It is way too early in the season for first-year Bridgeport Coach Paul Ayers to get a vibe on just exactly where he thinks his girls basketball team will be when February rolls around. However, Ayers has no problem telling you that he’s already seen plenty of things to be upbeat about after the team’s 3-1 start.

 

The Tribe opened the season with a 31-24 win at Charleston Catholic before opening at home last week with a 52-36 win against Harrison County opponent Lincoln. BHS suffered its first setback Saturday by a 75-49 score to Fairmont Senior in Marion County.

 

“Even after the loss Saturday I watched the film and there were positives to take from the game. Are there things we can do better? Absolutely, but there’s a lot to build on,” Ayers said. “We’re moving forward and we’ll have no choice as we have a tough one coming up Wednesday.”

 

That tough one is against long-time rival Robert C. Byrd. The Indians host the Eagles at 7:30 p.m.

 

“They’ve got four returning starters, I believe, back and they’ve been tough early on,” said Ayers of the Tribe’s game with RCB. “They’ve got great leadership … and Coach (Dennis) Hutson does a great job. Rivalry or not, it’s shaping up for what should be a terrific matchup.”

 

BHS got its opening win in a low-scoring affair in Kanawha County. Gianina Renzelli led the team with eight points, while Quinn Stalnaker added seven. In the Tribe’s win over the Cougars, Hope Chalfant led the way with 18 points, while Stephanie Alvaro had 12. Stalnaker added nine points and 11 boards, while Hannah Fetty had seven points and 13 rebounds.

 

Stalnaker led the way Saturday with 15 points, while Renzelli added 12 and Chalfant 11 in the setback to the Polar Bears. Ayers said one thing he’d like to see is for Fetty, the club’s lone senior, to become more assertive offensively.

 

“As far as leading the kids and with her being the captain, she’s providing the leadership, but I want to see her be more aggressive offensively,” said Ayers. “It’s hard to complain because when it comes to hustle, rebounds and loose balls, she’s all over the place. She’s just been the ideal role player and defender for years and we need more offensively; and she knows that. I think you’ll start to see that.”

 

Ayers said he’d give his team a solid “B” for their performance after three games. He said his own coaching grade in his first year as the head coach is more in lines of a “C” on the grading scale.

 

“I’m going to be hard on myself and I’m the first to admit that it’s a learning curve with me being the head coach just as much as it’s a learning curve with a lot of our younger players,” said Ayers. “There’s a lot of room for improvement from me and from them and I think going through this together will be beneficial.”

 

The Indians will start Stalnaker, Fetty, Renzelli, Alvaro and Chalfant against the Eagles. Ayers said the rotation off the bench is still working itself out.

 

“I’ve got a good feeling we’re heading in the right direction. I’m learning with this group the patterns we need as far as substitutions, matchups on offense and defense and things of that nature,” Ayers said. “It’s going to be a much smoother process as the season moves ahead and I think we’ll be a better team as well.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of BHS guard Gianina Renzelli, while Hannah Fetty brings the ball up the floor in an earlier scrimmage game. Photos by Tyler Maxwell of www.benqueenphotography.com.