So far, this coaching gig has been a blast for Kyt Bonner.

By day she continues her work as a physical therapist, but many of her nights are occupied coaching the St. Aloysius Lady Flashes.

With less than a month left in the regular season, Bonner has guided St. Al to a 13-6 record. Tuesday night, the Lady Flashes completed their first turn through Division 7-1A and currently sit in second place at 5-1 after blowing out Enterprise-Lincoln for their third straight home divisional win.

&#8220It’s been fun but its also been challenging,” said Bonner, who played college ball at Mississippi College after a standout prep career at Warren Central.

Bonner filled a void at St. Al after former coach Drew McBrayer left in the summer to take an assistant coaching position at New Hope High School. She inherited a club that went 26-4 last season and won the division title, but had also lost two key starters, including its top scorer and All-Warren County selection Annie Beaugh.

Bonner, though, has shown she can develop other scoring talent and build a team around three-year starter Sarah Kerut.

Two prime examples are juniors Elizabeth Mazzanti and Katie Koestler. Against Salem last week, the Lady Flashes found themselves trailing by five points in the fourth quarter and with Kerut, the team’s all-everything forward, on the bench with foul trouble. St. Al hung in and kept the game close until Kerut re-entered with three minutes left.

But it was Mazzanti who made a key driving basket to tie the game and send it into overtime. Mazzanti then won the game, draining a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to cap St. Al’s thrilling 53-50 win.

&#8220I’ve never hit anything like that before,” Mazzanti said of her shot that completed a17-point effort.

&#8220That game should really boost her confidence,” Kerut said. &#8220This year we’ve needed her a lot and she really has stepped up.”

&#8220Elizabeth has taken a hold of a leadership role for us and we needed that,” Bonner said.

Mazzanti credits Bonner’s encouragement and work ethic.

&#8220She practices us really hard and she expects a lot out of us. She’s been able to put us in the right spot,” Mazzanti said.

Koestler, who transferred to St. Al after playing last season at Porters Chapel Academy, also has developed as a contributor this season. On Tuesday night, Koestler scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Lady Flashes to a 41-25 win over Enterprise-Lincoln.

&#8220I’ve liked playing for coach Bonner a lot. She has a lot of faith in everybody’s ability,” Koestler said.

Koestler said Bonner’s practices have made it easier for her to handle the transition to public school competition.

&#8220Playing here has been different. It’s pretty fast-paced. But I like it a lot,” said Koestler, who plays forward right next to senior center Bonney Neill.

Kerut said Neill has helped her share in the senior leadership role.

&#8220Bonney’s doing it with her hustle. She is hustling so hard and that’s what you need to be a leader,” Kerut said.

Kerut also thinks the Lady Flashes have benefited from having their own coach. McBrayer had to split his time between the boys and the girls.

&#8220I think it has because her focus is on us,” Kerut said. &#8220She’s been a great coach for us. We are working so much harder than we did in the past.”

Kerut is one of Warren County’s best players and has been a staple of the All-County team the last two years. But she says this season will be it for her as a player.

&#8220I thought a lot about playing in college. But after looking over some things, I’ve pretty much decided to go to Mississippi State and study engineering,” she said.

Until then, Kerut will concentrate on leading the Lady Flashes further in the playoffs. Last year, they were upset in the division tournament and then had to travel in the first round for a tough game at McAdams.

Bonner said a key for her team has been the ability to overcome a lack of depth after they lost Kayla Childress to a broken nose.

&#8220When Kayla broke her nose that left us at about six deep because I had to move Kaitlyn (Ellis) up to a starter. She’s stepped up. But we’ve had some games here of late where I’ve had the opportunity to play some girls who haven’t gotten to play much,” Bonner said. &#8220Tori Hines and Sarah Franco have helped us and now they are two we can go to off the bench.”

The key for the second half of the divisional slate for St. Al will be one of attitude.

&#8220When we’ve come to play, I’ve been very pleased,” Bonner said.