WEST CHESTER TWP. — Lakota West High School girls basketball coach Andy Fishman is entering his 25th season at the Firebird helm.
And as the 2022-2023 season approaches, the hard work and intensity that’s been shown by this year’s squad are all the same — high-level.
“We’ve had a great offseason with our work ethic and camaraderie,” said Fishman, whose Firebirds have had a winning record for the last 11 seasons.
Lakota West, which returns just one starter in junior Lily Johnson, went 16-9 overall and 11-5 in the Greater Miami Conference last season.
Johnson averaged 7.6 points and 4 rebounds a game a season ago.
“We expect to get better as the season progresses considering the addition of some newcomers,” Fishman said. “While our team looks different with new faces, we expect to compete for championships as usual.”
Fishman said to keep an eye out on seniors Star Owens and Anna Wells, and freshmen Katie Fox and Caroline Bayliff. Wells is a three-sport letter winner and a Thomas More lacrosse commit who fired 80 percent from the free throw line last season.
Fishman noted that Johnson, Fox, Bayliff and Williams are all Division I college prospects.
The Firebirds tip things off at the Journey to the Tourney on Nov. 27 against West Carrollton, at 11:30 a.m. at Sycamore.
2022-2023 Lakota West Firebirds Roster
(Number Name Grade)
1 Kaitlyn Barber 10
11 Caroline Bayliff 9
12 Ava Claggett 10
32 Kathryn Fox 9
23 Lily Johnson 11
3 Jayda Neilson 9
31 Star Owens 12
15 Madison Parker 11
14 Kelsey Rolling 11
20 Anna Wells 12
5 Sydney Williams 9
2022-2023 Lakota West Firebirds Schedule
(Taken from GMC website)
Nov. 27 vs. West Carrollton, at Journey To The Tourney, 11:30 a.m. at Sycamore
Nov. 30 Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 at Oak Hills, 6 p.m.
Dec. 7 Princeton, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 Hamilton, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14 at Mason, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 at Sycamore, 1:45 p.m.
Dec. 30 Mercy McAuley, 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 Lakota East, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 Middletown, 1:45 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Colerain, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 Oak Hills, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 Sycamore, 1:45 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Lakota East, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Hamilton, 1:45 p.m.
Feb. 1 Mason, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Princeton, 1:30 p.m.
