Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Sammie Weiss
School: McGuffey
Year: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Weiss’ week: The 5-11 forward became the 38th player in WPIAL history to eclipse 2,000 career points when she scored 26 Thursday in a 74-40 victory over Quaker Valley.
Weiss, who now has 2,011 points, needed 15 against the Quakers to reach the milestone. She had 14 points at halftime and scored her 2,000th early in the third quarter. Weiss also scored 21 points Monday night in a 72-54 victory over Trinity.
“It was a relief because it was kind of dragging on,” Weiss said. “I had 14 points at halftime, so when I broke it in the third quarter I was excited. It felt good.”
Jump shot: A two-time Observer-Reporter Player of the Year, Weiss led the area in scoring in back-to-back seasons while propelling McGuffey to two section titles and two state playoff appearances.
When the WPIAL announced its basketball sections for the 2014-15 seasons, the Highlanders were placed in Class AAA. Weiss immediately got to work.
“I literally ran every single day. I ran up my hill and around Taylorstown in a loop,” Weiss said. “I would shoot an hour and a half each day and I’d shoot at night after practices. I’d stay after AAU or go in when we didn’t have practice.”
Weiss is averaging 23.3 points per game as McGuffey (6-2, 12-3) sits in second place behind Section 5-AAA leader Chartiers Valley. She has developed a reputation as one of the best players in the WPIAL, but Weiss is not satisfied.
She worked tirelessly on her jump shot during the offseason, spending time in the driveway with her father. The results were mixed during her AAU season. It did not feel comfortable reinventing her shot, however, the work is paying off.
“She’s been working really hard on different aspects of her game because she has always been a great slasher to the basket, but she wanted to improve her shot,” McGuffey head coach Amanda Burchett said. “She’s done a great job with the competition level we’re at right now. It’s a lot harder and she’s totally risen to that challenge.”
Future Vulcan: Weiss earned an athletic scholarship at California University, where she will play for Vulcans head coach Jess Strom. The Vulcans are 14-2 and ranked No. 24 in NCAA Division II.
Weiss is closely following the Vulcans as she prepares for the next step in her career.
“I’m really excited to play with the players and be with (Strom),” Weiss said. “I go to some games and I follow them a lot.”
Compiled by Lance Lysowski