to the season.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Winning junior varsity games for the team.

Goals for next season: To get that District Championship win.

Sophomore Bobbi Jo Miller

Favorite game, and why: Penns Valley, because we became Mountain League champs!

Favorite memory: At the Central game when Mikaela Mcgraw missed both of her wide open layups.

Biggest team accomplishment: Becoming Mountain League champs.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Stepping up on the junior varsity team.

Goals for next season: Play some varsity time.

Freshman Tori Crabtree

Favorite game, and why: Penns Valley because we won the mountain League.

Favorite memory: Beating Penns Valley.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Getting stronger.

Goals for next season: Work to get better with ball handling skills, to be district champs, and to go to states.

Freshman Emily Lehman

Favorite game, and why: Penns Valley game, because we won the Mountain League championship.

Favorite memory: Being able to play a lot in the Mountain League Championship game, and being able to win it with the team.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League Championship.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Starting varsity and playing a lot in the varsity games.

Goals for next season: To improve individually and as a team. Also to make it to states.

Freshman Payton Wagner

Favorite game, and why: Playing Central because it was a really close game and they are a really big rival and it felt good to beat them.

Favorite memory: Winning the Mountain League and celebrating.

Biggest team accomplishment: Winning the Mountain League.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Starting a couple varsity games.

Goals for next season: To improve individually and also as a team.

Freshman Erin McKenna

Favorite game, and why: The home Bald Eagle game because both junior varsity and varsity won and it was senior night.

Favorite memory: When we beat Penns valley in 1^st round playoffs.

Biggest team accomplishment: Beating Central away.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Getting an “and 1” at the end of the junior varsity game to put us ahead.

Goals for next season: Work harder, improve my skills, get stronger, and get quicker.

Freshman Grace Gensimore

Favorite game, and why: Our second game against Central. We won by four and it was a huge nerve racking game. we played as a team to accomplish the win.

Favorite memory: The crazy bus rides home.

Biggest team accomplishment: Being Mountain League Champions by beating Penns Valley.

Biggest individual accomplishment: Scoring in a varsity game.

Goals for next season: Make it to states and win.