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GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lucarelli, Ferguson tabbed as head coaches

Dante Lucarelli, Old Forge girls basketball coach

Two Lackawanna League girls basketball teams made coaching moves for next season.

Old Forge removed the interim tag from Dante Lucarelli’s name and made him the head coach, while North Pocono brings back Joe Ferguson as its head coach.

Lucarelli went from JV coach to interim varsity coach in early January when Pete Sulla stepped down and guided Old Forge for its final 13 games.

“Being a head coach is something I’ve always wanted, something I’ve planned for years down the line,” Lucarelli said. “I saw the opportunity a little earlier than I expected, so I was very excited to hop in and jump on it and try to get this program back to where it used to be.”

The fact he gets to do it, too, at his alma mater makes it more special. He graduated from Old Forge in 2021 and his father Art was an assistant coach under Al Semenza.

“It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Lucarelli said. “Just being back as the JV coach, I was very excited, very happy. With my dad coaching alongside Al Semenza for almost 20 years, I was at practice every day when I was little and seeing what it was like behind the scenes. Between that and the whole town vibe we have here, you can’t beat it. Everybody loves their sports here. Everybody’s behind you 110 percent win, loss, tie, whatever it may be.”

Already, Lucarelli has noticed a change in attitude within the program.

“We’re weightlifting, doing summer camps and a lot of stuff that wasn’t previously done,” Lucarelli said. “Building that bond right now is the most important thing for us. The girls from last year kind of struggled at times with team chemistry. So now we have the full offseason to get these girls ready to go. All they’re talking about is basketball. It’s a lot different than before. I’m getting texts from players, parents, other coaches. Everyone’s excited for this year and see what it can bring.”

Led by Jewlya McCullon, a Times-Tribune All-Region and Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 2A second-team all-state selection, Old Forge was 11-12 overall last season. McCullon graduates, but the Lady Blue Devils were a young team and bring back everyone else.

“I’m itching to go right now,” Lucarelli said. “With a new head coach and a very young — some might say inexperienced — team, I think we have a lot to prove as a group.”

Ferguson makes a return to the North Pocono sidelines. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the boys team from 1995-99, then coached the girls team from 1999-2004. Featuring players such as Laura Franceski and Emily Lynch, the Lady Trojans went 82-51 and won two District 2 titles.

He also coached the Scranton Prep girls (2004-07) and boys teams (2007-13), as well as stints with the Marywood University women (2014), Stroudsburg High School boys (2017) and Forest City girls (2018). He began his coaching career in 1990 at Dunmore under Ross Macciocco. He is in his 31st year as a health and physical education teacher at North Pocono.

“I love teaching my students at North Pocono and the opportunity presented itself,” Ferguson said. “I’m just thankful the administration and school board placed their trust in me. We have the numbers — 50 kids already in grades 7 through 11 — so that is really nice to see. The interest in girls basketball is strong, especially since we had those teams that won District 2 championships.”

This season under Kiana Williams, North Pocono went 13-10. The Lady Trojans graduate just one senior, meaning they bring back a young, solid nucleus that includes current sophomore Ella Clementoni, a Lackawanna League Division I coaches first-team all-star.

“Everyone else is returning, so it’s a very exciting time,” Ferguson said. “We’re going to work hard, work together and have fun.”