Lady Vikings Coach Ray Bartha

Apollo-Ridge Girls' Basketball Coach Ray Bartha began to get an idea how good the Lady Vikings were this year when last summer in North Carolina they played some top teams from the East Coast.

"We were very competitive," Bartha says. "We only won three games, but we competed against some top-notch programs…the kids really started to get a sense they could probably have a good season, because they were able to compete against some of the top-notch schools."

The Lady Vikings are one of many Alle-Kiski area teams whose coaches regularly put together demanding schedules for the season against much-stronger opponents. Those coaches don't enjoy seeing their teams get whupped, but they know giving their players opportunities to face those difficult challenges, builds something great inside them. Ray Bartha says, "Your better players develop a sense and confidence that they know OK, we're playing somebody good, and I did a good job tonight so that means I can play against anybody and they gain their confidence that way. It's been successful for us."

That's an understatement. 15-8 last year, that young team has matured a bit and tips off 2005 with a near-flawless 10-1 record at press time. The lone loss was to Always-Overwhelming Greenburg Central Catholic, whom they face again later this season. With only three seniors, and a nucleus of juniors, odds are the Lady Vikings will not only challenge GCC, but also take a nice long journey into the post-season this year and next. "It's a good group of kids and they give me everything they've got, and that's all you can ask for as a coach," points out Bartha, and you can see him tell you all about them in the video at Alle-Kiski Today Online.