Upper St. Clair’s Robbins scores 1,000th point
The U in the Upper St. Clair girls basketball team means only one thing and it was evident when Kate Robbins scored her 1,000th career point.
During the Lady Panthers’ victory against rival Bethel Park, 65-31, on Feb. 9, Ava Keating stole the ball and raced upcourt. Instead of scoring an easy, open bucket, Keating pulled up and dished the ball off to Robbins for the milestone basket.
“It was such a special moment, not just for Kate but for our team as well,” said USC floor boss Pete Serio. “Kate’s teammates were genuinely so excited for her. That unselfishness showed me how this team has come together.”
Robbins agreed. “I thought the whole play was representative of all my points and the teamwork of this group. Ava made a great steal but she was very unselfish. She wanted me to get the hoop. No way I get this moment without my teammates. I am so lucky to be able to play with all of them.
“It’s truly a cool moment and I am really happy,” Robbins continued. “It’s hard to really realize how many people support you to get to this point. I have been surrounded by great people all my life; my family, my teammates and my coaches.”
Robbins is the 17-year-old daughter of Tim and Kim Robbins. Her dad played football at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, he is a physical education teacher in the school district as well as an assistant football coach. Her mother still holds the school record for points scored (1,806) at Mt. Lebanon High School. She is a fourth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary in that school district. Robbins also has two athletic brothers, Tyler, a sophomore, and Ryan, a freshman.
“My family has been one of the biggest influences on my life. My parents were both athletes so I learned a lot from them about work ethic and their view of sports. How you get out what you put into it and no one else can determine what you accomplish. It’s up to you to get there.”
Robbins reached a plateau that few daughters do on the same level as their mothers. She and her mother both scored 1,000 points in their scholastic careers.
“It’s a special feat for them to share,” Serio said. “I do not know of any other mother/daughter duo to have accomplished this.”
Robbins is proud of the achievement and of her mother’s influence.
“I always looked up to her and how she played and how good she was in her glory days. I am lucky to have her and it’s pretty cool,” Robbins said. “It’s not every day you get to see this type of accomplishment.
“My mom is great because she doesn’t put any pressure on my. She has never been overly concerned with points. It’s more like what you can do for the team in order to win. My effort is what matters, not points. I know she was genuinely excited and proud of me and ever prouder of how I got there. A lot goes into scoring points.”
Plenty went into developing Robbins into a four-year starter that recently signed a national letter of intent. She will continue her playing career at Marist College in New York.
Though she picked up the game in preschool, Robbins began playing organized basketball in fourth grade with many of her current teammates, including Keating, Mia Brown and Sam Prunzik. All of them also had great basketball pedigree as Keating’s and Prunzik’s fathers, Phil and Jeff, were standouts at Mt. Lebanon. Brown’s dad, Ryan, excelled at USC and Washington & Jefferson College. Mr. Brown actually coached the youth team along with Mrs. Robbins.
“We had so much fun,” Robbins said. “They know a lot about basketball but my mom made sure as I got older that I had different coaches and was exposed to different voices and other perspectives.”
Robbins eventually went the AAU route, playing for the Bruins in seventh grade through her freshman year at USC, and being coached by two-time Olympian Suzie McConnell-Serio. She traveled the country competing against the best teams and players in the nation.
“It was a cool experience and a fun environment to play against such fantastic players who have given their all to the sport. They have given me a new level of respect. Maybe I can get to that point.”
Robbins has reached her place in USC girls basketball lore because of players like Brown, Prunzik, Keating and Paige Dellicarri. They are all seniors along with Naomi Richardson and Madeline John.
“I have been playing with these seniors since I have been super little and they definitely have had a ton of influence on my. They have been like sisters to me. We have been through a lot and have grown. They have helped formed my game and me as a person.”
Heading into the playoffs, Robbins is averaging 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Panthers. She also manages 1.3 blocked shots for a team that leads Class 6A with a 60.4 scoring average while allowing 40.6 points per game..
“Kate has been the anchor for this team over the last four years,” Serio said. “She has patrolled the paint and has always put the team first. She is leaving her mark on this program. Her hard work and dedication is the reason for her great accomplishments.”
Before she graduates, Robbins seeks one last achievement. For the past two seasons, the Lady Panthers have been WPIAL runners-up. They lost in the finals to North Allegheny in 2021 and to rival Mt. Lebanon in 2022.
“There have been a lot of highlights, like beating NA last year after they have knocked us off so many times but the best would be winning a WPIAL and also a state title,” Robbins said. “It hasn’t been the funniest experience to watch other teams win and have those gold medals placed around their necks.
“We’ve really worked hard and this is all we want,” Robbins said.
Robbins added that she is determined to do her part.
“Personally, every single game I tell myself the same thing. I put in the effort for my teammates. My role may be different in every game. Whether that is to score, rebound more or be a facilitator, I am going to do all that I can to help us win.”
As she transitions to the college game, Robbins plans to do all she can to make an immediate impact. She will be back in the gym and the weight room. She also will supplement her training with running workouts on the trail near her home.
“I am going to work my butt off so that I am better prepared,” Robbins said. “In college, it’s a bigger, faster game. I may not be the tallest post player so I will have to get stronger, quicker and get better at finishing around the basket and off the dribble.”
Robbins need not worry about the academic and social transition either as she pursues a degree in biology. She plans to become an oncologist or a geneticist.
Academically, Robbins owns a 4.1 GPA and belongs to the National Honor Society. She also is a club leader for Kids Helping Kids, a volunteer organization that specializes in philanthropic endeavors. She has participated in activities with Habitat for Humanity and traveled to the Dominic Republic on mission trips. She also belonged to Girl Scouts, earning the Silver Award.
“Kate is great girl,” Serio said. “She is going to work hard and try to improve in every area she can. She will be a success because she will not settle for average. Kate is too competitive for that.”
Upper St. Clair girls basketball coach Pete Serio sometimes confuses Kate Robbins with her mother but Kim Seaver would never mistake her daughter, particularly on the court.
“I was a black hole,” mused Seaver referring to how when the ball was tossed into the post to her during her playing days it never was kicked back out.
Seaver remains the all-time leading scorer in Mt. Lebanon women’s basketball with 1,806 career points.
After her scholastic career, Seaver excelled at Virginia Tech while earning a degree in marketing. At a crossroads, she took a position as an assistant coach to Serio, when he was at the helm at her alma mater.
Serio encouraged Seaver to become a teacher. She did so. She is a fourth-grade educator at Washington Elementary School.
Seaver also met her husband, Tim Robbins, through Serio. After his football career at Pitt, Robbins attended graduate school with Serio. Both earned master’s degrees and became physical education instructors.
While Robbins was teaching at Baldwin, the Highlanders faced Mt. Lebanon in a playoff game. A track coach at the time, he had throwers on the basketball team. Robbins came to watch them play because he had never seen a girls game before.
“It was one of my best night’s coaching,” Seaver said. “Pete asked me after the game, “do you want to be set up?” Before I could answer, Tim was out at the bus to meet me.
“Pete’s the reason my kids are here,” Seaver continued. “I always said that I’d name my first born ‘Peter,’ after him.”
Seaver’s first child, however, was a girl. Today that 17-year-old senior has made quite the impression. On Feb. 9, Kim Robbins scored her 1,000th career point during USC’s 65-31 win against Bethel Park.
“I am beyond proud,” Seaver said with tears in her eyes and emotion in her voice. “Her group of seniors have played together since they were in the fourth grade and they are the most unselfish groups of kids. This might be an individual accomplishment for (Kim) but it’s due to the remarkable kids around her.”
Seaver added watching her daughter play does not bring back memories of her glory days. Rather she “embraces these girls” and “how special” they are.
“They are having different experiences because it’s super remarkable how team-oriented they are,” Seaver said. “The girls play so well together because they have such a special bond.”
In high school, Seaver enjoyed a similar relationships with her older sister (Jean) as well as Lauren Clister, who assisted on Seaver’s own 1,000th point.
“You don’t remember the records and we didn’t make it that far in the playoffs but what you do recall are the relationships,” Seaver said. “Being able to play with my sister was one of my fondest memories and still today Lauren is one of my dearest friends.
“So, I am just so happy that Kate has that too. It’s just a very sweet memory. When she got that pass from her dear friend, Ava (Keating), it was so emotional. Everybody was all tearing up.”
Who is she: Upper St. Clair senior who recently reached the 1,000-point plateau in her basketball career.
Age: 17
Birthday: May 28
Siblings: Tyler, 15, Ryan is 14
Clubs: National Honor Society, Kids Helping Kids, Habitat For Humanity, Girl Scouts
College choice: Marist College
Major: Biology
Career choice: Oncologist or geneticist
Food: Ice cream. “I love chocolate. Chocolate Oreo from Bruster’s is my favorite.”
Color: Light blue
Restaurant: Chipotle.
Music: “I like a bunch of different songs and artists but I’d say Taylor Swift and Fleetwood Mac a lot.”
Book: Pride and Prejudice.
Movie: Beauty and Beast (Live Action) and the Harry Potter movies
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan.
Who would play you in a movie: Emma Watson.
Dream Destination: Greece. “Or anywhere with a beach.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: “I am a pretty good painter.”
Person you would like to have dinner with: “My cousin, Kendall. She’s a very special person to me. Definitely sister-like since I don’t have any.”
Lesson sports has taught you: Never give up and work your hardest.
In 15 years, I will be: “Hopefully finished graduate school, have a PHD and be working and living on a beach somewhere.”