While the 2017-18 Whitehall girls basketball season was filled with a number of what-ifs, head coach Dwight Repsher was proud with the team’s response of no excuses.

The what-ifs arose after they were on a roll, winning three consecutive games about midway through the season. But that momentum was interrupted by bad weather that led to a weeklong layoff. Shortly thereafter their bench was thinned after players left the program, and then two starters were sidelined with injuries that kept them out of the lineup the remainder of the season as they tried to make a playoff push.

Head coach Dwight Repsher said that disrupted their substitution patterns, moved players to different spots on the court, and forced players into new roles as they competed against their Skyline Division foes late in the season.

While it changed the whole dynamic, their refusal to let adversity dampen their competitive spirit was the biggest take-away from their season, according to Repsher.

“The biggest thing about the season was the way the kids hung in there and persevered down the stretch,” said Repsher. “I thought the kids really sucked it up and played really hard and really well,” said Repsher.

That was evident in their losses to Pleasant Valley (12-9) and Easton (23-4), losing to the Bears by three, and the Red Rovers by ten.

Repsher said that they also played Allentown Central Catholic and Nazareth tough as well. They ended the season with a comeback win against Emmaus to finish the year at 8-14.

He said that what they experienced last season was part of the whole learning process since athletics is a supplement to one’s classroom education. Repsher said that the lesson was that things don’t always go your way, and it’s how you handle adversity which matters. He said the kids responded positively and kept marching forward.

“They got to work; nobody complained,” said Repsher. “That’s the real positive taken from the season.”

Repsher said that they didn’t fold, playing every team on their schedule as if they were fighting for a championship.

“I was really proud of them, and the fact that the kids did that,” said Repsher. “They didn’t make excuses and that’s a tribute to them.”

The team loses seniors Alix Buskirk, Ariana Hines and Iliana Oliver.

Buskirk will leave a big void, a four-year varsity player who spent three of those years as a starter. She led the team in scoring last season, and her departure will be a big loss for the Zephs.

Hines varsity career spanned three years as a post player for the Zephyrs. Hines was often assigned to guard much taller players, but she scrapped every game, a feisty player who made her presence known inside.

Oliver was a valued reserve who always hustled when she got onto the floor. She never took a play off and was a key role player.

The Zephyrs return the bulk of their lineup, including Grace Clary, Cassie Due, Olivia George, Taryn Sayre, Katie Kelly and Kristin Laky. Clary, who averaged 7.5 points per game, will give them experience down low, while Due, who handled the point along with Kelly, will give them a strong duo in the backcourt.

George’s return means that their offense from the perimeter will be in good shape, while Sayre’s return will bolster that outside production ever more. Laky will also be counted on to contribute, while Meghan Hutter and Emily Brosky, two junior varsity players who were pressed into action last year, will also figure into that mix.

Repsher said that he foresees their summer schedule similar to what it’s been in the previous years. They’ll play in the Allentown Central Catholic Summer League, and at SportsFest, and may also participate in other local tournaments depending on their availability.

Repsher said that with a good foundation returning, he’s looking forward to a busy offseason.