There is some new and positive energy surrounding the Pleasant Valley girls basketball team this season.

First-year head coach Corinne Morris takes over the program after guiding the Pen Argyl Green Knights girls team.

“At Pen Argyl it was rough because I coached all (throughout) COVID, so that caused a lot of different challenges,” Morris said. “There was no really bad experience, just COVID made it really difficult to do certain things and playing and coaching with masks. Different rules had to be put in place.”

The Green Knights had a 13-11 record last year after an abbreviated 2020-21 season, and Pleasant Valley is also looking to achieve a winning record after finishing with an 11-12 mark a year ago.

Like Pen Argyl, the Bears got to experience a first full season since a shortened COVID year. PV was able to qualify for the District 11 6A tournament before losing to Liberty in the first round.

Several key returning players are coming back, which has helped produce the positive energy. Juniors Katelyn Honadel and Aryn Stivala played integral parts on last year’s team, and their experience will help Pleasant Valley in Morris’ first year.

Stivala played in every game during her sophomore season and averaged 10.5 points per contest. Honadel chipped in with 3.91 ppg.

Ella Muir, a senior, is also back and looks to guide the team with her leadership, while sophomore Jovie Valenzuela is also expected to contribute.

The team lost both Drew Morgan and Sam Merklin to graduation, but Morris is still blessed with a capable lineup.

“Our team is looking pretty solid,” Morris said. “Our numbers are a little bit lower than normal, but we are working through that. We are working with a strength and conditioning coach, and a lot of different plays and strategies to get ready for our first game.”

Pleasant Valley posted a 5-5 record in its division of the Eastern Pennsylvanian Conference last season. Morris is hoping for similar results, and for the girls to have fun and enjoy the game.

“Overall, we have a strong starting group,” Morris said. “I wouldn’t say we have a deep bench, but my starting five are very hard-working and ready to have a great season and work hard.

“I want to have a successful, positive season. I want to try to get our numbers back up and make sure they want to come to practice, and we’re going to be positive and fun and realize the true love of the game.”

Morris is ready to tackle the EPC. The North Division consists of the Pocono-area schools - including PV, Pocono Mountain East and West, Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg North and South.

The EPC is different from the Colonial League, where Morris coached before landing the PV job.

“It’s a totally different conference than I coached last year, but we’re going into every game with the attitude that we can win and play hard every game, no matter who we’re going against,” said Morris. “We’re not going to let the fear of a team we’re playing get in our heads and stop us from playing the game we know how to play,” Morris said.

The Bears kick off the season with two home games against Blue Mountain on Dec. 3 and Jim Thorpe on Dec. 5, before traveling to East Stroudsburg South for their conference opener.