CRANBERRY TWP — It seemed as though the North Catholic girls basketball team's dominance was going to be put to the test this season.

With no returning starters and very little experience coming back, the Trojanettes had their work cut out for them.

Yet, through 16 games, North is currently where it usually is — sitting atop the section standings.

The team enters Thursday's game at Freedom 14-2 overall and an undefeated 8-0 in Section 1-3A. While a lot of basketball still needs to be played, North is a legitimate threat to win a fifth straight WPIAL championship.

“I'm pleasantly surprised,” said North coach Molly Rottmann. “We didn't have a normal off-season and didn't know what to expect this year.

“There's different players stepping up for us, so teams can't focus on just one or two girls.”

Sophomore point guard Dacia Lewandowski, the only player back who saw significant playing time last year, has been a catalyst on both ends of the court. She leads the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game and is averaging 3.5 assists.

“She's defending against the other team's best player, handling the ball against pressure, distributing the ball,” Rottmann said. “She's done an amazing job and has been on the floor almost the entire time during games.”

Despite the many unknowns surrounding the team at the start of the season, Lewandowski, a Butler resident, was anxious to let her and her teammates' play speak for itself.

“I was confident coming in and a lot of it came from my coaches and teammates always being positive and supportive,” she said. “I knew I had to fill that leadership role.

“I think we're catching teams off-guard because all of us are finding ways to contribute.”

Lewandowski is part of an eclectic starting five.

Sophomore guard Tori Drevna dressed for varsity games last season, but was not part of North's usual rotation of players.

As freshmen, guards Ava Walker and Alayna Rocco are just two months into their varsity careers.

Senior guard Tara Lucot is new to the program after starting the last two years at Vincentian Academy, which recently closed its doors.

They're all offering valuable production.

Drevna is tied for the team lead in assists per game at 3.5.

Walker and Rocco are both scoring in double figures and averaging over five rebounds.

Lucot paces the Trojanettes with 6.1 boards per contest.

For a lineup filled with guards, the example set by Lucot in being a presence on the glass has been key to the team's success.

“You look at Tara and she's not tall at all (5-foot-5),” said Rottmann, “but she plays really hard.

“The players are getting to know each other and the trust is there ... where your teammates are going to be on offense, where the help is coming from on defense.”

Rocco is right behind Lewandowski in points per game with 12.4.

“It didn't take long for us to form a strong chemistry,” Rocco said. “The girls on the team are some of my closest friends now and that really helps on the court. Everybody is doing their part.”

Two other guards, senior Mel Cortez and sophomore Anna Waskiewicz, provide needed depth off the bench.

Rottmann said the team's play on defense has picked up since the start of the season. Two non-section games against Mt. Lebanon best convey this improvement.

In their second game of the campaign, the Trojanettes fell to the Blue Devils, 68-52. In the rematch played last week, North avenged the defeat in the form of a 61-43 victory.

“The first game was a back-and-forth game until we fell apart in the third quarter,” said Rottmann. “We took so many shots with no one in position and that hurt us in transition.

“We defended much better in the second game and it showed our maturity. We normally play (man-to-man) on defense and the girls have bought in.

“I was excited by that win. Mt. Lebanon (11-3) is a really good 6A team,” the coach added.

As good as the regular season has been, Rottmann knows many will judge this year's team on what it does in the postseason.

“Our top seven have stepped up and contributed,” she said. “We're playing well and playing together.”