South Fayette leads list of Almanac girls basketball all-stars
With a pair of PIAA finalists and a trio of WPIAL championship participants, 2025 proved a very good year for girls basketball in The Almanac readership area.
South Fayette reached the pinnacle, capturing the program’s first state championship and compiling a 29-2 overall record without a loss to any Pennsylvania club, while Peters Township and Upper St. Clair won WPIAL titles.
So it comes as no surprise that those three squads dominate this year’s Almanac Elite Eleven. The list was compiled after surveying the local head coaches, considering final statistics and viewing games throughout the season. All players nominated by the coaches received recognition on the team, whether as members of the first or second team, honorable mention selections or players to watch picks.
The Lady Lions dominated the region and placed four players among the Top 10 as well as having their leader, Bryan Bennett, claim Coach of the Year laurels.
After graduating key components, including point guard Lainey Yater, from three straight WPIAL championship clubs, Bennett shaped a young squad that started three juniors, a sophomore and one senior into another champion. After claiming an undefeated section banner, the Lady Lions returned to the district finals for the fourth year in a row. South Fayette fell to Peters Township, 40-36, after leading much of the contest.
South Fayette rebounded from that disappointing defeat to win the first PIAA title in the school’s history of girls basketball. The Lady Lions avenged their district championship loss to the Lady Indians in the state semifinals then went on to upset four-time reigning PIAA champion, Archbishop Wood, 45-37, in the state finals.
“It was an unbelievable season, ” Bennett said. “We had a special group of players.”
That group included juniors Haylie Lamonde, Juliette Leroux and Oldaker as well as sophomore Lailah Wright. All were named to the Elite Eleven with Lamonde, Leroux and Oldaker claiming first-team honors.
A starter on last year’s WPIAL championship club, Lamonde averaged 12 points per game while serving up two assists an outing. She led the team with 3.6 steals per game. She averaged 2.3 rebounds.
During championship action, Lamonde scored eight points and dished up a team-high four assists in the PIAA final. She scored a game-high 19 points in the WPIAL championship contest.
“Haylie is a very skilled player,” Bennett said. “She also has the ability to score at multiple levels which makes her extremely difficult to guard.”
Leroux proved difficult to defend, especially in the state final, where she led the Lady Lions with 15 points and seven rebounds. During the season, she averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.
“Juliette had several big games for us this season,” Bennett noted. “She was able to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Her defense down the stretch was a big key to our success.”
Oldaker also proved multi-faceted for the Lady Lions. She scored 10 points and dished up two assists in the state final.
During the season, she led the team with a 12.4 scoring average. She also managed 2.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds a game.
“Ryan is a talented and versatile player who played multiple positions for us this year,” Bennett said. “She also was able to impact the game on both ends of the floor.”
Wright filled the vacancy at point guard, orchestrating the offense and dictating the defense. She dished up 4.3 assists a game to go along with a 9.5-point scoring average. She also pulled down 4 rebounds a game.
“Lailah set the tone on both ends of the floor for us with her relentless ball pressure on defense and great court awareness on offense,” Bennett said.
USC’S STAR
At Upper St. Clair, Rylee Kalocay set the tone ever since she entered high school.
A four-year starter, she played in three WPIAL championship games, leading the Lady Panthers to the championship this season. She fired in a game-high 13 points and dished up 5 assists in guiding USC to a 45-40 victory over Norwin in the Class 6A title tilt.
Kalocay also led the Lady Panthers to the state finals for only the second time in school history. She scored 10 points in USC’s loss to Perkiomen Valley, 58-27, in the PIAA championship game.
“The only time we didn’t go to a title game was when Rylee tore her ACL,” said USC floor boss Pete Serio.
On Jan. 2, 2024 in a loss to Peters Township, Kalocay suffered the injury, which required season-ending surgery. USC finished the year with a 6-6 record that included a 44-41 loss to North Allegheny in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL 6A tournament.
Despite the injury, Kalocay earned all-section acclaim. She was a four-time all-star.
Kalocay averaged 22 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign. She finished her career as the second all-time scoring leader in school history with 1,758 points. She also ranks third all-time with 117 career 3-point field goals.
“In my opinion she is the best player in western Pennsylvania,” said Serio. “She has proven that in how far this team goes when she plays.”
Kalocay, who also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, will be going to Kent State University in the fall to continue her playing career with the Golden Flashes.
BP’S DUO
Despite a 12-15 record, Bethel Park enjoyed a successful season. Competing in the toughest classification, the Lady Hawks finished 6-6 in Section 4 and qualified for the Class 5A tournament. Not only did they win their first playoff game under head coach Steve Norman, their upset victory over Franklin Regional, 46-45, catapulted the Lady Hawks into the PIAA state playoffs. Bethel Park lost to York Suburban, 47-34, to end the year.
Seniors Sadie Orie and Ella Sabatos were key reasons for BP’s success this season.
As a point guard, Orie averaged 15 points per game and dished up three assists. Additionally, she managed two steals an outing while also pulling down three rebounds.
Orie, who maintains a 4.4 GPA and competes in track, will play basketball at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.
A forward, Sabatos led the Lady Hawks in rebounding with nine boards per game. She also averaged 13 points, three assists and two steals.
Sabatos will continue her playing career at Frostburg State University.
Both Orie and Sabatos were selected to compete in the 21st annual Roundball Classic to be held May 25 at North Allegheny High School.
HIGH SCORERS
The Almanac Elite Eleven list includes a pair of hot shots in Payton Collins from Mt. Lebanon and Rachel Boehm from Chartiers Valley. Both entered an elite club this winter by scoring their 1,000th points in their scholastic careers and both were also selected to play in the Roundball Classic.
Collins finished as Lebo’s leading scorer this winter, averaging 14.1 points per game. A four-year starter, Collins also managed 4.6 rebounds for the Blue Devils, who reached the semifinals of the WPIAL 6A playoffs and finished 14-11 overall.
“Payton was a tremendous player for our team,” said Lebo coach Mark Walsh. “She’s one of the hardest workers I have ever seen.”
Collins will continue her playing career at Bowdoin College, which reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Meanwhile, Boehm averaged 12 points per game for the Lady Colts, who finished runner-up to South Fayette in Section 3 action with a 10-2 slate.
A senior guard, Boehm also grabbed six rebounds a game to go along with two steals and two assists an outing for Char Valley, which finished 15-8 overall after losing to Baldwin, 73-72, in the WPIAL 5 playoffs.
“Rachel’s defense and hustle kept us in most games,” said CV coach Mike Semplice.
ROTY TO PT
No newcomer made a greater impact in girls basketball this season than Taylor McCullough from Peters Township. As a result, the freshman was the hands-down choice for the Rookie of the Year distinction.
A 5-6 guard, McCullough complemented the inside attack of 6-footers Natalie Wetzel and Daniela Radulovich as well as the backcourt of Brianna Morreale.
McCullough averaged 8.0 points per game. Additionally, she dished up three assists and grabbed 3.1 rebounds.
“Taylor has a ton of potential and did a lot of really nice things this year for us,” said PT coach Steve Limberiou. “She is just scratching the surface of what she can become in the next three years.”
McCullough has deep bloodlines. Her mom, Dawn, was one of most accomplished athletes in Kent State women’s basketball history, amassing 1,600 points, 450 assists and 300 steals. Her dad, Gary, played defensive back for the Kent State football team. Her brothers Nick, a senior, and Brendan, an alum, played football and basketball at Peters Township.
HONORABLE MENTION
Among the players earning honorable recognition are:
Emma Reynolds, Iyla Ozbey and Ava Shazar from Chartiers Valley.
A senior forward, Reynolds averaged 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal for the Lady Colts. “Emma’s ability to see the floor as a forward put her at a huge advantage,” said CV coach Mike Semplice.
A senior guard, Ozbey fired in seven points and six rebounds a game to go along with three steals and three assists an outing. “Iyla was the glue that held us together on and off the court this season,” Semplice said.
A senior swing forward/guard, Shazar contributed six points, one steal and an assist to the CV offense as well as four rebounds a game to the defense. Her 3-point shooting was the difference in a lot of the team’s games, said Semplice.
Riley Collins and Shea McCarthy from Mt. Lebanon.
A senior, Collins was a defensive specialist for the Blue Devils. She averaged 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. “She was a solid player and very good defensively,” said Walsh. “She always guarded the other team’s top player.”
A senior, McCarthy managed 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds a game for Lebo. “She was a solid player who distributed the ball well from the wing and forward position.”
Bri Morreale. This Peters Township junior averaged 10.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She hit the game-winning 3-point field goal to propel Peters Township to victory against South Fayette in the WPIAL title game.
“Bri is extremely dependable and reliable,” said PT coach Steve Limberiou. “She is an elite 3-point shooter and an outstanding defender that frequently guarded the other team’s top guard.”
Ryan Prunzik, Meredith Huzjak and Olivia Terlecki from Upper St. Clair.
Prunzik averaged six points per game and ranked second on the team in rebounding despite her 5-foot-4 stature. She also led the Panthers in assists and steals. “She makes out team go,” said USC coach Pete Serio.
Huzjak led USC in 3-point shooting with a 37 percent conversion rate. She also ranked second in scoring with a 10-point average. “She really stepped up as a scorer when the other teams took away Rylee (Kalocay),” Serio said.
Terlecki averaged seven points per game and converted 35 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. She was 5 of 6 from that range to lead USC to victory in the state semifinals. “She always guarded the other team’s best player and consistently held her under her season scoring average,” noted Serio. “She is our unsung hero,” he added.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Among the area players to watch are:
Alyssa Davis from Chartiers Valley. The senior averaged five points and five rebounds a game while averaging 12 minutes of action per game.
Cali Green, Liz Twyman and Anessa Donoghue from Mt. Lebanon.
A sophomore, Green could play either at forward or guard. She averaged 8.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. “She did an awesome job for us and had a strong year,” Walsh said.
A sophomore, Twyman managed 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds a game. “”She’s a strong rebounder and strong going to the basket,” said Walsh. “She did a great job for us this year.”
A sophomore point guard for the Blue Devils, she provided 6.1 points per game to go along with 2.4 rebounds. “She ran our offense and was tremendous on the ball defender,” Walsh said.
Ella Vierra from South Fayette. A freshman, she came off the bench and provided quality minutes for Lady Lions during their state championship run.
Kat Polystanko from Upper St. Clair. A 6-1 freshman, she has abundant potential. “I promise she will be a force in the future,” Serio said. “She has Division I abilities.
Almanac Elite Eleven All-Stars
First Team
Rylee Kalocay Upper St. Clair Senior 22 ppg.
Haylie Lamonde South Fayette Junior 12 ppg. 3.6 steals
Juliette Leroux South Fayette Junior 12.1 ppg. 4.5 rpg.
Ryan Oldaker South Fayette Junior 12.4 ppg. 3.7 rpg.
Natalie Wetzel Peters Township Senior 18.7 ppg. 9.5 rpg.
Second Team
Rachel Boehm Chartiers Valley Senior 12 ppg. 6 rpg.
Payton Collins Mt. Lebanon Senior 14.1 ppg. 4.6 rpg.
Sadie Orie Bethel Park Senior 15 ppg. 3 assists
Ella Sabatos Bethel Park Senior 13 ppg. 9 rpg.
Lailah Wright South Fayette Sophomore 9.5 ppg. 4.3 assists
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Natalie Wetzel, Peters Township
HONORABLE MENTION: Rachel Boehm, Emma Reynolds, Iyla Ozbey, Ava Shazar – Chartiers Valley; Riley Collins, Shea McCarthy – Mt. Lebanon; Bri Morreale – Peters Township; Ryan Prunzik, Meredith Huzjak, Olivia Terlecki – Upper St. Clair
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Taylor McCullough, Peters Township
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alyssa Davis – Chartiers Valley; Cali Green, Liz Twyman, Anessa Donoghue – Mt. Lebanon; Ella Vierra – South Fayette; Kat Polystanko -Upper St. Clair
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bryan Bennett, South Fayette