City of Basketball Love

By Sean McBryan
—

(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2025-26 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

~~~

A new head coach was at the helm as West Chester Rustin stumbled through an 0–3 start.

By February, the Golden Knights were back in the mix, making runs in the Ches-Mont and District 1 tournaments, with the season extending into March.

Jim Falcone took over for Lauren Stackhouse, who left for the head coaching gig at Delaware Valley University. 

"We were kind of a step behind at the start and the team was acclimating to my coaching style, but we found our niche and how we wanted to play," Falcone said. "We played some good basketball at the end and made a nice run for the season itself. It was very rewarding."

The Golden Knights overcame an 0-3 start to finish 8-2 in the Ches-Mont American, 16-12 overall, reach the Ches-Mont semifinals, finish sixth in District 1 Class 5A, and qualify for the state playoffs.

Rustin saved its best ball of the year for February, defeating West Chester East in the Ches-Mont playoffs and Harriton and Marple Newton in districts. The season ended with a loss to Bethlehem Catholic in March, but it showed the Golden Knights were capable of continuing their success even with a new skipper.

“We just got off to a bad start,” Falcone said. “It wasn’t for lack of execution. Then we went on a roll. I think we found our niche in what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play.”

The Stackhouse name carries weight at Rustin, with Riley Stackhouse leading the team to league and district titles three seasons ago and sophomore Mackenzie now following in her sister’s footsteps.

Senior Jenna Kraft and junior Claire Rydel, who also emerged last season, gives them a good returning group to build upon that growth.

The group’s ability to settle in and respond to a new voice took some time.

“The team was acclimating to me and my coaching style, and we played some good basketball at the end,” Falcone said. “It was very rewarding.”

In Year 2, Rustin returns three starters led by Kraft, who averaged 14.0 points per game, four steals and four assists. Stackhouse, who played a key role off the bench as a freshman, is expected to take on an even larger role, while Rydel, who averaged seven points per game, rounds out a strong guard core.

“Everything runs through Jenna, but we had a huge loss with Sam [Curran] tearing her ACL this fall,” Falcone said. “We need other girls to step up a little bit and fill in for her and see where we go from there.”

The Golden Knights also return junior forwards Gretchen Gillis, who didn’t play last season and is returning from a torn ACL, and Caitlyn Black along with senior Ashley Rae, who played sparingly last season. Falcone said the team’s depth has improved with the addition of a few freshmen, including guard Bri D’Antonio and Rosie Bachelor, a 6-0 forward.

“Although we had a strong season last year, I believe we’ll have an even stronger season this year,” Kraft said. “We only lost two seniors so the team has some continuity and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.

“Gretchen is returning after her injury and is looking great in pre-season. Caitlyn Black is also making a presence on the court with her strong defense and hustle. The team is focused, dedicated and we’re working hard to achieve another great season.”

With the graduation of Sara Betchyk, who provided size, rebounding and leadership, Rustin will rely on a new crew to go further than it went last year. 

“With Sara’s graduation, Kenzie and Claire are stepping up into roles I know they can fill,” Kraft said. “I believe they will be key playmakers, using the scoring and court vision they bring to make a big impact. With the experience they have I’m counting on them to be leaders on the court, helping guide our offense, communicate on defense, and set the tone for how we play this season.”

The Golden Knights have also focused on conditioning and building chemistry in the offseason. Falcone emphasized the importance of competing every night in a tough Ches-Mont American division. 

“The expectation for us is the same,” he said. “We just want to play some good basketball, go out every night competing and contend for a league championship.”

Last year, Unionville won the Ches-Mont American with a 9-1 record beating the Golden Knights by two in early January. The Golden Knights avenged that loss with a 10-point win three weeks later. 

Unionville then beat Rustin by 17 in the district quarterfinals.

The Golden Knights know the Ches-Mont American, and league overall, is a tough slate, but think they can be a player once the later winter months roll in.

Unionville finished 16-11 overall, Great Valley went 7-3 in the division and 13-10 overall, and Sun Valley went 4-6 in the American but 15-8 overall.

“The league is always competitive, and there are a lot of good teams,” Falcone said. “Unionville, Great Valley, Sun Valley—any of those teams can give you a fight on any night. Our goal is to build off last year, play hard every game, and see where it takes us.”

Kraft echoed the sentiment, pointing to the team’s experience and continuity now in the second season under Falcone.

“We’ve learned a lot from last year and we’re ready to keep that momentum going,” she said. “The division is tough, but we’re focused on taking it one game at a time and seeing how far we can go.