South Hills girls basketball teams on a roll through first half of season
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor skirts the defensive efforts of Upper St. Clair’s Kate Robbins.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s Reagan Murdoch, left, powers her way to the basket despite the defensive efforts of Upper St. Clair’s Kate Robbins.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Molly James is defended by Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor during a recent contest.
If the first half of the season is any indication, then the South Hills area girls varsity basketball teams are in for a treat for the remainder of the 2022 campaign.
On Jan. 17, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon, South Fayette and Chartiers Valley put on stellar performances making their rematches Feb. 10 highly anticipated affairs before the playoffs commence.
Mt. Lebanon remained unbeaten in Class 6A after beating rival Upper St. Clair, 44-37.
“These types of quality teams and quality players are great for girls basketball,” said Lebo head coach Dori Oldaker. “It was a great girls game.”
So was CV’s 55-51 victory at South Fayette. The Lions overcame an 18-point deficit to give the Colts a scare.
The Colts are three-time WPIAL champions and two-time state finalists. All five of their starters are college bound: Aislin Malcolm (Pitt), Perri Page (Columbia), Mariann Turnbull (Northeastern) and twins Helene and Hallie Cowan (Seton Hill).
Upper St. Clair was WPIAL runners-up in 2021. Their starting line-up includes one senior in Molly James. The only other rostered senior is Ileana Berkoski.
Lebo features St. Louis recruit Ashleigh Connor. The Blue Devils have been WPIAL semifinalists for consecutive seasons.
Considered by many to be best player in the WPIAL, Connor led the Lebo attack against USC. She fired in 15 points while Reagan Murdoch provided 12 points.
Connor did not take off, scoring nine of her points, until after Lebo broke open the contest with three straight 3-pointers to start the second half.
Long range shots by Anna Streiff, Brooke Collins and Murdoch lifted Lebo to a 27-19 lead two minutes into the third quarter. Streiff and Payton Collins buried 3-pointers at the end of the second quarter, enabling the Blue Devils to pull within 19-18 at intermission.
“Huge,” said Oldaker of the 3-pointers. “We had great looks in the first half but they just didn’t fall. We just told the girls to stay patient and eventually our shots will fall.
“Ash wasn’t hitting either but she didn’t panic and trusted her teammates,” added Oldaker. “She wanted the ball and wanted to take over and eventually her patience paid off.”
USC opened up leads of 7-1 and 15-8 but Lebo’s defense took over. The Blue Devils held USC to four, second-quarter points.
Mia Brown led the Panthers with 10 points. James and Paige Dellicarri finished with six points each and Sam Prunzik and Rylee Kalocay followed with five points each.
“It was a very hard-fought game by both teams,” said USC head coach Pete Serio. “It came down to a four-minute stretch at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third. Mt. Lebanon made shots and we didn’t. Now it’s time to get back in the gym and work on ways we can get better.”
While Lebo (6-0, 13-0) sits atop the Section 2 standings, there is room for improvement. The Blue Devils, likewise, are working on “cleaning up some details” from their game against the Panthers, Oldaker said.
“Yes, the win gives us confidence but it doesn’t define us,” she said. “It is a grind that we are trying to embrace and improve upon.
“Our staff loves coaching this group of girls,” she added. “They trust us and we trust them. They are so coachable and will to do all the little things that we ask.”
CV head coach Tim McConnell said he is hoping his Colts play a little more consistent, especially when they possess the advantage. CV led SF, 40-22, at halftime. The Lions outscored the Colts, 19-6, in the third quarter to get back into the game.
“I told the girls (it was) probably the worst quarter I’ve ever seen Chartiers Valley girls basketball play,” McConnell said. “So we have to regroup and figure out what’s happening and make sure we can fix it.”
Balance is a strength the Colts need not repair. Four players scored in double figures against South Fayette with the Cowan twins, Hallie and Helene, leading with 13 points each. Malcolm and Page followed with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Maddie Webber led the way for the Lions with 20 points. Erica Hall managed 12 points and Ava Leroux provided 11.
In other girls’ action, Bethel Park bested Baldwin, 51-42. Emma Dziezgowski fired in 17 points to lead the Black Hawks.
Peters Township also trounced Canon-McMillan, 70-28.
Journey Thompson and Natalie Wetzel each provided 23 points for the Indians while Avana Sayles scored 12 points and Gemma Walker followed with 10.