It can be easy to assume the progress of Catasauqua girls’ basketball team simply based on a 3-19 record.

Just don’t tell first-year head coach Mark Seremula.

“I thought it was a good year,” said Seremula. “The kids learned a lot, and they competed all season long. We got better and we were in more games this year.

“We stayed in games longer, but we hit droughts putting the ball in the basket.”

The Roughies will lose seniors Cassie Barna, Allanah George, Amy Huber, Julie Lacey, and Taylor Richards, but they will return a seasoned core.

“It would be great to have these girls back for another year,” said Seremula. “They all did a great job and know the system well. We will miss their leadership.

“But we have seven girls coming back who all progressed this year.”

Leading the pack will be leading scorer and current sophomore Lexi Rushatz, who averaged roughly nine points per game. Rushatz also directed the offense most of the year.

“She (Rushatz) got better in all aspects,” added Seremula. “Her shot improved as the year went on, and she became a better passed.

“The ball was probably in her hands 75-percent of the time. She undertook a lot as a sophomore, and she continues to get better as a player.”

In addition to Rushatz, Seremula will look to juniors Maddie Hicks and Shaziya Roberts, sophomores Olivia Emery and Emma Hawk, and freshmen Brownwyn Pacchiolli and Aidan Gerhard.

“Maddie (Hicks) was a captain, and she needs to step up to be a leader,” said Seremula. “Roberts has improved a lot and she didn’t play as a freshman. Emery, Gerhard and Pacchiolli were one of the first girls off the bench, and Hawk played a lot of JV ball and is a good ballhandler.”

Seremula also is optimistic about the future with 18 players in the middle school program, as well as good overall numbers on other levels. He also praised assistant coaches Steve Bradley and Katie Buczynski for their continued support.

“We like the direction of the program,” said Seremula. “Our interest in building and we should have a good future.”