Mickens looking for Lady Falcons’ young players to step up
Jim Downey
Bronson Mickens believes in Connellsville athletics.
The 1995 graduate used to star on the football field and basketball court for the Falcons, and he maintains that passion 30 years later in taking over as the head coach of the Connellsville girls basketball team.
Mickens, who was hired in March, has a young team, but is confident in their abilities to compete in Class 6A.
“I always have a place for Connellsville in my heart,” Mickens said. “It is a dream come true to coach at my alma mater. I have worked with youth and high school football, but this is my first year as head coach. I want to bring back the success that Connellsville had when I played. I also coached an eighth grade travel team last year.”
Natalie Jacobs and Maggie Orndorff are the two seniors on the Lady Falcons’ roster. Orndorff has experience as a starter and Jacobs came off the bench, but was a key contributor.
“We don’t have a huge roster, which will be a challenge, especially since we play in Class 6A, but I have confidence in my girls,” Mickens said. “We have nine girls, but a strong seven. We are a scrappy team, and will be ready for the challenge. We know we are going to be underdogs, so we have nothing to lose.”
Connellsville will have three ninth graders in the starting lineup, as Saige Mickens, Macey Orndorff and Payton Petrone make up three of the Lady Falcons’ five freshmen. Addison Smith and Elizabeth Rugg are the other two ninth graders.
“My three starting freshmen are battle ready and tough girls,” Bronson Mickens said. “Even though we have a young team, I will put my ninth graders up against anybody.”
Sophomores Brianna Carnes and Kalyn Cole round out the Connellsville roster.
“We have some catching up to do with a few of our players,” Mickens said. “We have stressed to the players that we can’t get in foul trouble because we will be in a little bit of trouble once we get out of our seven-person rotation.”
Mickens and his staff, which consists of Leigh Ann Mickens, Derek Petrone and Tim Ulery, have worked with the players in practice due to the lack of numbers.
“We need to use our coaches to practice with the girls,” Bronson Mickens said. “We can’t run with them, but we do the best we can to simulate game situations.”
The Lady Falcons will compete in Section 2-6A with Canon-McMillan, Hempfield, Mount Lebanon, Norwin and Upper St. Clair.
Mickens wants to win as much as any coach, but he is looking for improvement throughout the season.
“I just want our team to get better,” Mickens said. “I want to see improvement along with heart and character. Once you get a solid foundation, the wins will follow. There are very few teams who go undefeated. Basketball has changed a lot. There are teams that have AAU girls on their bench, which is what we are lacking, but we are hoping to have more players play during the offseason in the future.”