Cougars’ Skobel heading to Bethany

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
The path of Charleroi’s Bella Skobel led her from timid freshman to a senior star on the court. Now her path will take her to West Virginia.
Skobel, who averaged just under 20 points per game – the most among local players – has committed to play college basketball at Division III Bethany College beginning this fall.
The Bison are coached by Brian Sansom, who’s entering his fifth season at the helm.
“I chose Bethany because Coach Sansom made me feel very wanted and like a crucial part to building the team. He’s a really great coach and made me feel important as a player,” Skobel said.
“And I really enjoyed the campus and the team.”
While the Bison went only 6-20 overall and 5-11 in the Presidents Athletic Conference, the roster was a young one featuring eight freshmen without a senior on the roster. So playing time could come quickly for Skobel.
“Coach Sansom said he’s going to rely on my scoring abilities,” Skobel said.
Skobel said her ability to get to the basket is her top strength and she’s looking to take her shooting range back a little.
“I’m good at handling the ball, too, and I’m really looking to deepen my range and improve my defense,” she said.
Playing at Charleroi, Skobel got a chance to play with some of the best in Cougars history like Kaitlyn Riley and Maria Claybaugh. That experience helped prepare her for what was to come.
“Charleroi has done a lot for me,” Skobel said. “Having to be a scorer for my team this past year has prepared me for my role at Bethany. The most difficult challenge was going from a very successful team with players like Kait Riley and Maria, to a very young team and having to change my role entirely. I had to go from being the sixth man to the leading scorer.”

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Thursday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.