Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Jersey Wise
School: West Greene
Sport: Basketball
Class: Junior
Wise’s week: The point guard had three strong games, including one in an impressive comeback victory, to help the Pioneers raise their record to 15-0.
Wise began the week by scoring 10 points in a 66-49 victory over Avella in a key Section 2-A game.
Wise followed that with a game-high 15 points in a 53-37 win over Monessen that stretched the Pioneers’ section winning streak to 40 games. West Greene outscored Monessen, 33-12, in the final 12 minutes to put away the victory.
The following day, Wise poured in 22 points in a 58-54 victory over Bishop Canevin, the WPIAL’s top-ranked Class AA team. Bishop Canevin got as close as one point, 42-41, before the Pioneers pulled away.
“I think we can make it back to the (Peterson Events Center for the WPIAL championship game),” said Wise. “We have a pretty strong team.”
Wise had one of her best games of the season against Bishop Canevin. Not only did she score 22 points, but she also had 10 steals, six rebounds, and four assists.
For the season, Wise is averaging 16.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 steals, and 3.3 assists.
“She had a huge week for us,” said West Greene head coach Jordan Watson. “She leads by example. She knows when to push and when to pull back and run the offense. And she can guard.”
A floor boss: While she might have a soft look about her, Wise is a tiger on the court, throwing her body around while driving to the basket and making sure she’s the first to any loose basketball within her reach.
She is the perfect point guard to run the Pioneers offense and plug the middle of the full-court press the Pioneers are becoming famous for.
“I grew up with a cousin who I was very competitive with,” Wise said. “I would always battle him. I think that’s where my aggressive nature comes from. Some people tell me I should stop diving for a ball because I’m going to get hurt. But I can’t see me ever doing that.”
Her aggressiveness is rubbing off on her teammates as West Greene has one of the top defenses in the WPIAL. Heading into this week’s games, West Greene is second in the WPIAL in points allowed, 30.5. Only Clairton has allowed fewer points, an average of 29.8.
“She hits the floor a lot,” said Watson. “She takes a beating. She has a great work ethic. I’ve seen that for years now.”
- Compiled by Joe Tuscano