For the Catasauqua girls' basketball team, it was a four-day period that proved to be mentally draining, yet truly inspiring. The Roughies won their first three games of the season during a period that not only tested their character, but also improved their mettle.

Catty won its first game of the year with a convincing 40-29 win over Northern Lehigh, followed by an inspiring 55-46 double-overtime triumph over Lehighton, and a narrow 43-41 victory over Moravian Academy.

First-year head coach Ed Seidick eventually knew his team would respond. The Roughies dropped their first 10 games of the season.

"It was a great week and an emotional week for us," said Seidick. "We might have had another victory over Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (a 50-47 loss), but we just couldn't get the ball to go in the basket.

"It was just a relief to get our first win and we knew it would come. We really got tested against Lehighton. It was looking bad for us because we lost Shiloh (Sziy) who fouled out. But Kenzie Bradley hit a three-pointer to tie the first overtime and then we just came out and blitzed them 11-2 in the second overtime.

"We then had a football game against Moravian Academy as it was a very physical game. The refs weren't calling anything, and we fought our way through it. It really was emotional and we kept our legs."

Seidick cited the play and leadership of captains Sziy and Amarys Moten as instrumental in turning the club's fate around. However, he also realizes how his squad has jelled. Seidick also has been appreciative of the contributions of assistant coach Emily Beichy.

"Shiloh (Sziy) and Amarys (Moten) have done a great job," he stated. "They have taken charge and hit some big shots for us. Jackie Garner has also had good games for us. But this whole group has really worked well together and they have been very supportive of each other.

"We have good chemistry. Emily (Beichy) has done a great job for us."

Winning three games in a season for the first time since the days of former head coach and current athletic director's Dave Troxell's reign on the bench, the Roughies will look to gain some more victories down the stretch and also enhance the profile of the program.

This week, Seidick sees a stiff challenge ahead as his team will meet Northwestern, Salisbury, and Saucon Valley. He is optimistic his club has reached a new level.

"We left them alone in the locker room for five minutes after they won their first game," stated Seidick. "We wanted them to get another sense of accomplishment. We have to keep playing to win and not to lose.

"We face three of the elite teams this week, so we'll have our work cut out for us. But we know teams are respecting us because we see that our games are being scouted and taped by other teams.

"Winning can continue to breed success and we need to keep doing the right things."