Niagara-Wheatfield girls basketball coach Diane Fegatilli found a point guard under her tree last Christmas.

Rachel Pawlak, then a junior, left Sacred Heart and enrolled at her home public school during winter recess. Pawlak’s presence was a welcome surprise for the 10-year Falcons coach.

“It was a very nice Christmas present,” Fegatilli said. “I found out about it pretty much after it was a done deal. The athletic director told me we had a player coming over from Sacred Heart, and at that point she was playing on varsity but she wasn’t getting a lot of playing time.”

The impact, Fegatilli said, was immediate.

“(Rachel’s) added a different dimension to the team,” she said. “She’s very skilled and as she grew more comfortable every game her game has improved.”

Pawlak said that, even in the middle of the season, the Falcons welcomed her with open arms.

“I’m really happy with my decision,” she said. “I feel like Niagara-Wheatfield was a better fit for me and everyone here made it really welcoming for me.”

Pawlak gave the Falcons two strong guards to drive the offense, joining senior Melissa Smith in a backcourt that yielded immediate results.

“They’ve done a great job in the backcourt together,” Fegatilli said. “They have a knack for finding each other when they’re open. They’re very unselfish basketball players and they’re always willing to make a pass.”

This season, Pawlak and Smith each average close to 15 points per game each. Despite the big numbers, Fegatilli said the duo are far from shoot-first guards.

“We actually ask (Pawlak) to take more shots,” Fegatilli said. “They are scoring quite a few points a game but they’re really not taking the bulk of the shots. It’s pretty evenly distributed.”

Pawlak said she played with Smith in AAU basketball when she was younger. The chemistry between the duo was immediate.

“She’s definitely quicker and she’s more of an offensive player,” Pawlak said. “We feed off each other.”

Pawlak said she prides herself on defense more than scoring, something that has surprised coaches that check the N-W box scores this season.

“She’s just solid fundamentally and plays well defensively,” Fegatilli said. “I think people are surprised with her defense because they go ‘Oh, she’s a great offensive player.’ But she knows where she belongs. She may not be the quickest guard in the league, but she certainly knows her angles and where she should be on the court at all times. She sees the ball really well.”

The Falcons (7-6, 5-6 NFL) are hoping to pick up the pace in their final regular season games before the Section VI tournament. Last year N-W knocked off Clarence in the first round before a loss at top-seeded Jamestown in the Class AA tournament.

“We need to take the next step. We need to focus on playing well and winning those big games so we can finish up on top and get ready for sectionals,” Fegatilli said. “We’re looking for a better draw. Maybe get a little higher up in the seeds so we can get a home game and not have to face the top seed the second game.”

Pawlak says her Falcons are ready to take that next step.

“We’ve been working hard and we’ve made a big improvement from last year,” she said. “Everyone’s been working as a team.”

The Falcons travel to Kenmore West (11-4, 7-3 NFL) at 7 tonight.