Marian had the ultimate roller coaster season in 2023-24.

The goal for the Fillies this season is to finish what they started.

Marian finished 22-6 last year, but didn’t advance to the Schuylkill League championship or the District 11 2A championship.

The Fillies did fight back, however, winning the 2A third-place game against Schuylkill Haven to qualify for the PIAA 2A state tournament.

Marian was able to do some damage in the state tournament, winning two games and advancing to the quarterfinal round where it was defeated by Marion Center.

The Fillies lost some key players from last season’s squad, but also return a host of critical pieces and will welcome some new additions who figure to make a significant impact.

Back are starters in junior Addy Fritz and sophomore Deanna Pugh, as well as senior Carly Hasara, who started eight games last season.

Fritz is the top returning scorer, as she averaged 11.9 points per game, and was also good from the outside knocking down 32 three-pointers. Pugh did a great job as a freshman last season running the point for the Fillies, averaged 7.4 points per game, and was also solid from the outside, hitting 15 triples.

Hasara also helped out in the shooting department as well with 14 three-pointers.

“Addy, Deanna and Carly are going to need to be leaders for us,” said Marian head coach Damian Fritz. “They return after playing a ton of basketball for us last season. Those three, along with the rest of our team, made a commitment in the offseason to work hard to get better. We have a very tight group. The energy level at practice has been high, and the girls have really been getting after it. It’s been a great mix of coming into practice with a no-nonsense attitude, but also having fun, while being competitive in everything we do.”

New to the court for Marian will be 5-11 junior Olivia Serfass, along with 5-11 freshman Addy Marek.

Serfass has the ability to play both inside and outside, and has proven she can put points on the board, averaging 9.53 points per game as a freshman with 16 three-pointers. Marek had a strong summer, and is expected to be a force in the post for the Fillies. Sophomore Emily Carone will also see some starts early in the season with Hasara battling back from an injury.

“We’re really excited about what Olivia and Addy bring to the table,” said Fritz. “Olivia knows how to play the game. She can shoot it. She can attack the basket, and she has great length. Marek is a very talented young player that is very athletic, and she can take the ball the length of the floor. Emily Carone was hurt in second half of the season last year, but she had a really good summer and she has earned this opportunity.”

Olivia Thomas, Sophia Serfass, Brooke Miskar-Hannis, Lexi Gelatko and Gabby Osenbach will also see court time for the Fillies.

“Leadership, poise and connectivity is something that I have seen from the girls over the summer, and that carried over into the preseason,” said Fritz.

“We know we came up short last season in leagues and districts, so we’re focused on just going out there and competing on every single possession, and getting better to accomplish our goals this season of winning a league and district championship.”