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Dec 18, 2023 By Bill Hughes 3 min read

Things were full speed ahead for the Elizabeth Forward girls basketball team a month ago.

Coach Krystal Gibbs was returning the majority of her production from last season and was a potential pick to win a WPIAL championship.

Then, in a whirlwind, Gibbs fulfilled a lifelong dream by being hired as an assistant coach at Seton Hill, and a new coach had to be hired at EF.

In stepped Noah Yartin, whose previous experience was as an assistant the last two seasons at Belle Vernon, one of the Lady Warriors’ rivals.

Hired just before the season, Yartin tried to do as much as possible in the little time he had before things officially got underway.

“I was hired 10 days before the season and was really only able to have three open gyms before the season started,” said Yartin. “It was definitely a challenge just getting everything in order.”

Yartin now transitions from an assistant to the coach calling the shots.

“The role as a head coach has been a little different than being an assistant,” said Yartin. “I really have enjoyed the freedom of being able to run practices and build a playbook that I want to use and teach.

“Having known a handful of my new players previously, it has made the transition very smooth.”

Elizabeth Forward returns three starters in senior guard Alyssa Terza, an All-Section player a year ago who averaged 14 points per game, junior center Michelle Jellison, an All-Section player who averaged 11 points per contest, and junior point guard Chloe Zombek.

Yartin said a trio of sophomore guards, Mia Sostaric, Kaelynn Settles and Addyson Nigut, will play big roles, while junior forward Briaunna Dawson and freshman McKenna Bittner will also see time.

The Lady Warriors are the heavy favorite to win Section 3-AAAA, which also includes Belle Vernon, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Southmoreland, Uniontown and West Mifflin.

“Laurel Highlands will be our biggest test, I would think,” said Yartin. “From previous years, it really seems like this group struggles a tad with them.

“It’s usually tough to play at West Mifflin as well.”

Upset a year ago in the WPIAL quarterfinals, Yartin detailed his squad’s goals.

“We have all set forth the goals of going undefeated in the section, winning a WPIAL championship, and then going from there,” explained Yartin. “We will have a good season if we play as a team, stay healthy, and focus and strive to reach our goals every day.”

Yartin is assisted by Mike Vuono and Keagan Brownlee.