Eden Christian Academy’s girls basketball team has only eight players.
The starting lineup consists of 5-foot-7 junior guard Hannah Wallace, 5-7 junior forward Leah Wallace, 5-6 junior guard Emmie Smith, 5-5 sophomore guard Phebe Falavolito and 5-9 freshman forward Annalese Haring. The Wallace sisters are twins.
“We have a small team, so everyone is important to this squad,” second-year coach Clare Johncour said. “I expect Emmie and Hannah to be strong leaders. As veterans, they understand the expectations and know the teams and players we will be playing against. They are hard workers, so we will use those skills to help them enhance the girls around them.
“All of our reserves — Amara Agwuocha, Annemiek Meyer and Sara Shaw — play a huge role in our games.”
Agwuocha is a 5-9 sophomore forward, Meyer a 5-8 sophomore guard/forward and 5-9 Shaw is a freshman forward.
“This year’s team is going to be competitive with a lot of teams in our conference,” Johncour said. “They have built some strong relationships and chemistry over the offseason and are ready to put those to work on the court. Last year was a season of growth for us. With new players and a new coach, we had a lot to learn about each other. We grew immensely throughout and worked really hard to be a team that competes in every game for every minute.
“Last season set the fire for this season, and it is showing in the first couple of games.”
The Warriors started their 2025-26 schedule at 2-1 with nonsection wins against South Side, 29-24, and Beaver County Christian, 46-42, and a 60-36 loss to Class 3A Keystone Oaks.
“The Eden girls basketball program has been around for a while, but this is my second season coaching the girls team,” Johncour said. “The program has dwindled over the last couple of years, and we are trying to bring it back and make Eden’s program a success. The girls at Eden are very involved in their community and school.
“We may not be the winningest team in our conference this year, but I believe there will be no other team that loves each other as strongly as these girls.”
Hannah Wallace scored 13 points to lead Eden in the season-opening win against South Side. Haring added 10.
The Warriors ended up 5-16 overall in 2024-25 and were 4-10 in Section 1-A. Eden tied with Sewickley Academy for fifth place behind Union (14-0), St. Joseph (11-3), Aquinas Academy (11-3) and Springdale (8-6). The Warriors lost a 59-29 decision to West Greene in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
“My coaching philosophy is simple,” Johncour said. “This is more than a game. When coaching, you are doing more than just teaching a set of plays for girls to follow. It’s not about you; it’s about them. Wins will come and go, but the lessons they learn in the sport are way more than the game itself.
“You are building their character on and off the court, teaching them what discipline and hard work are, guiding them through adversity and how to fight when you don’t want to and showing them compassion and grace when they make mistakes because no one is perfect and no one should ever be asked to be perfect.”
Johncour, who is assisted by Jaimie Smith, is an Indian River High School (N.Y.) and Grove City College graduate.