Seton-La Salle’s magnificent seven ends career
Seton-La Salle girls’ basketball coach Spencer Stepko consoles Alexia Facchiano, who attempts to comfort teammate Nicolete Newman (No. 5) after the Rebels’ loss to Neuman-Goretti, 79-34, in the PIAA Class championship game at the Giant Center in Hershey. The Rebels had beaten the Saints, 58-50, in last year’s final but with five, Division I recruits and a No. 1 ranking in the nation, this year’s Neumann-Goretti club was too tough to beat. The Saints finished 31-0 overall.
Cassidy Walsh has her shot blocked by Martin Sianni (No. 3) during PIAA Class AA girls’ championship action. Despite 11 points from Walsh, Seton-La Salle dropped a 79-34 decision to Neumann-Goretti.
Shaunay Edmonds attempts to drive past her defender during PIAA Class AA girls’ championship action.
Spencer Stefko knew the moment was coming. After Seton-La Salle lost, 79-34, to Philadelphia’s Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA Class AA girls’ basketball championship game at the Giant Center in Hershey, the team’s head coach for two seasons had to say goodbye to his seven seniors.
The group of impending graduates compiled an incredible 107-15 career record that included four section titles, three WPIAL championships and two state banners to go along with silver medal performances in two other district and Pennsylvania finals.
“Even if we had won, it would have been difficult. Saying goodbye was brutal, the worst, because this group was so special. I have never had seven great seniors,” said Stefko, who has been coaching for nine years, two at Seton-La Salle and seven at Chartiers Valley. “They were seven of the most amazing players that I have coached.”
The tears in the eyes of many of the seniors reflected that sentiment rather than the loss. As the silver medals were distributed, Nicolete Newman, Morgan Henderson, Julie DeKlaven, Bridget Sigg, Alexia and Giavanna Facchiano wept while Cassidy Walsh maintained a glimmer of a smile.
“Some of the tears came from disappointment. They probably wanted to accomplish more,” Stefko said. “Most of the tears were flowing from the seniors as they realized their careers were over. In the locker room, it was harder because after that game, that may have lasted one and one half hours, you are no longer their coach.”
Coaches come and coaches go. Stefko is keenly aware of that fact as he represented the third floor boss the senior Rebels have had in four years.
“It wasn’t the coach holding the program together it was this special group of kids that held the program together,” he said. “They were asked to do what no other players had been asked to do.”
No matter the struggle, no matter the challenge, the seniors stuck together and persevered. And all seven seniors remained in the program.
“Seven (seniors) is a lot of kids. That’s rare. That’s unheard of nowadays,” Stefko said, “because kids usually quit because they are not getting the playing time they think they should get. They get distracted with other things. But what these kids have is so rare and wonderful. They accepted their roles.”
Since coming off back-to-back state grade school championships, Walsh and Newman became the face of the Lady Rebels’ program. Both finished their careers as 1,000-point scorers and earned Division I scholarships. Walsh will play for Suzie McConnell-Serio’s Panthers from the University of Pittsburgh. Newman will play for Cleveland State.
“They were rocks,” Stefko said of the dynamic duo. “They were all about the team, Seton-La Salle and basketball.”
Meanwhile, Henderson, who also excels in volleyball, will play basketball at Slippery Rock. Though uncommitted, Julie DeKlaven will also likely find a spot on a college roster.
“We are hopeful to place her,” said Stefko. “Whoever gets her will be lucky. She’s a spitfire, a leader and she hustles.”
No amount of hustle seemed to neutralize Neumann-Goretti, however. The Saints entered the state final as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation by USA Today. Their win over the Rebels capped an undefeated season for the Saints (31-0) and avenged last year’s 58-50 loss to the Rebels in the 2014 state finals. Neuman-Goretti owned a 60-1 record over the past two seasons.
“(Neumann-Goretti) certainly showed why they were the No. 1 team in the country. They had a great day,” Stefko said. “They deserve all the credit they get.”
For the Saints, Ciani Cryor and Christine Aborowa were credited with double-doubles. A Georgia Tech recruit, Cyror dished up 15 assists and fired in 11 points. Aborowa, who is bound for Texas, pumped in 13 tallies. The 6-5 forward pulled down 10 rebounds. Alisha Kebbe also grabbed 11 caroms. Towson State recruits Anhnje Timbers and Sianni Martin provided 20 and 16 points to the offensive attack. Timbers buried four of her five attempts from 3-point range.
The Saints converted 54.4 percent of their field goals and 47.4 percent of their long-range shots while the Rebels converted a bleak 21.2 percent of their overall attempts.
Walsh led the offensive attack. She scored eight of her team-high 11 points in the first frame as SLS streaked to a 10-6 advantage. However, Neumann-Goretti then embarked on a 24-0 run. Newman snapped that run and ended SLS’s eight-minute scoring drought by knocking down a 3-pointer with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter. Neuman finished with nine points and three assists.
The Saints stretched a 43-16 halftime margin to 60-20 to invoke the Mercy Rule against the Rebels with 3:12 to go in the third quarter.
Seton-La Salle, which finished the season at 23-8 overall and were the WPIAL Class AA champions, return Shaunay Edmonds to its starting line-up next winter. The junior point guard has “lots of potential” but she is just one player, said Stefko.
“It’s going to be a challenge replacing these seniors, if that’s possible. We need for all our juniors to jump up and become leaders like our seniors were. They were very, very valuable.”
Madalena Psillidis is among the other juniors who gained valuable playing experience this season. Julia Cipollone, Delaney Daly and Riley O’Donnell round out the junior class.
Sophomores Jamie Neary, Bailey Canavan and Mia Marzina and freshmen Alayna Ziegler, Bridget Hart, Victoria Hudson and Ellie Grefenstette complete the Rebels’ roster.