The Whitehall girls basketball team withstood a pesky Pocono Mountain West squad last Friday night to earn their fourth win of the season.

The Zephyrs were able to take a five-point lead into halftime, thanks to the scoring of Alix Buskirk who netted four points to help Whitehall gain that cushion entering into the break.

But once the third quarter started, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run, the go-ahead bucket coming from Asiah Leonard.

However, Ariana Hines stopped the bleeding by grabbing an offensive board and putting in the rebound to put the Zephyrs ahead again.

Buskirk then added to her impressive night by getting fouled on a drive to the basket as she converted the free throw at the line, giving the Zephs a 24-21 lead.

That basket was part of a 6-0 run by the Zephs to establish a little breathing room again. However, the Panthers stayed within range the rest of the way, as the Zephyrs held on for the 43-37 victory.

It was a welcome victory for a team that had lost three in a row and seven out of their last eight.

“To this point, we’ve been on our heels offensively, but I think the offense is starting to click,” said head coach Dwight Repsher. “We’re really starting to get the idea.”

Repsher felt that at times they were trying to do too much. And in doing so they got themselves into trouble.

“We need to find that balance between that we’re doing so little that were stagnant, or we’re doing so much that we’re not patient enough,” said Repsher. “But I felt we got a lot of good things out of the offense today.”

One of those good things was Buskirk who directed the charge from the point. She was scoring on drives and stop and pops, finishing the game with 11 points.

Buskirk viewed Tonight’s game as a step in the right direction.

“I think we’re getting the hang of our offense,” said Buskirk. “In the beginning of the season it was kind of rough, but I think now we’re running things through and executing and getting a lot more shots off. We’re in a lot more control of the game.”

Buskirk doesn’t mind accepting a larger role offensively. She’ll often try to beat her defender off the dribble as she did against the Panthers, looking to get to the hoop. She converted a number of those chances on Friday.

“It’s just kind of how I am, to be honest,” said Buskirk. “I love doing that.”

She said that she likes to control the game, and use that opportunity to cheer her teammates on and help them succeed.

The Zephyrs also got a major contribution from Kylee Cunningham, who found her outside shooting stroke from beyond the arc, hitting three treys to give her a team-high 12 points in the win.

They also got some strong inside scoring from Hines, who chipped in with eight points.

Buskirk said that they play a lot better when they communicate. That’s one thing she believes will help them during their remaining nine games.

“When we talk and keep up the energy, we play better,” said Buskirk. “I just feel that for myself, I just have to keep encouraging everyone else.”

She said that sometimes they get lost in the moment and don’t know what to do. That’s when talking reassures everyone on what to do, she said.

This season they’ve encountered some growing pains with their young squad. Repsher said that it’s still a process and they’re looking to get better every game.

“We’re making steps,” said Repsher. “I think we’re making progress.”

Repsher said that it was a good step and they’ll see what happens tomorrow. It was a step back for the Zephs as they lost to Wyomissing on Saturday, 52-33.