Trumansburg girls basketball gets off to winning start

The last couple of seasons for the Trumansburg girls basketball have been quite the roller coaster. Two years ago, the Blue Raiders qualified for sectionals for the first time since 2008 and finished with a 10-9 record. But last year had its fair share of struggles, going 3-16 and missing out on sectionals. With a new face at the helm, the Blue Raiders have shown promise early on as they aim for a postseason return.

Trumansburg won its first two games of the season. They first eased past Southern Cayuga 63-24 at home, but they had a tougher test at Newfield. The Blue Raiders overcame a six-point halftime deficit to prevail 44-39.

“They have a lot of fight in them,” said first-year head coach Tim Denmark. “They're excited right now, and they're really looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Denmark has prior experience coaching most of the team, leading a sixth-grade travel team that featured five current players. Six years later, Denmark is excited to guide the senior quintet's final journey together on the court.

“I really look forward to coaching them again,” Denmark said. “They've really grown, and I hope for them to be a starting block for the organization and for girls coming up through that are still at a younger age right now.”

That starting block has been fortified by the return of the junior varsity team after not fielding a team for the last three years. They are coached by RJ Anderson, while former Marathon varsity girls basketball coach Beth Anne Duncan is the new modified coach.

The varsity team is much smaller than in years' past, downsizing from 12 players to seven. While that will make managing injuries and foul trouble more of a challenge, the team's chemistry levels are off the charts, especially since five of their seven players joined forces for the girls soccer team this fall.

“These girls are friends in school,” Denmark said. “They talk. They communicate. They hang out together. They do a lot together. They joke around with each other. The chemistry is there, and it's just making sure that it's put on the court and using that chemistry out there.”

The Blue Raiders bring back multiple IAC All-Stars. Two-time All-Stars and seniors Libby Foster and Allison Denmark are pure shooters who are a scoring threat from anywhere on the court.

“Libby is fast,” Denmark said. “She's all over the place. If you tell her to do something, she will do it, and she doesn't back down. Ally loves the game, and I can't wait to watch her at the next level, too. I know that in the past, it's been a little bit of a struggle for her. She's fought through that adversity, and she's really excited about how things are going right now. She's another leader out there on the floor.”

Seniors Lenora Reed and Keziah Elliott-Dunbar have also earned All-Star honors, with Reed doing so last year and Elliott-Dunbar achieving that feat two years ago. Junior Alaina Stockwell completes the returning players as their point guard.

“Alaina brings leadership to the court and communication,” Denmark said. “Sometimes it feels like she is a coach herself. She really loves the game. I love to watch her play, and I can't wait to watch her grow. Lenora is fierce. She's hard working, and she leaves it all out there. So Keziah's the same way. She is very hard working, too. She hasn't been involved as much in the past, but this year it is my goal to have her included much more than what she has in the past on defense and on the offensive side.”

Completing the roster are the two newcomers: senior Josie Pharoah and junior Ella Simoneau.

“Josie is strong,” Denmark said. “She'll get right in there. She won't back down because of her size. That doesn't matter. She'll fight with some of the biggest girls down below. Ella is the same way. No hesitation. She'll get right into a dog pile and hopefully come out on top. It's just a great group of girls, and it's just so fun to be with them.”

Not only are the Blue Raiders gunning to make it back to sectionals, but they also want to claim the IAC North Large Division title. It will be a highly-competitive race between Trumansburg, Lansing, Dryden and the eight-time defending division champions Whitney Point to see who comes out on top, but the Blue Raiders have every right to take the crown come February.

“I think [we need] to keep on working together, not get frustrated when we're down, cheer each other on and work through the adversity,” Denmark said.

The Blue Raiders resume play on December 17 at Watkins Glen. Their next home game is December 19 against Elmira-Notre Dame.