The section wins and section title were nice last year, but first-year coach Jamie Polak has his girls' basketball team focusing on bigger goals that are further down the line.

Polak was not at Thomas Jefferson last season but he is well aware of how a 9-1 run in section play only translated to one WPIAL playoff game.

"The most important thing is each game we are getting a little better," Polak said. "You want to be able to reach the end of the season and be at your peak performance."

This season Thomas Jefferson (12-4, 7-0) is off to another strong start in the section. The Jaguars have been holding their own in non-section action, where they are 5-4.

Last season they were 3-10 outside of Section 5-AAA, including a 48-37 loss to Chartiers Valley in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.

"We are not in the strongest section but we just need to take care of the things we can take care of," Polak said. "We need to push each other each day to get better and come the end of the season we are going to be where we need to be."

Thomas Jefferson has had plenty of regular-season success during the past six seasons. They have won three section titles in that time and have not missed the playoffs since the 2003-04 season, but the Jaguars have also not advanced past the first round.

"They know what has happened in the playoffs," Polak said. "It has been a one-and-done sort of team.

"When we are at practice, what we tell them is the reason why we need to push one another every day is because we are looking for bigger and better things. We are looking for more than a section championship, I want to make some noise in the playoffs and we talk about winning the WPIAL championship. That is our goal."

This is Polak's first season coaching girls after spending time as a boys' assistant under Shawn McCallister at Steel Valley, his alma mater.

He's assisted by Rick Dunmire, Polak's coach at Steel Valley, and volunteer assistant Brian Tomasic, his brother-in-law, who was a standout at Steel Valley and Point Park.

Polak actually opened his head coaching career by winning the Steel Valley tipoff tournament with wins against Woodland Hills and his former school. The Jaguars have also picked up non-section wins at Upper St. Clair, South Fayette and Keystone Oaks.

In section play, they have been dominant as usual, blowing out Waynesburg Central (twice), McGuffey, Elizabeth Forward and Yough (twice). Their closest section game came against Belle Vernon, a 56-47 win. The Leopards (13-6, 6-1) remain in contention for the section title behind TJ.

"We need to take that next step forward and get to that next level," Polak said. "They are starting to figure out what it takes to get there. We are pressuring opponents defensively and we are not turning the ball over. Those are all little things that make the difference between a good team and a great team."

Ashley Stoner, a 6-foot junior, is a key contributor and the player who sets the tone for the Jaguars. She led the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game going into this week. The offense looks to get her the ball in the post.

"She is a real intense girl," Polak said. "We have to understand we cannot just rely solely on her."

Injuries cost Stoner the better part of last season but this year she has stayed healthy. Other players have begun to step up and help take some of the pressure off her. Guard Skylar Williams, the lone senior on the team, has emerged lately. She is second on the team with 10 points per game.

"Skylar is starting to figure out what her role is," Polak said. "We need her to be a scorer. If we can get at least three girls in double digits, with the way we play defense, we are going to have opportunities to be in games."

Williams is a two guard but Polak said she can play any of the three guard positions.

Point guard Jordyn D'Alessandro and guard Madison Wawrzeniak are two returning starters. Playing alongside Stoner in the other forward position is either Torie Peifer or Marie Carroll, both juniors.

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