The postseason and Pleasant Valley girls basketball have gone hand-in-hand in recent years, with head coach Nadia Gauronsky leading the Lady Bears to the District 11 Class 4A playoffs in four of her first five years at the helm.

But the 2014-15 season was a transition year for Gauronsky's squad, which lost four of its top five scorers to graduation.Despite the significant roster turnover, Pleasant Valley proved to be more than up to the task of challenging its new competition in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. The Lady Bears finished with a 10-12 overall record, 7-9 in the EPC, and missed qualifying for the district tournament by one spot, finishing ninth in the final regular season power rankings.While the team might have gone through some growing pains a year ago, expect Pleasant Valley to make a strong push to return to the postseason this time around.The Lady Bears return their top three scorers and a plethora of underclassmen that responded with aplomb after being forced into action a year ago."We have a great group of girls coming back this year," said Gauronsky. "We have a good amount of senior leadership on this team and several girls that gained a lot of experience last season. I think we have a really nice mix."Senior Kiki Russell was the only returning starter a year ago and the point guard handled the situation in impressive fashion. After averaging 4.45 points per game as a sophomore, Russell's scoring output jumped to 7.19 points per game last season as she got acclimated to the new players around her.Now running the offense with ease, Russell wasn't so sure that would ever be the case."If you would have asked me that two years ago I would have thought you were crazy," said Russell. "But a lot of things have changed and it's a role that I'm much more comfortable with now. I have great teammates around me that make it much easier."Russell certainly won't have to do it all by herself with leading scorer Renee Milos returning. The senior forward averaged 7.95 points per game last season.Sophomore guard Masani Francis (5.81 points per game) provides a nice complement to Russell in the backcourt.Pleasant Valley will lose a dominant post presence in center Jenesa Fields (4.73 points per game), and another scoring threat in Shante Benjamin (4.80 points per game).The Lady Bears appear to have capable replacements, however in senior forward Mackenzie Borger, who averaged 4.50 points per game last season after appearing in just six contests.Junior guard Joyce Sullivan (4.43 points per game) will vie for playing time and provide depth in the backcourt. Sophomore guard/forward Morgan Covart (2.43 points per game) saw significant playing time a year ago and should continue to progress in her second year at the varsity level.Though it won't be easy, with the competition in the EPC always tough, a more seasoned Pleasant Valley squad that took its lumps a year ago appears ready to step up to the challenge."I think they have a lot of potential," said Gauronsky. "They have the ability to do a lot of great things on the floor together, and I expect them to show that this year."