Fox

“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”

–Rudyard Kipling

Throughout life, there are certain literary works that tend to stick with us.

Sometimes experiences later in life resurrect different passages, which was recently the case with a poem I first heard many moons ago.

Rudyard Kipling was a well-known British poet and novelist from the Victorian Era who is credited with writing “The Law Of The Jungle.”

It’s a poem that has been interpreted in various ways. Most understand “The Law Of The Jungle” as a commentary on survival of the fittest or the strong preying on the weak — and they wouldn’t be wrong.

The other interpretation of Kipling’s powerful words is far different. Many see it as a blueprint for success for both families and athletic teams. It speaks to what a group can achieve together — especially when no one individual tries to steal the spotlight or go rogue.

Over the last few weeks, I was blessed to have a front-row seat to see what can be accomplished when a team buys into “the strength of the pack” mantra — it’s an 11-day stretch I won’t soon forget.

The 2025-26 version of Altoona Area High School’s Lady Lion basketball team provided our school and community a reason to smile this season — particularly during the PIAA 6A (big school) playoffs.

We were a squad that nobody –with the exception of the players, coaches and a few others outside the locker room — believed could make a deep postseason run, and the beating heart of this improbable group was a true pack mentality.

AAHS girls basketball has a long and storied history which includes four state titles — two of which were also USA Today national championship squads — and four state runner-up finishes.

It has been 21 years since a team made it to the Final Four — that is until this little, feisty group of young ladies decided it had been long enough, and in doing so they brought a lot of joy to this hardworking, blue-collar town.

After winning our district championship, we advanced to the round of 32 in the PIAA playoffs. At one point in that first game we were down 12 points to a talented Norwin team out of the vaunted WPIAL, but we’d go on to win in overtime and advance to the Sweet 16.

The next game was against a talented Pennsbury team from the Philadelphia area.

It had been 20 years since a Lady Lions team had advanced to the Elite Eight — a goal these girls set for themselves at the start of the season. We won again in another close game, setting up a performance that would truly show the “strength of The Pack.”

In our way was Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse, Cardinal O’Hara High School. A top three team in the state, the 2024 state champs played the role of Goliath to our David as they were a team composed of numerous Division I prospects.

Executing a fantastic game plan by head coach Chris Fleegle, and playing as one, our Lady Lions came from down seven points at the start of the fourth quarter to complete one of the greatest upsets in the history of Altoona athletics.

They did so by following Kipling’s prose without even knowing who old Rudyard even was.

Three days later, our magical run came to an end with a one-point loss to Dallastown High School. It was a heartbreaking way to end a fantastic season. We were one basket away from the PIAA championship game in Hershey, and while it still stings as I type this, I can’t help but smile thinking about what these young ladies were able to do.

Prior to the tipoff of our Final Four game — behind the hoop closest to our bench — stood close to 100 Altoona High students who made the almost two-hour trip on yellow school buses with a handful of our incredibly supportive teachers and administrators.

That is what these girls did.

In an era where apathy and petty jealousies have all but destroyed the beauty of a high school student section, these girls were able to bring our school community together.

These ladies made a school and city believe again by beating some of the best from Pittsburgh and Philly.

When folks look back on this playoff run, they will realize it was more than the “strength of The Pack” that made it possible — it was the collective power of a Pride of Lady Lions.

Tom Fox is an assistant coach on the Altoona Area High school girls basketball team. He is also an occasional contributor to Voice of the Fan.