Chartiers Valley, Mt. Lebanon lead Almanac Elite Eleven list
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ashleigh Connor (15) not only led Mt. Lebanon in scoring and rebounding, she managed 2.07 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She maintained a 42.96 field goal percentage with a 34.19 conversion rate from 3-point range.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Emma Dziezgowski was a 1,000-point scorer in her career at Bethel Park.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Aislin Malcolm finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in Chartiers Valley girls’ basketball history. She also merited one of the WPIAL’s Scholar Athlete awards.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Perri Page (11) is Columbia recruit. She helped Chartiers Valley win three WPIAL titles and to three trips to the PIAA state finals.
Eleanor Bailey/TheAlmanac
Maddie Webber was the driving force behind South Fayette’s march to a WPIAL championship, its second in school history.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Hallie Cowan
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Helene Cowan
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ava Leroux
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kate Robbins
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Journey Thompson
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Natalie Wentzel earned Almanac Rookie of the Year laurels. The freshman started for Peters Township, averaging 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Dori Oldaker earned Almanac Coach of the Year laurels after guiding Mt. Lebanon to a 27-2 record complete with a section and WPIAL title as well as a runner-up showing in the state championship contest.
The South Hills of Pittsburgh enjoyed a most memorable seasons in girls basketball with Chartiers Valley and Mt. Lebanon again dominating the scene. Both reached the district and state finals.
The Blue Devils ruled Class 6A while the Colts shared the spotlight in Class 5A with South Fayette.
While Lebo captured the WPIAL crown, defeating arch-rival Upper St. Clair, 55-44, on March 4 in the finals at the Petersen Events Center, CV failed in its attempt to claim a fourth-straight banner, falling to the Lions, 57-48, in the finals.
After losing to Cardinal O’Hara for the second year in a row during the state finals played March 25 in Hershey, the Colts finished the year at 28-3.
After losing to Plymouth-Whitmarsh, 60-40, in its state final contest on March 26, Lebo finished with a 27-2 mark.
So it comes as no surprise that the Blue Devils and Colts dominate this year’s Almanac Elite Eleven list. The six all-stars are all repeat performers. In fact, all but two members are new to the roster.
The Almanac all-stars were selected after surveying the area coaches and considering final stats as well as games witnessed by the sports staff.
Ashleigh Connor headlines the teams Most Valuable Player. The Mt. Lebanon senior led the area in scoring with a 21-point average to go along with 8.1 rebounds an outing. (Read related story.)
Fearsome foursome
Opponents are delighted that CV’s four all-star starters are graduating. In four seasons, they compiled a 110-7 record complete with four section banners, three district titles and three state finals with a win in 2019. They also set a record for consecutive victories (64) during their run.
Pitt recruit Aislin Malcolm and Columbia commit Perri Page dominated the action with respective scoring averages of 16.1 and 15.4 points per game. Page led the Colts in rebounding with 9.3 while Malcolm managed 4.7.
Malcolm, who dished up 2.5 assists and added two steals per game, finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in CV girls basketball history. She fired in 1,770 total points. She also set the record for total 3-point career field goals.
“Aislin is one of the best shooters that I have ever coached,” said CV coach Tim McConnell. “She had a great season and a great career. She was a great leader for us.”
Page equaled Malcolm in leadership as well. She averaged 2.4 steals per game. She blocked 19 shots and dished up 57 assists. She scored nearly 1,300 career points and maintained a 49 shooting percentage.
“Perri is very versatile. She can play inside and outside,” McConnell. “She was the most athletic girl around. She had a terrific season for us.”
Twins Hallie and Helene Cowan made the Colts go for different reasons. Both will continue their careers at Seton Hill.
Hallie averaged 12.3 points. She also provided 3.3 rebounds and nearly two steals and assists a game.
Helene led CV in assists with 3.4 per game and ranked second in rebounds with 6.3 boards an outing. Helene averaged 8.4 points per game.
“Hallie is a great shooter and Helene was our unsung hero,” said McConnell. “She did everything for us.”
SF top duo
Maddie Webber and Ava Leroux did it all, outside and inside, as they helped South Fayette claim its second WPIAL title in school history and second championship in six seasons. Both were first-team all-section performers.
A 5-7 junior, Webber led the Lions in scoring with a 17-point average. She also provided 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game.
An all-section performer, Webber has several scholarship offers. Among the schools interested in her talents are Lafayette, Monmouth, Oakland, South Alabama and Temple.
“Maddie did an outstanding job on both ends of the floor,” said SF coach Bryan Bennett. “She impacted the game in a variety of ways that are not seen on stat sheets.”
Leroux’s size and stats were evident each contest. The 6-2 junior averaged 10 points and eight rebounds a game.
“Ava did an outstanding job for us,” Bennett said. “She is a very versatile player who can post you up but also has the ability to take you off of the dribble. She also impacted the other team’s ability to score at the rim.”
Impact pair
Journey Thompson of Peters Township and Kate Robbins from Upper St. Clair changed the complexion on the court, particularly with the 6-foot-plus stature. Both are repeat Almanac all-stars.
A Delaware recruit, Thompson was a starter as a freshman when the Indians went undefeated (30-0) and won a state title in 2019. She went on to become a 1,000-point scorer and a multiple all-section performer.
In guiding a young club to a 13-11 record that included a district playoff appearance, Thompson accumulated 382 points for a 15.9 average per game. She converted 47.2 percent of her shots from the field and 72 percent from the charity stripe.
A 6-2 center, Thompson also dominated the glass. She led the team in rebounding with a 12.5 average. She also managed two steals per game.
Robbins led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13 points and eight rebounds a game. A junior, she helped lead USC to the WPIAL finals, a PIAA playoff appearance and a 20-6 record.
“Kate was our go-to post player but she could also go out and shoot the three,” said USC coach Pete Serio. “Because of her ability to go inside and out, she was a tough match-up.”
BP’s top 10
After overcoming an ACL injury her sophomore year, Emma Dziezgowski recovered to have two all-star seasons at Bethel Park. This winter, she led the Blackhawks to appearances in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs. In the process, she gained her second appearance on both the all-section and All-Almanac list.
A Wheeling University recruit, Dziezgowski averaged 18.2 points and seven rebounds a game for the Blackhawks, who finished 13-11 overall.
“Emma is a great player,” said BP first-year head coach Sam Loadman. “She was a constant in our game play and would do anything that was asked of her. She is the ultimate teammate.”
Top freshmen
In a year featuring a slew of newcomers, at 6-feet-2 Natalie Wentzel perhaps made the biggest impact. The freshman averaged 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds as a starter for Peters Township. She also connected on 52 percent of her field goals.
“Natalie runs the floor and handles the ball very well,” said PT coach Bob Miles. “She has great hands, she can shoot the three or finish inside. She made an immediate impact for our team.”
In addition to second-team all-section acclaim, Wentzel earned The Almanac’s accolade as Rookie Of The Year.
Wentzel edged out other freshmen such as Bethel Park’s Ella Sabatos (4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds), Lebo’s Payton Collins (7.2 points) and USC’s Rylee Kalocay, who averaged 13 points as a top reserve and also earned second-team all-section recognition.
CV sophomore Ella Cupka and freshman Lilah Turnbull along with SF’s Erica Hall (6 points, 5 rebounds) are among the other players to watch.
Notables
Among the players garnering honorable mention recognition were:
• Mary Boff and Riley Miller from Bethel Park.
A junior, Boff averaged 10 points and three steals a game.
“Mary was able to contribute on both sides of the ball,” said Loadman. “Her quick hands and speed allowed her to get steals and easy layups while still being a threat as an outside shooter.”
A senior, Miller averaged five points and 3.4 assists per game.
“Riley does so many things that do not show up on the stat sheet,” Loadman said. “She is an intense competitor that ran the point and was a lock down defender for us.”
• Mariann Turnbull from Chartiers Valley. A Northeastern recruit, this senior averaged five points, three assists and nearly two steals per game.
• Reagan Murdoch, Brooke Collins, Gina Smith and Anna Streiff from Mt. Lebanon
A senior, who will play lacrosse at American University, Murdoch averaged 8.83 points and 4.37 rebounds a game.
“We don’t go 27-2 without Reagan.” said Oldaker. “Her leadership skills on and off the court, her work ethic is unbelievable. Her willingness to compete and shut down players that are much taller than her is incredible.”
A senior, who will attend Middlebury in Vermont, Collins averaged 4.62 while facilitating the Lebo offense from the point.
“We don’t win without Brooke,” Oldaker said. “She is the ultimate teammate and what she did for us on the floor-rebounding, diving for loose balls, taking charges- doesn’t show up in the box scores.”
As junior, Smith and Streiff shutdown the opponent’s top offensive threats. What they did on defense, says Oldaker, was immeasurable. Smith led Lebo in blocked shots and Streiff took the most charges.
• Gemma Walker and Avana Sayles from Peters Township.
A first-year starter, Walker averaged 10 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The junior converted 81 percent of her free throws.
A three-year starter, Sayles averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds.
• Mia Webber and Lainey Yater from South Fayette.
A senior, Webber had the ability to finish strong at the rim or hit the outside shot. Her off-the-ball defense played a key role in the Lions’ success. She averaged nine points and five rebounds a game. Webber also earned all-section honorable mention recognition.
Yater controlled the tempo of SF’s offense and defense. She managed seven points and dished up four assists a game. She earned second-team all-section honors.
• Mia Brown, Molly James, Paige Dellicarri and Sam Prunzik from Upper St. Clair.
Brown averaged 13 points for the Panthers. She led the team in steals and free-throw percentage.
“We usually go as Mia goes,” Serio said. “When she gets it going is when we are at our best. Mia can do it all.”
A senior, James earned second-team all-section honors while Dellicarri and Prunzik gained honorable mention status.
FIRST TEAM
Ashleigh Connor Mt. Lebanon Senior Forward 21 ppg 8.1 rpg
Emma Dziezgowski Bethel Park Senior Guard 18.2 ppg 7 rpg
Aislin Malcolm Chartiers Valley Senior Guard 16.1 ppg 4.7 rpg
Perri Page Chartiers Valley Senior Center 15.4 ppg 9.3 rpg
Maddie Webber South Fayette Junior Guard 17 ppg
SECOND TEAM
Hallie Cowan Chartiers Valley Senior Guard 12.3 ppg 3.3 rpg
Ava Leroux South Fayette Junior Forward 10 ppg 8 rpg
Helene Cowan Chartiers Valley Senior Guard 8.4 ppg 6.3 rpg
Kate Robbins Upper St. Clair Junior Forward 13.8 ppg 8 rpg
Journey Thompson Peters Township Senior Center 15.9 ppg 12.5 rpg
MVP Ashleigh Connor, Mt. Lebanon
HONORABLE MENTION: Mary Boff, Riley Miller-Bethel Park; Mariann Turnbull-Chartiers Valley; Reagan Murdoch, Brooke Collins, Gina Smith, Anna Streiff-Mt. Lebanon; Gemma Walker, Avana Sayles-Peters Township; Mia Webber, Lainey Yater-South Fayette; Molly James, Mia Brown, Paige Dellicarri, Sam Prunzik-Upper St. Clair
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Natalie Wentzel, Peters Township
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ella Sabatos-Bethel Park; Ella Cupka, Lilah Turnbull-Chartiers Valley; Payton Collins-Mt. Lebanon; Erica Hall–South Fayette, Rylee Kalocay, Upper St. Clair
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dori Oldaker, Mt. Lebanon