Bethlehem Catholic High School’s girls’ basketball team has two championships to defend this season, and they are taking it seriously.

Winners of the East Penn Conference and District 11, the Hawks will return seven players this year and will add a player from last year’s junior varsity team along with two freshmen.

Coach Jose Medina is also returning for his second season.

“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable, now that I’ve had a summer and off-season with the girls. There is a lot I’ve seen, and we’re putting girls in the right positions.”

The team includes returners Jordynn Jones, Tessa Zamolyi, Rebekah Recchio, Morgan Orloski, Sarah Baumann, Allison Hontz, and Natalie Rhine. Newcomers are Julia Zambo, Briana Barnard, and Jess Indelicato.

“They are hungry, very hungry and eager to learn. These are basketball girls,” Medina said.

This past summer, Becahi won the Forks summer league championship, and their Little Hawks program, for seventh and eighth graders, is growing.

“We’re hammering the fundamentals. The great thing about young kids is that they’re like clay, and we’re molding them. Now it’s about uniformity and common language throughout,” said Medina.

The Hawks’ expectations for the upcoming season are high.

“We don’t want to take a step back. It’s going to take everybody, a collective effort. Everyone has to play their role and do the little things that will go far,” Medina said.