Chartiers Valley putting spin on success in girls’ basketball
Kenzie Wagner drives to the basket during pre-season scrimmage ation.
Chartiers Valley girls’ basketball coach Dan Slain takes a break in the action to explain a strategy to Carleea Webb during practice.
Abbey Collins will be the sole senior in the starting line-up. She averaged six points last season.
Megan McConnell fills the lone spot in the line-up caused by graduation. She is a freshman.
At Chartiers Valley, they spell success with the letters “T” and “H” in girls’ basketball.
“Our team has talent, toughness, teamwork and trust (in each other) along with heart (grit), head (smarts), hustle, humility and hunger that are all necessary to reach our goals for the season,” said Colts’ skipper Dan Slain.
During the 2016-17 campaign, the goals are clear. Expectations are for the Lady Colts to claim a section banner, capture the WPIAL championship and venture deep into the PIAA playoffs.
CV entered the North Allegheny Tipoff Tournament this weekend ranked No. 1 in Class 5-A. The Colts are rated so highly because they return all but one starter from last year’s 15-11 club, which fell to eventual district champion South Fayette in the WPIAL quarterfinals and to Ambridge in the state playoffs.
Nicole Olkosky matriculated to the University of Pittsburgh’s Johnstown campus where she is playing for the Mountain Cats. She was CV’s starting center last year.
Abbey Collins headlines the veterans as the lone senior in the starting line-up. A team captain, she averaged six points per game last year. Collins runs the offense from the point guard position.
A junior, Lauren Wagner is the other captain. The 5-8 guard averaged 11.6 points per game last year. Sophomores Mackenzie Wagner and Gabby Leigister also return to the line-up and pose tall orders for defenses. Though 5-11, Wagner is a guard that managed 14.6 points an outing. At 6-2, Leigister is a center who tossed in 9.8 points per game for the Colts.
“We are talented, experienced and battle-tested,” said Slain.
So, too, are the newcomers. Megan McConnell fills the fifth position in the starting lineup. Maclain Zajicek will also be in the varsity rotation. Both are freshman guards, but at 5-9, Zajicek can play a forward position.
“Megan will provide us with a talented fifth starter, and Maclain will provide us with good depth,” Slain said.
In addition, Carleea Webb, Alexandra Ferrella and Mariah Demus permit the Lady Colts flexibility. They will be key subs. All are sophomore guards, but Demus can be used as a forward.
Senior Samantha Hartnett, sophomores Kristina Chilelli and Theresa Mackey, along with freshman Mary Fisher, round out the squad.
“We are low on numbers, with only 13 on our team roster. That’s a concern,” said Slain. “Even though this is an experienced group of players, we are still young in age, and that could be a team weakness, too.”
The Colts, however, possess many pluses. In addition to talent and battle-worthiness, Slain said the players have a “strong work ethic” and “good team chemistry.”
“They are focused on their goals and they possess a great resolve to always compete,” he added.
Those are qualities the Colts must continue to have if they expect to achieve their goals as they prepare for Section 1 action. They will have time to prepare for both league play as well as defending WPIAL champion South Fayette. Section action commences at Lincoln Park on Jan. 2, and the Colts host the Lions at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16.
In between, the Colts prepare against some of the top 6-A powers such as Peters Township (Dec. 16), Canon-McMillan (Dec. 19), Upper St. Clair (Dec. 23) and defending WPIAL Class AA champion Bishop Canevin. Plus, the Colts will compete in the California University Hoopfest over the holidays against Trinity (Dec. 27) and Fairmont, W.Va., on Dec. 28.
“Without a doubt it’s a tough section, and South Fayette will be our toughest league opponent because they are the WPIAL champion until they are dethroned,” Slain said. “They are the team to beat.”
To beat them and any of their opponents, the Colts must continue to give “perfect” or 100 percent effort in practices and games, says Slain.
“We have to prepare well for each opponent, be in excellent condition in order to compete hard for four quarters every game, defend, rebound and share the ball in every game,” he said. “We have to stay committed and focused; humble and hungry while working towards our goals. We must dream big, work hard, get better and never quit.”