They are gone, but they won’t soon be forgotten.

The storied history of girls’ basketball at Tamaqua High School is impactive, fabled and ranks right up with the best in the tough Schuylkill Girls’ Basketball League.

Last year’s senior class definitely added to that legacy.

Led by Emma Kuczynski, the No. 3 all-time scorer in Tamaqua girls basketball history with 2,010 points, last year’s six graduating seniors left a void larger than a mine pit in the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Company’s workings.

In addition to Kuczynski - who will go down in history as one of the top players to ever don the Blue and White uniform - the Raiders’ lost 1,000-point scorer Emily Titus, along with Jamie Zuber, Rebekah Hromyak, Jen Fredrickson and Baylee Reinhardt.

Despite suffering such a hard graduation hit, head coach Ericka Davis doesn’t want to talk about rebuilding.

“We’re not looking at the past,” Davis said with her focus on the road ahead. “We want to be competitive, and establish an inside and outside game. Yes, we will push the ball up the floor and get the transition points. Of course, our defense needs to create our offense.”

So where do Davis and her staff begin to retool this latest edition of Raiders basketball?

Scan the roster and note four seniors who are going to have to lead the way, starting with the very athletic Sophia Boyle. Other potential senior contributors include Emma Hope, Ally Fredrick and Makenna Kane. Then there’s also junior rebounding standout Serena Jones.

It would be wise for teams not to sell the Raiders short, as Tamaqua has some players who can create problems for the opposition.

Headlining that group is Boyle, a swift and strong guard who can make teams misstep. Kane is another standout who will be counted on to put up points, while Jones and Hope are capable of working the inside game.

All four of those players are expected to be in the starting lineup, with Davis unsettled on the final starting spot.

“Right now, our fifth starter is up for grabs,” Davis said. “I’ll be honest, our starting lineup can change from time-to-time, and that depends on how we match up with our opponents.”

Davis says the COVID-19 distractions are something the team needs to put to the side.

“We have been taking it one day at a time, and look at it as being grateful for every opportunity we get to step on the floor,” Davis said “Things have been crazy for everyone, but we are trying our best to tune out all of the COVID distractions and be all business when we are on the court.

“Our girls have been doing a great job with the new mask mandate, working hard on the court, in the weight room, and on their speed and agility. We’ve been putting in a lot of time and hard work, and I’m excited for these girls to have the opportunity to compete and make a name for themselves this season.”