Francis Scott Key Girls Basketball Enjoying Turnaround Season

One of the most improved girls basketball teams in Maryland this season is Francis Scott Key.

The Carroll County School endured a difficult campaign last year, finishing 2-21 and dropping its final 16 games, including a 66-28 defeat to South Carroll in the MPSSAA 2A state playoffs.

This year has been a completely different story for the Eagles. The team is 7-0 and already has three wins in county play. On average, Francis Scott Key has won its games by just under 24 points per game.

"We have two seniors, one junior, four sophomores and three freshmen. Only four of those players have varsity experience," head coach Jen Gosselin said. "The difference is that this team is a team with no egos- they are very unselfish and want to make each other better."

Despite the youth and new blood in the program clearly making an impact, Gosselin is quick to credit the team's excellent attitude to the team's two senior captains, Korey Fein and Heather Rohwein.

The dynamic duo didn't allow last season's discouraging campaign to carry over to this one, leading the team with encouragement. The two have also taken on the task of showing their younger teammates both how to play unselfishly, as well as how to properly prepare for games at the high school varsity level.

It's also easier to lead when you're getting it done on the court, which both Fein and Rohwein have done- both are among the top 15 in Carroll County in points scored, assists and steals.

The senior duo has been joined by a pair of sophomores in Kennedy Cornick and Bailey Mathias who have begun their second season with Francis Scott Key in scorching form. Both are averaging double digit points per game, and are playing far more confidently than they did as freshmen. Fellow sophomore Sara Warthen has also done a good job of distributing assists and coming up with points for the Eagles in her first season playing for the varsity.

Even the team's freshmen have been able to help the group by working hard and continually improving. It's a team first approach for Francis Scott Key, and it's clearly working.

"Every girl on the team has a role," Gosselin said. "Every role is different but every role is important for the success of our season."

Looking ahead, Gosselin is excited about the rest of the season as her team's schedule is filled with tough games, which includes rematches with difficult opponents Francis Scott Key has already topped like South Carroll and Liberty. The Eagles will face their sternest test of the season yet this Friday when they travel to Manchester Valley, which won the county championship last season and is also undefeated this year.

It promises to be one of the more high profile games Francis Scott Key has played in some time, but Gosselin wants her team to focus on playing at a high level in each game.

"We would like to be competitive in every game and gain the respect from other teams," Gosselin said. "We want to maintain the team's positive energy and work hard so we can perform to our fullest potential, and peak at the right time."