Fairview girls making WSC waves
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Jan. 9, 2008

Newcomers like junior Jen Murtha have helped the Warriors become one of the elite basketball squads in the West Shore Conference. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

When you talk of girls basketball powerhouses in the West Shore Conference, both Bay and Rocky River come to mind.

Well, there’s another team you can add to the list: Fairview. Under the guidance of Jessica Tafe, now in her fifth year at the helm, the Warriors are making waves this season.

“We have had a couple of games that I thought we played real well both mentally and physically, and a few more games where we played pretty well with only a few breakdowns,” said Tafe. “7-3 is a decent start and one we will continue to build on.”

Tafe was quick to add with a smile that she is positive the team can play better basketball for 32 minutes, meaning the next month or so could get interesting in the WSC, possibly starting this weekend, when the upstart Warriors play undefeated River in a key matchup.

The Warriors did lose a key player in Shannon Laughlin to graduation, but the cupboard, obviously, is far from bare.

Leading the way this season has been Brady Lorek, a 5’9 senior forward. Thus far, she has been the Warriors’ leading scorer with 12.5 ppg, and also averages 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 1.6 blocks, and two assists per contest.

Lorek has some great help when it comes to putting digits on the board, not to mention some good height, as Molly Troxell, a 5’10 post, is the second leading scorer, averaging 11.2 ppg, along with seven rebounds each contest.

Megan Wolansky, a 5’6 guard who is also a senior, is averaging 8.8 pts, three reb, and two steals, while April Homolak, also a senior 5’7 guard, has been consistent, putting in 7.3 pts while averaging 5.6 rebounds and two steals. Rounding out the Fairview attack is Molly Hardesty, at  5’5 guard- 3 pts, 2 steals, who is also a senior, along with junior Kathryn Schaefer- 5’7 pg-  4.5 pts, three assists, and three steals.

“We return four starters,” said Tafe, “and also two more who played a good portion of varsity minutes last year and a nice group of players who have put a lot of off season effort into basketball.

“They are a great group of young ladies, and I am happy to be a part of our team. There aren’t many of them; however, they certainly want to stay on the floor and battle.”

If there is a weakness, it’s the fact they don’t have the numbers that both Bay and River possess, but newcomers Daryn Herman and Jen Murtha have also provided some key playing time at the varsity level thus far.

As to the biggest change from last year, Tafe said it’s simple.

“We have a little more experience in our upperclassmen,” she said. “Plus a few more wins under our belt and the capability to win more games.”

Although River stands alone at the top of the WSC, Tafe says she believes in her team and feels they have as good a chance as anyone else at winning the conference crown.

“Certainly we do,” Tafe said with a smile. “That is why you play the games. It will take nine more wins on our part and some losses by a couple of other teams.”