By CATHERINE K.

Many have anticipated the start of the basketball season even months prior to its start. Players, students, parents, and teachers alike all have high hopes for the Lady Raiders.

They have already had three games thus far. The team began with a strong start, beating Juniata 46 – 41. The Lady Raiders lost their last two games against East Juniata and Tyrone but the scores were notably close.

Despite the loss of the last two games the players are far from discouraged.

“I’m very excited for this season,” sophomore Bella Corman said

Most of the varsity team are returning lettermen. A letterman is a student who has earned a letter in an interscholastic sport.

The team is looking forward to competing at a high level throughout the rest of the season.

“We have been working really hard over the past couple months and I believe it’s going to pay off in the long run,” Bella said.

The Lady Raiders are stronger than ever and are looking forward to reaching their goal of making it to district playoffs this year.

The girls’ next game will be tonight against Central Mountain.

Returning player Junior Maddie Steiner is in her third year at Bellefonte and is looking forward to “showing that we have improved and will hopefully make it farther this year.”

The JV team is in the start of their season as well, with senior Kasey Knauff as their team captain. She’s been playing since seventh grade for the school.

“I started watching Penn State basketball when I was really young, like three. So that’s when I first got interested in it,” she said.

The Lady Raiders don’t have to do much to show their spirit and closeness as a team. They carry it with them always.