McGuffey’s Weiss, Monessen’s Rush on all-state team
Sammie Weiss heard the whispers. Some thought the McGuffey senior’s accomplishments on the basketball court in Class AA as a sophomore and junior were a product of weaker competition. With the Highlanders moving back to Class AAA in 2014-15, Weiss let her play act as a perfect rebuttal.
Weiss became a three-time Observer-Reporter Player of the Year after leading all area players with 25.9 points per game and helped McGuffey earn its first PIAA playoff victory in program history. Her latest achievement arrived Thursday morning when Weiss was named to the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ All-State Basketball first team in Class AAA.
Weiss was not the only local player to be selected. Monessen junior guard Lavalle Rush, who led the Greyhounds to the WPIAL Class A Championship, was chosen to the Class A second team in boys basketball after averaging 18.1 points per game.
It Weiss’ third consecutive all-state selection after making first team in Class AA as a junior and second team as a sophomore in 2013.
“I sort of felt pressure coming into this season because I knew people were talking,” said Weiss, a Cal recruit. “Some people would say I’m not as good as everyone says I am because they thought the competition in Double-A was weak, but we played some pretty good teams. I wanted people to know I could play in Triple-A and I wanted to show people what I’m capable of.”
Trinity head coach Bob Miles can attest to Weiss’ ability. The 5-11 shooting guard eclipsed 20 points in each of the Highlanders’ three games against the Hillers, including 32 to earn McGuffey a spot in the PIAA playoffs.
It was not Weiss’ scoring touch that impressed Miles the most. He was aware that she could make driving through double teams look easy or knock down short jump shots, but it was Weiss’ rebounding ability that stood out. She averaged 6.7 rebounds per game and displayed the ability put up a shot and be the first player in the air to create a second chance. Even with larger post players in Class AAA, Weiss was able to pull up or drive, competing with players up to five inches taller for rebounds. Opposing coaches raved about her body control under the basket.
Miles is no different.
“She was relentless when a shot went up. If it wasn’t going in, she was going after it,” Miles said. “We went into the season thinking we wanted her to take the shot outside because she was more dangerous driving to the basket. But even when she missed a shot, she was the first one there to follow up. That’s a credit to her constantly moving and creating those opportunities.”
Weiss thrived in the biggest situations, averaging 24 points per game in seven playoff games and eclipsed the historic 2,000-point mark for her career. She finished with 2,394 career points – the first girls basketball player from Washington County to pass that milestone. Weiss joined elite company on the all-state team with Blackhawk senior guard Chassidy Omogrosso, a Duquesne recruit and fellow 2,000-point scorer, earning Player of the Year honors. Aubree Brown and Bailey Greenberg of Archbishop Wood, Alyssa Monaghan of Bonner-Prendergast and Kalista Walters of Bethlehem Catholic joined the WPIAL duo on first team.
“It’s cool to be on the team with Chassidy,” Weiss said. “It’s really nice. I think we’re a lot alike. She obviously has championships and I don’t, but it’s nice to be included on the same level as her.”
Weiss will join the NCAA Division II national champion Vulcans next season with the school scoring record in hand and a list of accomplishments few players in the WPIAL can match. Hearing the news of her all-state selection brought a smile to Weiss’ face.
“It was satisfying. It’s something I definitely wanted to hear and I was proud I did it,” Weiss said. “My parents are proud and I’m really happy about it. I accomplished my goals and it feels pretty good. It’s something I couldn’t have done without my team.”
Rush averaged 22.6 points per game in seven playoff games, including 73 points in Monessen’s three PIAA playoff games. After scoring 18 points to lift the Greyhounds over Jeannette for WPIAL gold, he was just as dominant against the best in the state; scoring 25 a game-high points in the team’s PIAA quarterfinal loss to Kennedy Catholic. Extremely quick on both ends of the floor, Rush broke out in 2014-15 after being a pivotal role player for Monessen as a sophomore.
Greyhounds head coach Joe Salvino could not understate Rush’s role for the WPIAL champions.
“Anytime you are selected as one of the top players in the state, that’s a great thing,” Salvino said. “I really think Lavalle matured throughout the year and became a complete ball player. Not only did he have a great year on offense, he was one of our better defensive players. He did a lot for us.”
A WPIAL player was not selected to Class A’s first team, but Rush was joined by two District 7 players on the second team: Jeannette senior guard Julian Batts, who averaged 22.4 points for the WPIAL runner-up Jayhawks, and Cornell senior Dane Jackson, a Pitt football recruit, who averaged 28 points per game.