Note: In the week ahead, the Mercury will finish its preview of all 12 Pioneer Athletic Conference girls basketball programs now that the 2025-26 season has arrived. Next up is Pottsgrove, which won nine games last year with the youngest roster in the league. 

While Pottsgrove came up just short in its quest for a postseason berth last winter, the Falcons arguably overachieved more than any other program in the PAC.

The team led the league in minutes played for underclassmen, with 12 of its 15 players either freshmen or sophomores. The Falcons did have a pair of senior captains in Ava Leaman and Aleah Rockmore to lead the youth movement, but virtually everyone else was tossed into the deep end without a life preserver and told to sink or swim.

The Falcons mostly kicked their way to the surface, finishing the season with a 9-13 overall record, including a 7-3 mark against PAC Frontier opponents. Pottsgrove was a win or two away from making it to the league playoffs and finished the season as the 14th-ranked team in Class 5A, with the top 12 teams earning invites to the district tournament.

Now, with everybody back in the fold but Leaman and Rockmore, this iteration of the Falcons is optimistic the lessons learned from a year ago will translate into the program’s first winning season since the 2020-21 campaign.

“Last year they were very young but learned quickly,” head coach Matt Morton said. “This year having a year under our belt at the varsity level, I think they are that much more prepared to take on the teams in the PAC and around the district. It’s exciting to get them all back together to build upon what we started last year.”

The Falcons are off to a 1-2 start to the 2025-26 season, losing their opener at Marple Newtown before splitting a pair of games in last weekend’s Pottsgrove Tip-Off Tournament, beating Brandywine Heights by 22 and dropping a tight 2-point championship game to Upper Darby. Against Brandywine Heights, the Falcons grabbed 40-plus rebounds and forced 24 turnovers, so when things are firing on all cylinders, the team can score, play defense and box out.

The rotation includes a trio of talented forwards in 5-10 junior Vivian Kyler, 5-10 sophomore Kendra Ivory and 5-9 sophomore Layla Jelbaoui. Kyler produced a 12-point, 10-rebound effort against Brandywine Heights and Ivory grabbed double-digit boards twice in the season’s first three games.

In the backcourt, sophomore point guard Thelia Dellaquilla and sophomore shooting guard Nyla’h Stubbs have already proven to be capable two-way players, and freshman guard Joz’lyn Cillio scored eight points in the team’s lone win on Friday. Junior 5-8 wing Malak Ahmed and 5-9 freshman Emily Hendrzak have also received minutes in the season’s early going.

It’s an intriguing mix in a seemingly wide-open PAC, and with only one senior and four juniors on the current roster, this group has more time than most to build and continue on its upward trajectory.

“It was definitely a wake-up call,” Ivory said of being thrown into the fire a year ago. “It was not easy getting put out there against juniors and seniors who know the game and have played a lot more games, but I think we picked it up quickly. We had to step up, and I was very proud of my team and myself.”

“We stepped up and made the freshmen feel more comfortable so that they would play better,” added Kyler, a virtual elder statesman as a sophomore last season. “This year we want to focus on working hard, getting serious and making it to districts.”

Pope John Paul II and Upper Merion each finished ahead of Pottsgrove in the Frontier Division last season and both programs bring back multiple key pieces, while Pottstown and Upper Perkiomen are off to strong starts and both look much improved out of the gate. So, while emerging at the top of the pile will be anything but easy, Pottsgrove does have the pieces in place to claim a seat at the postseason table if the youthful roster continues developing at an ahead-of-schedule pace.

“Last year was mentally tough, but you just have to get through it,” Ahmed said. “Our experience was pretty good – we built culture, became closer, became a family. I hope to do that again with the rest of our younger girls and keep developing a good work ethic even when the days are hard.”

Morton thinks two of Pottsgrove’s biggest attributes are the team’s versatility and ability to play together. The Falcons have a good mix of size, shooting, ball handling, with the group’s individual strengths bringing out the best in the collective as a whole.

“They’re all very complementary players,” Morton said. “We work well together. When Kendra is playing well inside it makes it a little easier for the guards to get the ball up the court and easier to get our shooters going. When Viv is in there playing great defense, banging rebounds and putting the ball back in (the hoop), it tightens up the inside and opens up the outside.

“One of our strong suits is that we are very unselfish – sometimes too unselfish. We need to be a little more selfish in taking the ball and taking the shot.”

Even after a nine-win season that exceeded expectations a year ago, the Falcons still don’t feel as if the rest of the league takes them seriously enough. Who knows, maybe that means this group can sneak up on the rest of the PAC once more, this time with league and district playoff berths as the ultimate prize?

“Me and the team are very locked in and ready for the season,” Ivory said. “We are definitely still very young, so maybe a lot of people look down on Pottsgrove. One of our goals is to put the work in and prove everyone wrong. This year, I think we’re ready for that.”

• Partnership with World Athletics includes construction of 11 running tracks in 11 countries around the world

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), in partnership with World Athletics and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), has launched ‘Aim Beyond’ – a project that aims to empower youth and underserved communities through the transformative power of sport.

As part of the project, 11 state-of-the-art, eco-friendly and inclusive running tracks will be constructed across 11 countries around the world, in Anguilla, Burundi, Cook Islands, Dominica, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Palestine, Panama, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Ukraine.

The project reflects Qatar’s deep belief in the power of sport to promote sustainable development, peace and social cohesion. It also underscores the country’s determination to transform sporting legacy into a tangible tool for positive change in the lives of youth and communities.

The tracks to be built are distinguished by their inclusivity, accommodating the needs of athletes with disabilities, and by their sustainability, using eco-friendly materials. The new tracks will also serve as community hubs that promote the values of sporting excellence and strengthen young athletes’ sense of belonging to their communities.

“In many communities around the world, athletic talent is abundant, but facilities are not – and that’s where Aim Beyond makes its mark,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, who attended the signing ceremony for the project in Doha on Monday (8). “Partnerships drive our mission to make athletics accessible and inspiring for all, and the collaboration between World Athletics, QOC and QFFD is exactly the kind of strategic, human-centred teamwork our sport needs.

“Together, we are strengthening infrastructure for our Member Federations, opening doors that many young athletes have never been able to walk through, and ensuring the legacy of the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships continues to reach well beyond Qatar.

“My sincere thank you to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, whose vision and commitment to athletics are helping to shape the future of our sport. Our sport owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.”

The announcement of the project came pursuant to the agreement signed by the QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain and the QFFD Director General Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, held from 6-8 December under the theme ‘Diplomacy, Dialogue and Diversity’.

H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said: “Aim Beyond is an ambitious project to create a world where every aspiring athlete has access to facilities to aim beyond their limits. Just as Doha 2019 allowed Qatar to aim beyond its limits in pursuit of its ultimate dream, so too will this project create opportunities for young athletes to reach their full potential.

“We are proud that through this ambitious project, the legacy of the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships will continue to shape the future of athletics – transcending borders and serving as a symbol of commitment, hope and opportunity.”

Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti said: “At Qatar Fund for Development, we firmly believe that sport is a transformative catalyst for human development and social progress and our partnership today with the Qatar Olympic Committee project reflects this commitment.

“By establishing inclusive and sustainable athletics tracks in underserved communities, we are creating pathways for young people to develop their talents, strengthen their capabilities, and realise their full potential. This initiative is not merely about constructing facilities, it is about laying the foundations for brighter, more prosperous futures.”

The signing ceremony during the Doha Forum – a premier global platform for dialogue and diplomacy – highlights how sport can drive sustainable development, peace and human development. The forum brings together global leaders, policymakers and innovators to discuss critical challenges and shape action-driven solutions.

World Athletics

{KXLG – Watertown, SD} The Elks Hoop Shoot is a nationwide free throw contest sponsored annually by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. It’s one of the largest and longest-running youth sports programs in the country, giving kids ages 8 to 13 the chance to compete in a fun, skill-based event that emphasizes hard work, sportsmanship, and perseverance.

More than 1 million youth across the U.S. participate each year, starting at the local lodge level. Winners advance through local, state, regional, and national competitions, with the national finals held each spring at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena. Six national champions are crowned, and their names are engraved in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The program is designed to develop hard work and confidence. The Elks highlight that success in the Hoop Shoot often comes down to practice and consistency which are qualities they hope kids carry beyond the basketball court.

Watertown Elks Lodge #838 welcomed 61 young athletes for this year’s local event, with first-place finishers earning a spot at the state competition and a chance to continue their run toward the national stage.

Winners of the Watertown Elks Hoop Shoot were: Odin Ebsen 8/9 boys from Summit, Kellen Haugen 10/11 boy from Watertown, Nate Roe, 12/13 boy from Florence, Brynlee Amdahl 12/13 girl Summit, Ashlyn Schmidt 10/11 girl Florence, Mya Gaikowski 8/9 girl Waubay.

The state competition will be held on February 7th in Pierre at St. Joseph’s School Gym.

Woodbridge, Beckman and Santa Margarita football teams will be going for CIF state titles on Saturday at Fullerton, Buena Park and Saddleback College.

All the finals in 15 divisions will be held either Friday or Saturday in Orange County.

In the 7-AA division, Connor McBride’s Woodbridge Warriors (7-8) will meet Redding Christian (14-0) Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fullerton.

In the 4-A division, Marcello Giuliano’s Beckman Patriots (12-3) will take on El Cerrito (12-2) Saturday at 7 p.m. at Buena Park.

In the open division, Carson Palmer’s Santa Margarita team (10-3) meets De La Salle (12-0) Saturday at 8 p.m. at Saddleback College.

Schedule:

OPEN: De La Salle (12-0) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. at Saddleback College

DIVISION 1–AA: Folsom (13-1) vs. Cathedral Catholic (11-2) on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. at Saddleback College.

DIVISION 1–A: Central East, Fresno (13-1) vs. Pacifica, Oxnard (15-0) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Saddleback College.

DIVISION 2–AA: St. Mary’s, Stockton (12-2) vs. Bakersfield Christian (13-0) on Fri., Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at Saddleback College.

DIVISION 2–A: Sonora (14-0) vs. Rio Hondo Prep (15-0) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11:30 a.m. at Saddleback College.

DIVISION 3–AA: St. Ignatius, S.F. (8-6) vs. Ventura (13-2) on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. at Fullerton.

DIVISION 3–A: McClymonds, Oakland (11-2) vs. RF Kennedy, Delano (12-3) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Fullerton.

DIVISION 4–AA: Sutter (13-1) vs. Barstow (11-3) on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. at Buena Park.

DIVISION 4–A: El Cerrito (12-2) vs. Beckman 12-3) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Buena Park.

DIVISION 5–AA: Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland (10-4) vs. Christian, El Cajon (8-7) on Friday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at Buena Park.

DIVISION 5–A: Calaveras, San Andreas (12-2) vs. Bishop Union (12-3) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. at Fullerton.

DIVISION 6–AA: Lincoln, San Jose (11-3) vs. Valley Center (8-6) on Friday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at Fullerton.

DIVISION 6–A: Winters (13-1) vs. Morse, San Diego (10-4) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. at Buena Park.

DIVISION 7–AA: Redding Christian (14-0) vs. Woodbridge, Irvine (7-8) on Sat., Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at Fullerton.

DIVISION 7–A: Balboa, San Francisco (11-2) vs. South El Monte (11-4) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at Buena Park.

TICKETS:

Only available on-line at the GoFan app.

Cal Petersen held onto a simple childhood dream: He wanted to play for the Waterloo Black Hawks.

He grew up in eastern Iowa, and he gravitated toward hockey – a sport often trumped by more popular sports in the state, like baseball, basketball, football and wrestling – because of his family’s history.

And while most young players dreamed of making it to the National Hockey League, Petersen set his sights on the local USHL – the top junior hockey league in the United States – team.