Chartiers Valley’s 63 wins cause for celebration, but later

There will be an occasion for the Chartiers Valley girls basketball team to celebrate setting its state record for 63 consecutive victories, but don’t expect that to come anytime soon.
“When this team is put into the Hall of Fame as one of the best teams,” Colts coach Tim McConnell said. “In 15, 20 years from now we”ll get together and reminisce about what we did. I think it will be meaningful then.”
Right now, CV’s 91-39 victory over Gateway Jan. 18 was just another win on the way to bigger and better things.
The Colts are two-time defending WPIAL champions and technically the reigning PIAA Class 5A champions.
CV went 30-0 to win en route to winning the 2019 state title with a 53-40 win against Archbishop Carroll. The Colts were 27-0 and prepared to play Thomas Jefferson in the state quarterfinals when the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the tournament and canceled further action in 2020.
“Most important for us is getting ready for the WPIAL and state run and I want our team to stay focused on our goals,” McConnell said. “We’re still upset about what happened last year and getting shut down two games before the state playoffs.
“The streak isn’t important to me,” he continued. “Give me my choice of a winning streak or championships, I’m taking win the WPIAL and the state any day of the week.”
After a 57-52 loss to Harbor Creek on March 10, 2018, the Colts embarked on their winning streak. In the process, they broke the WPIAL winning streak with their 57th victory against Hollidaysburg, 58-38, on March 11, 2020, in the PIAA playoffs. North Catholic set the district mark from 1987-89 while Lancaster Catholic held the state record from 2017-19.
“Streaks are made to be broken,” McConnell said. “There’s going to be a special team that comes around in the next 10, 15 years and break this streak and they will forget about Chartiers Valley.
“They don’t forget about state champions,” he added. “They don’t forget about WPIAL championships.”
The six juniors on CV’s roster have played together since the Chartiers Valley Youth Basketball Association in third grade. Since middle school, they have only lost seven games. They were undefeated in eighth grade.
“I can’t remember the last time we lost a game. Maybe seventh grade?” said CV standout Aislin Malcolm, who is a Pitt recruit. “It’s not surprising but it’s not expected that we win every time we step onto the court.”
The Colts win because of chemistry.
“We are all super close,” Malcolm said. “It’s just so much fun to have talented players to play with. It comes easy for us. With us it just comes with how much effort we put in and share the ball very well. That’s how we get it done.”
Every CV player saw considerable action as the Colts raced to 28-4 and 55-30 leads that eventually led to the the mercy rule being invoked in the third quarter.
Malcolm scored a game-high 22 points, while Perri Page scored 15, Hallie Cowan had 13, Ella Cupka had 13, Marian Turnbull had 11 and Helene Cowan added 10.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for our team but we are not really focused on that,” Malcolm said of the winning streak. “We are always focused on the next game. Restarting, winning that one and being 1-0.”
CV was originally scheduled to face South Fayette Jan. 18, but because of COVID-19 cases in that school district the Lions canceled around 2 p.m. the day of the game.
With no opponent to play and referees already scheduled, McConnell and CV athletic director Mike Gavlik made phone calls to several schools.
Gateway (0-4) eventually stepped up and agreed to play.
“I gotta give Gateway a lot of credit,” McConnell said. “When our AD calls them, without hesitation or preparation, (Coach Curtis Williams) says yes to play us. That’s a heck of a guy.
“We’ve asked others and they declined,” McConnell added. “To be able to get Gateway to come in here and play us was great. I give them a lot of credit.”
The Colts were 6-0 overall and 3-0 in section after defeating Gateway.
In their record-tying win against Moon, Malcolm scored 24 points while Page added 14.
CV also defeated section foe West Allegheny, 69-18. Malcolm scored 14 points, while Page and Turnbull each poured in 12.
CV’s has also defeated Washington 81-22 and Lincoln Park this season.
Malcolm scored 13 points against the Prexies, while Hallie Cowan scored 12, and Helene Cowan, Page and Turnbull all added 11 points each.
Malcolm buried five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points against Lincoln Park. Page scored 15 points with 13 rebounds and six steals.