Chartiers Valley, Bethel Park lead Almanac girls all-star list
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ashleigh Connor attempts to block a shot against Bethel Park.
Maddie Dziezgowski
Aislin Malcolm
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac/
Megan McConnell made the all-state list for the fourth year in a row.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Olivia Westphal broke Bethel Park’s all-time scoring record this season.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tim McConnell
Katelyn Robbins
Hallie Cowan
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
The Chartiers Valley girls basketball team dominated this season. The Colts won a second straight WPIAL Class 5A championship and set the District 7 record for consecutive victories. They are 57-0 over the past two years.
To the victors go the spoils.
The Almanac 2020 girls basketball all-stars list is dominated by WPIAL and section champions. The list was compiled in part with the assistance of area girls basketball coaches.
Each head coach was surveyed to compile an initial list of candidates for the all-star squad. Season statistics, as well as games viewed by The Almanac staff, were considered in compiling this year’s unit.
Regardless of whether the 2020 campaign is completed – the PIAA postseason was suspended after quarterfinal play because of the coronavirus crisis – Chartiers Valley boasted the most dominant team in the region followed by Bethel Park and Bishop Canevin. The Colts and Crusaders captured WPIAL titles while the Hawks finished runner-up to North Allegheny after losing 54-50 in overtime during the District 7 finals played at the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center. Those three squads make up 70% of the all-star list.
CV leads the list
While Colts senior Megan McConnell gained Most Valuable Player recognition, her father, Tim, was also named The Almanac’s Coach of the Year. CV’s Aislin Malcolm and Perri Page, earned spots on all-star list. Additionally, Hallie Cowan shared Rookie of the Year acclaim with Katelyn Robbins.
Tim McConnell is undefeated in two seasons coaching CV’s girls basketball team. After steering Chartiers Valley to an undefeated state championship (30-0) run in 2019, McConnell led the Colts to a 27-0 record in 2020.
Those 57 wins in a row are a new WPIAL record and among the more than 600 coaching victories for McConnell, who last led CV’s boys team.
McConnell fashioned this year’s section and WPIAL championship squad around one senior starter and four sophomores.
Two of those 10th graders already are gaining recognition as potentially the best players to come out of the district.
Malcolm has Division I scholarship offers from Duke, Princeton, Colgate, West Virginia, Pitt and Duquesne. The 5-10 guard was also named Pennsylvania Player of the Year by MaXPreps. The All-Section performer led the Colts in scoring with 16.7 points per game. Malcolm also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
Malcolm exploded for 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in CV’s 58-40 WPIAL Class 5A championship win against Trinity. She was 7 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the free throw line.
“Aislin’s a big-time player,” McConnell said. “She can really shoot the ball. She did a great job of getting to the rim this year and really improved her defense and rebounding.”
Page also did her part for the Colts. The 5-11 sophomore averaged 12.7 points. She led the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.5 boards a game. Page also earned all-section honors.
“Perri is just an unbelievable athlete,” said McConnell. “She did everything she was asked to do to make our team successful.”
BP’s 1-2 punch
Throughout their careers, Maddie Dziezgowski and Olivia Westpahl made Bethel Park successful. They helped the Black Hawks capture a section title and reach the WPIAL finals. BP had advanced to the quarterfinals in the PIAA girls Class 6A tournament and was 23-3 overall when the season was suspended.
Within games of each other this season, Dziezgowski and Westphal each surpassed the 1,000-point plateau. Each also earned all-section acclaim and made The Almanac all-star list for a second time.
A senior, Dziezgowski averaged a team-high 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
“Diz was so consistent for us this season,” said BP head coach Jonna Burke. “She continually came up big and really elevated her game.”
Dziezgowski is a St. Bonaventure recruit. She plans to major in pharmacy.
“Maddie is a tremendous kid. One of the most positive, coachable kids that I’ve coached in 25 years,” Burke said. “She does things the right way. Her impact on our program is immeasurable.”
A junior, Westphal averaged 15.4 points a game. The three-year starter, who has multiple Division I scholarship offers, also managed two steals and 2.5 assists an outing.
“Liv is a gamer and never backs down,” Burke said. “She was at the center of all we were able to accomplish this season.”
Burke said the combination of her scoring mentality and “sneaky” defensive skills, make Westphal a great all-around player.
“She has a quick release on her shot and an overall court savviness that makes her attractive to Division I schools,” Burke said. “Plus, Liv is incredibly competitive. It drives her to be her best. She wants to win and is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Connor top five
Ashleigh Connor completes The Almanac’s Top Five. She led Mt. Lebanon (18-7) in scoring, rebounding and steals. The Almanac 2019 Rookie of the Year averaged 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 steals in 2020.
Though just a sophomore, Connor has garnered much Division I attention. Already Davidson, Princeton, Lafayette and Northern Kentucky have expressed interest in her.
“Ashleigh is extremely coachable and wants to be coached up to improve her game,” said Lebo head coach Dori Oldaker. “She loves the game and our team feeds off her energy. She’s also the ultimate competitor. She hates losing at anything.”
Canevin duo wins
Bishop Canevin enjoyed another championship season thanks to Deijha Allen and Alyssa Police. The seniors helped the Crusaders to a WPIAL Class A title, their third in four years, and an undefeated section banner. Canevin finished 19-7 overall after a first-round loss to Bishop McCort, 55-44, in the PIAA tournament.
Allen averaged 17.7 points per game. She scored 33 points to surpass the 1,000-point plateau for her career during Canevin’s 84-26 win against St. Joseph.
Pollice averaged 18.5 points per game. She received the second most votes, behind only Allen, in the balloting for all-section honors.
Brown 2nd team
Mia Brown was one of a handful of freshmen that turned Upper St. Clair into a team of the present rather than the future.
Along with Katelyn Robbins, Brown guided the Panthers to a 14-9 record that featured a 53-40 win against rival Mt. Lebanon in the Section 2 finale. USC advanced to WPIAL semifinals as well as the PIAA playoffs.
An all-section selection, Brown led USC in scoring with 11 points per game. She also managed 2.5 steals per game.
PT’s best
Journey Thompson stepped up and led Peters Township.
The sophomore led the Indians in scoring with a 16-point average. She also averaged 11 rebounds a game. The two-year starter also gained a spot on the all-section list.
“She’s just an athletic post player,” said Bert Kendall, who recently resigned as PT’s head coach.
Top newcomers
Katelyn Robbins and Hallie Cowan share Rookie of the Year honors. Both were second-team all-section selections.
A freshman, Robbins averaged eight points and six rebounds a game for Upper St. Clair. The 6-1 center also blocked 21 shots. The second-team, all-section performer exploded for 30 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a 52-39 WPIAL playoff win against Norwin.
“Kate has a great deal of potential,” said USC coach Pete Serio. “I’m not too sure many freshman in the history of the WPIAL could have put up those kinds of numbers in a playoff game at the highest level.”
Cowan put up her share of numbers while playing for Char Valley. The sophomore broke into the starting line-up this season and averaged 12.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a game. She added 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals an outing.
“She can really shoot the ball,” said McConnell.
Honorable mention
Among the players earning honorable mention status on The Almanac girls all-star basketball list included:
- Lauren Mullen — This Bethel Park senior averaged 10.1 points and 3.7 assists. She earned second team all-section acclaim.
- Helene Cowan — This Chartiers Valley sophomore averaged 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She received honorable mention status on the Section 1, 5A squad.
- Morgan Palmer — An all-section, first-team pick, this Mt. Lebanon junior averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.
- Patrice Smith — The Lebo senior earned second-team all-section honors.
- Vanessa Hudson — This senior forward averaged 11.1 points per game for Seton LaSalle and was named first-team all-section.
- Avana Sayles — Despite suffering a season-ending injury during a game Jan. 16 against Baldwin, this Peters Township sophomore managed 13 points and eight rebounds a game. She earned second-team all-section honors.
- Jordan Bisignani — A three-year starter and team leader, she provided six points and two assists per game for the Indians.
- Clare Relihan — This South Fayette senior guard gained all-section, second-team laurels.
Players to watch
Among the players to watch are:
- Reagan Murdoch – This Mt. Lebanon sophomore earned honorable mention recognition on the Section 2, 6A all-star squad.
- Lexi Pirosko – This freshman started all 21 of Peters Township’s games and finished third on the team in rebounding and assists.
- Maddie Weber – A freshman guard for South Fayette, she netted honorable mention on the all-section team.
- Ava Keating — This USC freshman guard averaged eight points a game. She ranked second on the team for 3-pointers and rebounds. She gained honorable mention recognition on the all-section team.
- Sam Prunzik – This freshman guard led Upper St. Clair in assists.
FIRST TEAM
Ashleigh Connor Mt. Lebanon Sophomore 20.2 ppg. 5.6 rpg.
Maddie Dziezgowski Bethel Park Senior 15.6 ppg. 7.5 rpg.
Aislin Malcolm Chartiers Valley Sophomore 16.7 ppg. 4.1 rpg.
Megan McConnell Chartiers Valley Senior 14.3 ppg. 4.6 assists
Olivia Westphal Bethel Park Junior 15.4 ppg. 2.5 assists
SECOND TEAM
Diajha Allen Bishop Canevin Senior 17.7 ppg.
Mia Brown Upper St. Clair Freshman 11 ppg. 2.5 steals
Perri Page Chartiers Valley Sophomore 12.7 ppg. 6.5 rpg.
Alyssa Pollice Bishop Canevin Senior 18.5 ppg.
Journey Thompson Peters Township Senior 16 ppg. 11 rpg.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Megan McConnell, Chartiers Valley
HONORABLE MENTION: Lauren Mullen-Bethel Park; Helene Cowan-Chartiers Valley; Morgan Palmer, Patrice Smith-Mt. Lebanon; Vanessa Hudson-Seton LaSalle; Avana Sayles, Jordan Bisignani-Peters Township; Clare Relihan-South Fayette
ROOKIES OF THE YEAR Katelyn Robbins, Upper St. Clair & Hallie Cowan, Chartiers Valley
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Reagan Murdoch-Mt. Lebanon; Lexi Pirosko-Peters Township; Maddie Weber-South Fayette; Ava Keating, Sam Prunzik-Upper St. Clair
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tim McConnell, Chartiers Valley