The Tamaqua Area girls basketball program enters the 2025-26 season with momentum, and head coach Erika Davis believes her team is positioned to take another step forward after back-to-back winning campaigns.

Coming off an 18-7 season that followed a 17-9 mark the year before, the Lady Raiders return a talented core of players who gained valuable experience during consecutive District 11 playoff appearances. The program’s steady progression has energized the community, and this year’s squad features the depth and leadership needed to continue that upward trajectory.

“We want to pick up where we left off last season,” Davis said. “We saw a lot of positives down the stretch last season where the chemistry amongst our team really came together. We had a good spring/summer/fall to work on the things that needed to be improved.”

Tamaqua brings back four returning starters who form the foundation of this year’s group. Lauren Ligenza and Millie Black give the Lady Raiders a dynamic duo to build around after leading the team in scoring last season. Ligenza averaged over 13 points per game, while Black contributed more than nine per contest.

“Lauren and Millie are a great duo for our team to build around,” Davis said. “They score, defend, rebound and find ways to make their teammates better. Lauren has really worked on becoming a scorer on all three levels, and Millie has worked on better positioning and body control around the basket. They both share the common trait of competitive fire and the desire to win.”

Leah Black and Kendle Miller complete the returning starter quartet, providing veteran leadership and versatility on both ends of the floor.

The Lady Raiders welcome several newcomers who will contribute to what Davis hopes becomes a deep rotation. Ceanna Gormley and Makenna Ellington join the senior leadership group, while Mia Bamford and Gabby Osenbach bring experience and skill to the backcourt. Nico Conahan adds another young piece to the program’s promising nucleus.

With 18 players on the roster, Davis has options to keep fresh legs on the floor while maintaining the up-tempo pace the team wants to play.

“Each girl has strengths and weaknesses, and different roles that will help contribute throughout the season,” she noted.

Davis emphasized the importance of her senior class in setting the tone.

“We have four great seniors along with Lauren and Millie, who know and understand the expectations for practices, preparation, and game time,” she said. “We will lean on the core returning group to lead us throughout the season.”

The team’s goals remain focused on consistent improvement and postseason success.

“Challenge each other to step up, compete in every game, and compete in the postseason,” Davis said, outlining the program’s mission.

After falling to District 11 champion Allentown Central Catholic in last year’s tournament, the Lady Raiders understand what it takes to compete at the highest level. The experience of playing their best basketball late in the season, even in defeat, provided valuable lessons.

“We need to perform on the big stage and rise to the challenge to win that ‘next big game’ mentality,” Davis said. “We were playing our best basketball toward the end of the season, and then came up short in our district game and didn’t play like we were capable, but I credit our opponent for that because they were a solid team that made a nice run.”

The Lady Raiders’ commitment extends well beyond the regular season. Davis noted the program runs nearly 10-and-a-half months, with only a brief break after the season ends before returning to the weight room and court. Summer workouts, league play, scrimmages, tournaments, and youth camps keep the players engaged and improving throughout the offseason.

“The girls have really bought into how important all of the court time, weight room, and the track/conditioning workouts are and how they correlate to being competitive on the court,” Davis said.

With experience, depth, and year-round dedication, the Lady Raiders enter this season with aspirations of building on their recent success and making another playoff push.