PSAL 2013 basketball preview

Bronx Science

The Bronx Science varsity girls basketball team will look to stay relevant in the Bronx A division after losing three senior starters from last year’s team.  

Coach Mike Mei said he recognizes that this is a rebuilding year, despite a 12-4 record last season and advancing to the second round of the PSAL playoffs.  

Mei said an influx of young talent combined with the return of last year’s leading scorer, Michelle Liu, who averaged 12.5 points and five rebounds last year, should help the team compete in the division with a chance to return to the playoffs for a second straight year.  

Mei said Liu junior forwards Selina Lim and Eloise Kaehny provide support to Liu. The three are expected to carry the scoring load while the younger players develop.  

Mei said keeping with tradition at Bronx Science, the team will rely on its defense to keep them in games and use it to generate transition opportunities and easy baskets.   

Mei said the tough Wolverine defense figures to keep them competitive in all games.

JFK Campus 

W

hile boys basketball coach Johnny Mathis is an institution at John F. Kennedy (JFK), Michelle Pacheco is in her first year as coach of the lady Knights.

 “This is my first year coaching these girls and I am still getting to know them but the girls are working hard and seem very dedicated,” Pacheco said. “The girls have to get used to the new system quickly and with new players coming up from JV and new freshmen players playing on varsity the girls also have to get used to playing with each other and building chemistry.” 

Pacheco said she counts on 6-foot-1-inch senior captain Treanda Foster to lead. “She’s having a great preseason and doing everything that a leader should,” Pacheco said. “It is her last year and she is going to give it her all and is making sure the team will too.” 

Meanwhile, Pacheco said 6-foot-2-inch sophomore Arta Krasniqi is the team’s most versatile player and prolific scorer.