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Observer-Reporter All-District basketball teams

5 min read
1 / 10

Clintell Gillaspie

2 / 10

Kodie Hanley

3 / 10

Rece Hennemen

4 / 10

Brandon Lawless

5 / 10

Nate Swart

6 / 10

Sammie Weiss

7 / 10

Rachel Bellhy

8 / 10

Kylie Huffman

9 / 10

Madison Kerr

10 / 10

Mia Woytovich

Boys

Clintell Gillaspie

Guard, Monessen

After seeing his senior football season end with a playoff loss to Neshannock, Gillaspie made a concerted effort to learn the game of basketball and capitalize on his natural athletic ability. The result was a dramatic increase in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game for Monessen. His most memorable performance came in the WPIAL semifinals. On Feb. 25, the 6-1 guard scored 15 points in a five-minute span, finishing with 34 points, to propel the Greyhounds to a 110-99 overtime victory over Vincentian. Led his team to the second round of the PIAA playoffs and a WPIAL title game appearance.

Kodie Hanley

Forward, Chartiers-Houston

After averaging just 10.1 points per game last season, Hanley was a key cog in Chartiers-Houston’s best season in program history. He averaged 14 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, including a standout performance against rival Wash High Jan. 29. Hanley scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Bucs’ 63-59 victory over the Prexies. Scored 26 points against McGuffey Jan. 4. Helped lead C-H to the playoffs, but did not participate in the program’s first playoff victory after suffering a lung contusion just days before the game.

Rece Henneman

Forward, Jefferson-Morgan

Henneman made a dramatic improvement as a junior, averaging 20.4 points per game. Though the Rockets missed the WPIAL playoffs, the 6-5 forward was known around the area for making timely shots. Henneman hit a half-court shot Jan. 17 to lead J-M to a 53-52 win over California in a Section 5-AA game. He accomplished the feat just three days after scoring 32 points in a 76-60 win over West Greene and added 30 more in a win over Frazier, which won a playoff game.

Brandon Lawless

Guard, Carmichaels

Lawless built on a strong junior season and immediately established himself as one of the best players in Class A while leading his team to its second-straight WPIAL playoff appearance. He averaged 25.8 points per game to lead the area in scoring. Dedicated the offseason to establishing an outside game and it paid off Dec. 16 when he scored 48 points, including eight three-point field goals, in an 80-43 win over Bentworth. Reached the 1,000-career points milestone Jan. 17 against Monessen.

Nate Swart

Forward, Wash High

Swart burst onto the scene in 2013 and helped the Prexies fill the void left after the departure of Josh Wise. The 6-3 guard/forward opened the season with 18 points against Trinity at Canon-McMillan and never slowed down. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Prexies, who reached the WPIAL postseason. Scored a game-high 22 points in Wash High’s preliminary round playoff win over Burrell and his 19 points in the next round against Summit Academy almost lifted his team into the quarterfinals.

Boys All-District Team

Second team

Name, school Yr. Avg.

Javon Brown, Monessen Sr. 14.7

Matt Indorante, Charleroi Sr. 16.1

Dereck Riggleman, Mapletown Sr. 24.3

Sam Bohn, Canon-McMillan Jr. 14.1

Alec Ferrari, Chartiers-Houston Jr. 12.6

Third team

J.C. Brush, Peters Township Sr. 13.1

DeQuay Isbell, Washington Jr. 13.3

Brandon Miller, Avella Sr. 19.6

Avery King, Trinity Sr. 16.4

Miles Williamson, C-H Sr. 12.3

Girls

Sammie Weiss

Guard, McGuffey

No area player was as consistent as Weiss the past two seasons. After averaging 26.7 points per game last season and earning distinction as the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year, the junior again ranked among the WPIAL’s leading scorers with 25.8 points per game. Using a strong first step and excelling on both ends of the floor, Weiss averaged 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 6.8 steals per game. Again led the Highlanders to an undefeated section record and state playoff appearance.

Mia Woytovich

Guard, Charleroi

Woytovich had a picturesque senior season. Along with leading the Cougars to the WPIAL Class AA Playoffs, the senior averaged 19.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, including three-straight 20-plus point performances in mid-January. The final one – a section matchup against Wash High – was the most memorable as Woytovich became the school’s seventh 1,000-point scorer when she sank a three-pointer with less than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Even in Charleroi’s WPIAL playoff loss to Shenango, the four-year starter scored 19 points while adding six rebounds and four steals.

Kylie Huffman

Forward, California

Huffman wasted little time making an impact in varsity basketball, averaging 15.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game for the Trojans, who made their first playoff appearance in 20 years and went undefeated in section play. One of the most promising post players in the WPIAL, the freshman shot 45 percent from the field and dominated during the regular season. Scored 15 points in California’s first round PIAA playoff game against Kennedy Catholic.

Rachel Bellhy

Forward, Fort Cherry

Bellhy kept the family tradition alive in 2013 by outscoring her opponents on the way to a WPIAL playoff appearance. The senior averaged 19.9 points and 11 rebounds per game for Fort Cherry, which won its opening round playoff game over Avontworth. She scored 20 points in the victory and became the fourth Bellhy to reach 1,000 points for her career on Feb. 6 when she scored 22 points in a win over rival Chartiers-Houston.

Madison Kerr

Guard, Peters Township

Kerr emerged as one of the top players in the WPIAL this season as she averaged 19.7 points, 10 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in Class AAAA’s toughest section. She scored 30 points in the Indians’ 65-35 win over Central Valley and did so with precision perimeter play. While Peters Township went through growing pains during a 7-15 season, Kerr was one of the top players in Quad-A. The sophomore shot 40 percent from the field and was forced to assume a leadership role with no seniors on the team.

Girls All-District Team

Second team

Name, school Yr. Avg.

Anna Bartman, Beth-Center Jr. 18.9

Danielle Parker, Canon-McMillan Sr. 15.3

Marlena Schmidt, Ringgold Jr. 10.9

Mary Dunn, Trinity So. 13.1

Carlee Kilgus, South Fayette Fr. 15.0

Third team

Name, school Yr. Avg.

Olivia Lorusso, Canon-McMillan Sr. 14.7

Jenna Lucas, Fort Cherry Sr. 13.5

Addy Knetzer, Chartiers-Houston Sr. 15.3

Sierra Kotchman, Trinity Fr. 12.4

Rachel Czulewicz, McGuffey Jr. 12.8

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