BETHLEHEM, PA. – The Becahi girls have started off the season with three straight wins. Two of those include lopsided victories over Liberty and Allen and a two-point decision on Saturday against South Bronx Prep.
Bethlehem Catholic has won nine straight district titles and 12 in the last 13 years. They’re poised to add to that streak this season as head coach Arnold Allenye continues to push his girls to find their true potential.
“This year, we’re picking up right where we left off. We have four seniors right now in the program and we’re very excited. We’re playing good basketball. I’m very proud of the girls and you know playing defense first, offense second and they’re playing together. We try to build a standard and a culture. Winning is the main thing, but we really work in the offseason you know, in the summertime that you’re training, you’re pushing yourself. You know, we’re doing you wanna work twice as hard as everybody else, so that we’re able to enjoy wins.” Said Arnold Allenye.
Aliyah Brame stated, “Nine straight, that’s a lot to uphold, but I mean pressure comes with winning and as a team we have a high standard and even has a program. So, whatever coach tells us to do I mean that’s what it is.”
Although numbers are down in the program, those on the team believe no one can stop them but themselves.
Brame continued, “Probably because of the lack of numbers, I mean we’re so close knit as a family. I think this is one of the years where everyone loves everyone. It has such a great upside. You might see it as a downside only have 9-10 players, but we see it as a strength.”
The Golden Hawks will no doubt profit from an infusion of youth this season. Freshman Kam Gallis scored a game high 25 points in last Monday’s 68-34 victory over Liberty, and that performance should not come as a surprise, as she comes from good stock. Her mom, Tiffany Bedics scored 1,800 points here at Bethlehem Catholic in the early 90’s before starring at Lafayette.
Kam Gallis explained, “It’s kind of just exciting, like knowing that she did all the things that she did here, and it’s kinda nice to have her by my side as I go throughout this season just for her to like guide me too. I’ve been watching from afar for a while, and now that I have the opportunity to be here, I’m just truly grateful. We’ve been in the gym for a while and like building up the chemistry. So, getting to go out and show it on the court is really exciting.”
Arnold Allenye concluded, “She knows what she’s doing. She’s very poised. She’s humble, and she’s a great teammate. She celebrates others and I think yes, she’s scoring, but she’s, man someone else scores, she’s very excited for them as well. So, I’m excited about that.”