Malvern girls basketball looks to continue upward trajectory

Under Natalie Sarbaugh’s tutelage, the Malvern girls’ basketball program has undergone a promising turnaround. In the 2023-24 season, Sarbaugh’s first, the Hornets won seven games. Last year, they nearly doubled that total in compiling a 13-10 mark.

Expect Malvern to continue that trajectory as the Hornets return quite a bit of talent from last year, having lost only three letter winners from a squad that ended its season in a Div. VII East Sectional final game.

Eight letter winners are back for another go, including sophomore guard Ella Debo, who was one of only two freshmen to be named to last season’s IVC North first team. Debo averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, three assists and 3.3 steals per game in her first prep season.

Debo is joined by senior point guard Addy Mitchell, who averaged seven points and three assists per game last year, junior forward Whitney Smith (6.8 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and 1.4 steals per game), and junior guard Avery Sprague (four points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game).

Other returnees who are expected to contribute this season are senior guard Emillie Craven, senior post player Marisa Passio, and junior guard Skye Harmon. One player who is technically not a newcomer but will see much more action is sophomore post player MJ Wade.

“MJ saw a few minutes last year in varsity action, but will get more meaningful minutes this season,” said Sarbaugh. “With MJ’s size and length she will be an impactful defender in the post as well as helping to corral offensive and defensive boards, and she will also be able to contribute through scoring on put-backs created off of her rebounding abilities.”

One problem is that while Malvern returns a lot of experience, so do many of the Hornets’ foes in the IVC North.

“Each team in the league did not have a big senior class last year,” said Sarbaugh. “It will be anyone’s game so each team will need to show up and play their best.”

That shouldn’t be a problem, however, as Sarbaugh says her players have bought into the changes that she and her staff have installed within the program.

“The team chemistry is really building,” she said. “We are trying new things to see what best fits the team and the group of girls we have using their strengths as individuals but using those strengths to benefit the team.”

That strength can be a double-edged sword, said Sarbaugh, but she is counting on the team’s experience and leadership to help the Hornets establish their identity quickly as the IVC North schedule looms on the horizon.

“Change is hard for anyone as well as the team, but buying into those changes and perfecting them is what will help the team,” the third-year coach said. “We are guard-heavy so using our athletic ability to score and defend will be beneficial to the team in succeeding this season.”