KINSMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – Following former coach Lavell Turnage’s departure in May, Badger hired athletic director Pat Carney to continue its girls’ program.

The Braves won the Northeastern Athletic Conference last season with an undefeated league record.

“We expect to work hard and improve each day, and to continue to build on the positive momentum the program has had in the past couple of seasons,” indicates Carney. “We want to put ourselves in a position to contend for another conference title, and hope to make a deep tournament run come February.”

The Braves welcome back a quartet of seniors led by Katie Grexa (18.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 4 apg), Hannah Betts (7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.4 spg), Brianna Huscroft (3.7 ppg) and Molly O’Brien. Junior Gabriella Miller (3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) also returns for Badger.

“We’re athletic at all positions,” states Carney. “That will enable us to pressure teams defensively and dictate the pace and tempo of the game. We have a lot of experience, returning five letter winners and have many pieces of our core return from last year’s league championship team.”

The Braves open the season against Warren JFK on November 27.

Badger Braves
Fast Facts
Head Coach: Pat Carney
2022-23 Record: 21-5 (12-0), 1st place in NAC
2022-23 Post-Season Finish: Lost in District Final to Western Reserve

2022-23 Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 46.3
Scoring Defense: 27.6

2022-23 Individual Leaders
Scoring: Katie Grexa – 18.4
Rebounding: Katie Grexa – 11.0
Assists: Katie Grexa – 4.0
Free Throw Percentage: Julia Toth – 63.0%
Three-Point Percentage: Brianna Huscroft – 28.6%

2023-24 Schedule
Nov. 27 – at Warren JFK
Nov. 30 – Fairport Harding
Dec. 4 – at Maplewood
Dec. 7 – at Mathews
Dec. 11 – Pymatuning Valley
Dec. 14 – at Bristol
Dec. 16 – Girard
Dec. 22 – Southington Chalker
Dec. 27 – at Brookfield
Jan. 4 – at Lordstown
Jan. 6 – at Garrettsville Garfield
Jan. 8 – St. John
Jan. 10 – at Fairport Harding
Jan. 13 – at Rootstown
Jan. 17 – Windham
Jan. 18 – Maplewood
Jan. 22 – Mathews
Jan. 25 – at Pymatuning Valley
Jan. 27 – LaBrae
Jan. 29 – Hubbard
Feb. 1 – TBA
Feb. 8 – Niles