Members of the Wyalusing Valley girls' basketball team were honored at the second annual banquet and awards ceremony at the high school on Friday, March 12. Receiving awards were, from left, Katrina English, Chavonne Potts, Val Amoroso, Jody Salsman, Tiffani Smalser, Lynette Dorman and Amanda Goodwin. Photo by Bob Hutchings.

Girls' Hoop Squad Feted

By Pete Hardenstine

Team members, coaches and parents celebrated a highly successful season and bid farewell to six seniors last Friday.

A large turnout enjoyed an evening of food, fun, joyful tears and fond memories at the second annual Girls’ Basketball Banquet at Wyalusing Valley High School.

The night, sponsored by the Hoopster Club, began with a catered dinner in the cafeteria before moving to the auditorium.

Karen Smalser, representing the club, introduced the varsity squad, who entered from the back of the auditorium in evening gowns and sneakers.

After a series of gag gifts was presented to some of the team parents, Vince Amoroso stepped in for junior varsity coach Brian Roehrig, who had to miss the affair because of a death in his family, to honor the junior varsity players.

Each player and manager received a small medallion commemorating a 20-3 season that included an undefeated league record.

Amoroso pointed out that Roehrig has compiled an 85-8 record as junior varsity coach.

The varsity, which had a 21-7 record, including a third-place finish in the Class AA District Four playoffs and a berth in the state tournament, received a framed photograph taken after receiving their district medals.

Awards were then presented to a number of the players.

Amanda Goodwin received the Most Improved and Most Spirited awards for the junior varsity squad which is voted on by the team.

For the varsity, senior Lynette Dorman was voted the Most Improved, while senior manager Tiffani Smalser was voted Most Spirited.

Smalser was also honored for her five-year tenure as a manager for the team.

In awards based on statistics, Val Amoroso received awards for Most Points (384), Most Steals (83) and Foul Shooting (69 percent).

Katrina English was honored for Most Blocks (24). Jody Salsman had the Most Rebounds (247). Chavonne Potts received Most Assist (79) honors.

In his remarks, varsity coach Bill Lutz focused on the character of the team and especially on the six seniors—five players and one manager.

“It doesn’t seem possible that (they) are sitting here all grown up,” he said of Val Amoroso, Salsman, English, Potts, Dorman and Tiffani Smalser.

“Thanks for all your contributions to the program and to the community.”

He reflected on the night when the NTL officials presented their sportsmanship award to Amoroso, Potts and Salsman and remembered that the referees observed that they had never given the award to three girls in the same school.

“There were some schools that had no representatives on the team,” he said proudly.

“Many times, shaking hands after the game, I heard, ‘You have a class team, coach.’”

He saluted the junior varsity team on their season.

“It was exciting watching them grow as a team. It’s amazing what old fashioned hard work will accomplish.”

As for his seniors, “it’s sad losing class people,” he said.

He then presented a letterman’s jacket to Tiffani Smalser, who tearfully accepted the reward for her years as manager.

Lutz also acknowledged the contributions of the Hoopster Club, the parents, his own family, especially his wife, Kathy, and Roehrig.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to do this,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to another great season, next year,” Lutz proclaimed.

A videotape put together by Robert Cook highlighting many of the games up to the awarding of the third-place district medals was shown.

Finally, the seniors were presented with Lady Rams umbrellas from the Hoopster Club.