St. Bede Girls Basketball Relies on Youth After Key Departures
The Bruins lost 1,000-point scorer Lili McClain and two post players, forcing a transition to a younger roster for the 2026 season.
By Gavin Wilson ·
The St. Bede girls basketball team faces a steep rebuilding challenge this season.
The Bruins lost three key players to graduation after the previous campaign. Lili McClain, a NewsTribune and BCR All-Area first-team selection, averaged a high point total and is now playing at IVCC. Post players Savannah Bray and Ava Balestri also graduated. Bray plays basketball at IVCC, while Balestri switched to softball at the same institution.
Coach Tom Ptak acknowledged the drop in experience. He noted that the roster numbers are down and the team is young. Some players will split time between the varsity and JV squads to gain experience. Ptak stated that the primary goal is to improve over the course of the season and become a better unit than the current lineup.
Junior Parker McClain is the only returning starter from last year. She averaged 2.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the previous season. Ptak identified her as the primary ball handler and a floor leader. He expects her to take on a larger scoring role while continuing to run the offense.
Seniors Ashlan Heersink and Alaina Schulz are expected to assume bigger responsibilities. They played considerable minutes last year and must help replace the scoring lost from the departing seniors. Junior Hanna Waszkowiak is also slated for a larger role in the post. Ptak said Waszkowiak has worked hard in practice and is expected to have a standout year.
Sophomore Allie Inman and freshmen Vivi Verucchi and Kenlee Heider will provide depth. Sophomore Kami Nauman and freshman Callie Fusinetti will rotate between the JV and varsity teams. The coaching staff plans to utilize a mix of man-to-man and zone defenses to challenge opponents.
Offensively, the team intends to play at a faster pace. Ptak wants to push the ball and create scoring opportunities in transition. He cited the guard play as a strength for advancing the ball with the pass. The Bruins finished 19-14 last season and posted a 5-2 record in the Tri-County Conference. They defeated Princeton in the regional semifinals before losing to Alleman in the championship game.
