A key deficiency that has been a thorn in the side of the Northern Lehigh girls’ basketball program over the past few years has been alleviated.

“One of the major weaknesses of our program since I have been here has been our lack of height,” said fifth-year Bulldogs’ head coach Ken Shankweiler. “We have lacked a presence in the paint. we have lacked scoring in the paint, and we have lacked a rim protector. But we have that this year.”

The Bulldogs also have some returning experience, as four-year varsity member Madison Seier is back as the Bulldogs’ lone senior. Juniors Emma Niebell - who was the lone Bulldog to average double figures in points last season (10.87 points per game), and Sophie Lear return for a third season. The trio played in all 23 games a year ago as the Bulldogs finished with a 10-13 overall record, and a 7-10 in the Colonial League mark.

Sophomores Cadence Peters and Danielle Dougherty also both return from last year’s district qualifying team.

A Northern Lehigh program that earned its first trip to the postseason in nine years suffered several big losses, as Lauren Hoffman graduated from the program, while sophomore Kaylee Wilk, a key contributor last season, has decided to opt-out due to COVID-19 concerns.

But the losses can’t dim Shankweiler’s outlook on the season. Because as excited as he is with his returning players, it’s a couple of newcomers who could have the biggest impact in taking Northern Lehigh’s program to the next level.

Senior Emily Hunsicker and freshman Aubrey Pollard, who both stand 5-9, will give the Bulldogs height.

“With Aubrey and Emily, we have height this season,” Shankweiler said. “We should get points in the paint. We should be able to defend against some of the six-footers in the league that we have struggled against in the past. We should be able to get offensive rebounds. We should be able to get a lot more defensive rebounds.

“So our strength is that our main weaknesses are gone. We’re strong now underneath the basket, where we have been weak for the last four years.”

Hunsicker decided to play the game in her final year of high school after having not played competitively since eighth grade. Riley Griffith is another upperclassman stepping out onto the hardwood for the first time, while Cadence Whalen is a freshman looking to break into the lineup.

Shankweiler is ecstatic to finally have an inside game, but is also happy having speed and quickness on the perimeter to complement it.

But the physical ability of this year’s team isn’t the only thing that Shankweiler is feeling good about.

“I never had a more dedicated team ... a more committed team,” Shankweiler said. “The practices are so competitive. I am working them hard right from the start. You don’t hear a peep out of anybody. They just work. They just want to get better.

“We have everything we need right now. We do. This is the most complete team that I have had since I’m there.”

The combination of experience, talent and size has Shankweiler doing something with this year’s team that he hasn’t done in the past.

“This will be the first year that I talked about goals with the kids,” Shankweiler said. “They know how good they can be. This is the best team I coached up here by a wide margin. We’ve set goals of making the league and district playoffs.

“It took us five years to get to this point, but we are now in a position where I think I can say that Northern Lehigh is back.”