Bethel Park expects a battle in girls’ basketball
When asked who would be Bethel Park’s toughest opponent, Jonna Burke spoke for all the girls’ basketball coaches in Section 3, Class 6-A of the WPIAL.
“Honestly,” she said, “all of them.”
Her Hawks, however, based on experience and a runner-up showing in last year’s district final, are the favorite to hoist the section banner by mid-February. Bethel Park entered the season ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL behind defending champion North Allegheny, which lost only one senior from last year’s PIAA runner-up club that finished 28-2 overall.
Meanwhile, BP lost two starters from last year’s 19-8 team that finished third in the section with a 6-4 slate. Playing at Delaware is Justina Mascaro, who returned from ACL surgery to spark the Hawks’ uprising in the playoffs, which included upsets of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Graduated, too, is Becca Rodrigues.
Kamryn Lach, Maria Cerro and Ashley Spence return to the starting lineup. Dubbed “attack dogs” by NA skipper Spencer Stefko, Lach and Cerro afford BP a fierce front on both ends of the court. A Chatham recruit, Lach averaged 11.3 points per game. A 5-7 junior guard, Cerro provided 7.7 points and dished up three assists a game.
Spence anchors the inside, which also features Maddie Dziezgowski and Olivia Westphal. While Spence, a 5-9 senior forward, averaged 5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game, Dziezgowski, a 5-11 sophomore, filled the gap until Mascaro’s return to the lineup last season. Westphal is a 5-9 freshman who can play inside or on the perimeter.
Seniors Emma Papalia (5-7 guard) and Jillian Acker (5-6 forward) along with Lauren Mullen (5-8 sophomore guard) should prove key subs for the Hawks.
“We are a hard-working group with great attitudes,” said Burke.
Burke acknowledges that quality will come in handy if the Hawks expect to achieve their goals, which are to “be competitive” every night and to take things one game at a time.
“We have to continue to work hard daily,” she said.
Down the road, along Route 19, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair are working equally as hard as the Hawks.
Mt. Lebanon
Lebo labors for good reason. The Blue Devils are the defending Section 3 champions, having finished 9-1 in the division. They compiled a 19-7 overall record, losing to NA in both the district and state playoffs.
Two key components have graduated from the Lebo line-up. Kate Sramac (11.8 ppg, 6 assists) is playing at Cornell. Kenzie Bushee (15.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg) is playing at Stony Brook.
“We lost a lot of offensive power,” said Dori Oldaker of Lebo’s departures. “However, our returning players gained a ton of experience during our run last season.”
Those veterans are Alyssa Hyland (10.5 ppg.), Jamey Napoleon (8.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg.) and Jess Wilhelm (2 steals per game). Hyland and Wilhelm, who is a Elon soccer commit, are two of only three seniors on the roster. Sara O’Toole, a forward, is the other.
Napoleon, who blocked 129 shots last season, is a junior, along with Mackenzie Miller, Mora Kogan, Katie Smith, Alyssa Kaper and Marissa Joseph.
Oldaker will carry a handful of sophomores – Megan Perri, Patrice Smith, Grace DiCola, Bridget Zimmerman and Haley Sabol – as well as seven freshmen – Katie Hart, Bridget Bruni, Gia Capristo, Genna Leibow, Morgan Palmer, Brooke Loughran and Isabella Primm – on her roster.
“We are young,” Oldaker conceded, “but we are working hard every day and improving with each practice and game.”
Upper St. Clair
Last year, USC was young and the Panthers experienced growing pains, finishing winless and in last place in the section. The team finished 3-19 overall.
However, USC has visions of a postseason berth. “Our goal is to make the playoffs,” said Pete Serio. “To do that, we need to play defense and take care of the ball because Bethel Park, Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon are going to be very tough.”
USC plan to be equally tough because the Panthers return all five starters: Kate Groninger, Liv McClelland, Kennedy Bayer, Lindsay Meyer and Cassie Karstonas. They lost only Catherine Gollihough from last year’s line-up.
“Experience is our strength,” concurred Serio.
Senior Alexis John, a 5-10 center, as well as juniors Sarah Price (6-1) and Allison Delicarri are expected to make key contributions.
The Panthers will also rely upon seniors Johanna Chikuni and Miranda Schuck as well as juniors Isabella Goldman, Margaret McClintock and Chloe Schuler.
Sophomores on the roster include Casey Bakayza, Mary Groninger, Jillian Rocco and Sara Steve.
Serio also welcomed a talented freshmen class to the program. The newcomers are Julia Dellicarri, Lily Falce, Abigail John, Alexandra Pantelis, Alexandra Prunzik, Brooke Reitz, Emily Rocco and Sarah Zadrozny.
Tourney time
USC enjoyed early-season success when the Panthers captured the championship in the South Fayette Tip-off Tournament. In overtime, they defeated the host Lions, 66-60, for the title. Kate Groninger exploded for 19 points while Liv McClelland and Lindsay Meyer chipped in 15 and 11 markers respectively. Maura Castelluci (21), Jordyn Caputo (17) and Skylar Aitken paced the Lions. While USC opened tournament action with a 59-48 win against Keystone Oaks while the Lions advanced to the finals with 62-39 victory over Freeport.
Bethel Park won its own tip-off tournament. After dispatching Hempfield, 57-32, in the opener, the Hawks crushed Beaver, 73-56, in the finals. Olivia Westphal and Maria Cerro fired in 26 and 20 points against the Bobcats. Maddie Dziezgowski chipped in 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Against the Spartans, Dziezgowski pumped in 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Cerro and Westphal provided 14 and 13 points. Westphal earned MVP honors while Dziezgowski was named to the all-tournament team.
Lebo opened the 2017 campaign with an overtime win, 65-58, against Norwin in the North Allegheny Tournament. Jamey Napoleon led with 21 points, five coming in the overtime. The Blue Devils lost to Altoona, 64-31, in follow-up action. After finishing tournament play with a loss to Penn Hills, 43-39, Lebo opens Section 3 action on Dec. 14 at Baldwin.