Between Parkland’s Talia Zurinskas (Lafayette), Bethlehem Catholic’s Cici Hernandez (Mercyhurst) and Easton’s Evalyse Cole (Toledo), there’s a handful of former Lehigh Valley basketball stars playing at the Division I level in women’s basketball.
Those three local schools, which have shown an ability to develop and produce top talent, have caught the attention of other premier schools in the region.
That’s why Bethlehem Catholic has the opportunity to welcome 16 schools for an 11-game event over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend that brings an unprecedented amount of future Division I student-athletes to the Lehigh Valley. The Golden Hawks will play host to the inaugural G.O.A.T Tournament with four games from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday before a packed schedule of seven games on Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Admission is $15 per day for access to every game with concessions available.
“I want to be able to bring high-level basketball to the Lehigh Valley and college coaches to come watch our kids play,” Bethlehem Catholic coach Arnold Alleyne said. “To be able to host an event and have the draw, we need top teams.”
Alleyne and Dan Olson, who spearheads The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report as one of the top evaluators for girls basketball, dealt with no shortage of top teams signing up to be part of the event.
“Dan Olson is the figurehead; we are the venue,” Alleyne said. “I wanted to get college coaches to see high school girls basketball in our gym and give the girls more opportunities.”
Defending PIAA 4A state champion Neumann Goretti headlines a number of top teams from Pennsylvania while teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, New York and New Jersey round out the field.
“Hamden Hall [Connecticut] has a couple Division I players, Newman [Massachusetts] has six high Division I players,” Alleyne said. “You have Audenried, who is playing Parkland [on Sunday night], who has D-1 players on their team. Neumann Goretti has two or three Division I players. Darrow [New York] has five. It’s really going to be a great event for the area.”
It’s fitting that three of the most consistent and successful local programs – Becahi, Parkland and Easton – will have the opportunity to represent the Lehigh Valley with the opening and closing games of the tournament with the Golden Hawks playing Red Lion and the Hill School in between.
The inclusion of the Red Rovers and Trojans proves that beyond the competitive rivalries between these three perennial powers is the advocacy for local student-athletes, providing them with chances to display their talents to college coaches in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Cameron Horning/Mercyhurst Athletics
Bethlehem Catholic graduate Cici Hernandez now plays for Mercyhurst. (Cameron Horning/Mercyhurst Athletics)
“I give credit to those coaches. [Easton coach Dave] Lutz is a guy that I pretty much share film with. We have that respect. He’s been a supporter of what we’re trying to do and he’s doing what’s best for his program, and I’m trying to do the same,” Alleyne said. “These are programs that consistently hold themselves to a high standard.”
Following another big win over Parkland, Lutz expressed excitement and gratitude to be involved in such an occasion so close to home.
“I’m very happy. We needed a game, and it just so happened they had a spot, and to be able to play Spring Ford, who’s been a great state team for years, we’re really excited about another good nonleague game,” Lutz said. “And the good part is we don’t have to travel far, so I’m looking forward to it.
“You just hope the Lehigh Valley teams do well against these outside teams.”
While that goal remains obvious for Alleyne’s group looking to build off a big win over Emmaus on Monday and a strong showing in nonconference play to this point, the third-year coach of the Golden Hawks is primarily focused on what this event says about his school, players and the area as a whole that remains committed to sending its players to the highest level.
“The goal is to show people in the Valley that college coaches can come to your school and that we can host something of high value. Being able to have our girls, Easton and Parkland playing in it … I’m really excited about it,” Alleyne said. “There’s something big happening at Bethlehem Catholic this weekend. That is exciting.
“Girls basketball is growing and now the Lehigh Valley is doing something pretty big.”
Derek Bast is a freelance writer who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast or reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.