Audrey Hurleman Making the Most of Return to Hardwood as Spartans Prep for Northern Lebanon in District Semis

By Sam Cavalieri, Berks Girls Basketball correspondent

Audrey Hurleman is making the most of her abbreviated senior season.

She came off the bench in a 49-31 victory over Susquehanna Township Friday in the quarterfinals of the District 3 Class 4A playoffs. It was her ninth game back after returning in late January just nine months removed from surgery for a torn left ACL.

“She’s worked really hard to get back to this point, obviously,” Wyomissing coach Aaron Anders said. “Seeing her out there playing is very refreshing.”

She isn’t stuffing the stat sheet, but if you watch her on the court, it’s clear that she is making a difference for Wyomissing. Hurleman gives the Spartans another player in the post to go with centerpiece Amaya Stewart. She scored only two points, but it could have been more with a few misses coming on fouls that sent her to the foul line three times. She also is a defensive weapon and her sheer effort produced two assists and five rebounds.

“She has a huge impact during the game knowing that I can fall back on her, we are both down there communicating and having each other’s backs,” Stewart said.

Wyomissing senior Audrey Hurleman shoots a foul shot in the BCIAA semifinals against Reading High. (Photo courtesy of Bill Snook)

The North Carolina lacrosse commit could have packed it in and continued to prepare for a challenging Division I career. No one would have batted an eye, but it’s clear what this team means to her.

“(I’m) pretty ecstatic. This is pretty exciting,” Hurleman said after Wyomissing defeated Susquehanna. “Hopefully, getting another W and moving onto the championship would just be amazing.”

The Spartans now turn their attention to No. 2 seed Northern Lebanon as they travel to Fredericksburg to face the Vikings, who defeated Berks Catholic 36-33 in the quarterfinals Friday. Wyomissing defeated Northern Lebanon 45-15 last year in the district semifinals en route to their second consecutive title.

Hurleman plays with a large brace on her left leg, a present reminder of the past nine months of rehab. The Spartans came up short in their quest for a third straight Berks County title, but for a player that has pushed as hard as she has to get back for the playoff push, she has not let it affect her mentality.

“We were definitely bummed about the loss,” Hurleman said. “But, a game is a game. Win or lose we are moving on. We have the opportunity to play again, and we are really just taking that one game at a time. Hopefully, getting further than we did last year.”

Hurleman fought for the opportunity to play again and she’s taking in every moment.