Team to Watch: Murry Bergtraum (Manhattan Division 3A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite an injury plagued season, the <strong>Murry Bergtraum Lady Blazers</strong> enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign. They concluded the year tied for first in their division after a 15-1 finish in PSAL play. They are led by <strong>Jeffrey Noel</strong>, who is in his third season with the program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:gallery {"linkTo":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"><!-- wp:image {"id":816354,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_7057.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-816354" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now members of Manhattan 3A, the Lady Blazers are poised for another remarkable year. They return every player from last season's roster, including leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='384774' first='<strong>Veralyn</strong>' last='<strong>Aviles</strong>']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aviles</strong> was one of the league's most consistent performers. She surpassed the 1,000 point-mark in her sophomore season. She is the primary facilitator for her team. She is a prudent passer of the ball - averaging over 10 assists last season. She was also the league leader in assists per game and total assists. <strong>Aviles</strong> someone who garners attention as she can score in multiple ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aviles'</strong> expectations remain the same; keeping her grades up, maintaining a winning mindset, and giving her all to make her people proud.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kadidiatou Diallo</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384776' first='Aniaya' last='Burton-Hernandez'] </strong>will contribute significantly once again. <strong>Diallo</strong>, who's in her final year, is coming off an injury that sidelined her for several months. Theretofore, she averaged over 18 points per game. <strong>Diallo </strong>possesses several tools that showcase her ability. She can score on all three levels. She also has a tight handle which allows her to create separation with ease. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Diallo</strong> is committed to returning in an improved state. She aspires to win multiple accolades, including the Boroughs, City and State championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She aims to establish an assertive tone to serve as a reminder of her capabilities. Additionally, she wants to instill a comparable hunger in the underclassmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Burton-Hernandez</strong> is an exceptional player. The 5'11 forward is an efficient rebounder and scorer of the ball. Her distinctive physique allows her to tower over most defenders to secure rebounds. She can step out to execute a jump shot or post-up against her opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to what her teammates shared, <strong>Burton-Hernandez</strong> hopes to win a championship. Although she's only a junior, her ceiling is high. She is determined to continue improving every aspect of her game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect to see an uptick in production from these three. <strong>Burton-Hernandez</strong> and <strong>Aviles</strong> currently hold interests from numerous Division One schools. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's PSAL stats (regular season and playoffs combined)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Veralyn: 28 ppg, 9 apg, 6 rpg, 3 spg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aniaya: 11 ppg, 15 rpg, 2 apg, 2 bpg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kadidiatou: 19 ppg, 6 apg, 5 rpg, 2 spg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With multiple personalities on the team, utilizing methods to keep the chemistry intact is vital.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Noel said, <strong><em>“There are certainly a lot of unique personalities within our team dynamic. But one of my biggest priorities with this team has been to practice uniformity and togetherness within the things that we do. Everyone is held accountable if the standard isn't met. I believe it helps keep everyone mindful of their own actions. We understand that what one person does has an impact on what we do as a team.”</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katiana Clyne</strong> and <strong>Danae McMullen</strong> are also other players to keep an eye on. Both should make immediate impacts this year.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Blazers dominated West 50th in their season opener. They will take on Julia Richman in their next league contest at home on December 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->