Leroux caps stellar career as O-R Player of the Year
Pressure is only what is allowed to be let in.
From the outside, it would seem that with the talent returning coming off a state title there was a lot of pressure on the South Fayette girls basketball team this season.
But for Juliette Leroux and the rest of the Lions it was more about upholding a standard than worrying whether or not they’d meet the expectations.
Leroux and her teammates did what they knew they could accomplish. They backed up their state title by winning another one and Leroux played a leading role.
Leroux displayed an all-around game night in and night out and she is the 2025-26 Observer-Reporter Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The senior contributed in many ways, scoring 14.6 points per game and grabbing six rebounds while being a force defensively.
“We just had to remain humble,” Leroux said about the success her team had this year. “Everybody thought we were going to win, because of the talent we had returning, so we just couldn’t let that get in our heads. We had to play every game with a chip on our shoulder, but not get cocky. When you win as much as we did, sometimes people want to see you lose, so we just had to maintain a winner’s mindset, while remaining humble.”
Leroux’s talented senior teammates Haylie Lamonde and Ryan Oldaker were also considered. Canon-McMillan’s Madison Clair, who led the Big Macs to their first WPIAL title and Trinity’s Sutton Williamson also made the All-District first team.
Leroux helped the Lions go unbeaten against opponents from Pennsylvania this season. Over the last two years the Lions only lost one time to a team from the state and that was in the WPIAL championship against Peters Township in 2025.
It’s a run of dominance that culminated with a 45-35 win against Archbishop Wood last Saturday in the state championship.
“The shock still hasn’t worn off,” Leroux said about winning a second state title. “Really it hasn’t worn off from last year. I still can believe we won states last year and then turning around and doing it again…I’m just probably going to be in shock forever.”
In her time at South Fayette, Leroux won three WPIAL titles and played at the Petersen Events Center all four years of her high school career. While there were plenty of team milestones, she had some individual ones as well.
Leroux scored her 1,000th point this season in a game against Norwin. She needed 31 points and hit the target right on the mark.
“That was my goal since I was a freshman and I saw Maddie Webber score her 1,000th point,” Leroux said. “I think that’s a milestone that every high school basketball player wants to hit, especially in your senior year. You’re trying your hardest to get it, but you have to let it come naturally. I was able to hit it and will have my name up on a banner in our high school forever, which is really cool. Getting to do it the same year as one of my teammates (Lamonde) was special too.”
Leroux has played basketball with Lamonde and Oldaker since fourth grade, but that chapter has now closed. All three will head their separate ways to different colleges. Leroux will play at Florida Atlantic, Lamonde is a USC Upstate recruit and Oldaker is bound for Marist.
Maybe someday they’ll meet again in college as opposing players.
“We have such an amazing bond on and off the basketball court,” Leroux said. “The chemistry is unreal between us. I think what keeps us as such a close-knit group is us hanging out outside of practices and going to lunch together and movies and stuff. I’m sad we’re going our separate ways, but I know they’re going to do great things at their colleges.”
Leroux could also play against her older sister Ava, who’s playing at Robert Morris.
She leaves for Florida Atlantic shortly after graduation and is looking forward to the next phase of her life and career.
“I leave June 13, but I’m extremely excited for this new chapter,” Leroux said. “I always wanted to go play somewhere down south where it’s warmer. I love the coaching staff at Florida Atlantic so much. They’re so supportive and they are funny. I love to laugh. They’re a good group of coaches and I know I made the right choice going down there.”
O-R All-District Team
First team
Madison Clair, sr., Canon-McMillan
Haylie Lamonde, sr., South Fayette
Juliette Leroux, sr., South Fayette
Ryan Oldaker, sr., South Fayette
Sutton Williamson, jr., Trinity
Second team
Lauren Borella, sr., Canon-McMillan
Aubrey Brown, soph., Belle Vernon
Taylor McCullough, soph., Peters Township
Ali Wingard, sr., Chartiers-Houston
Lailah Wright, jr., South Fayette
Third team
Brooke Cornali, sr., Fort Cherry
Paige Klodowski, jr., Burgettstown
Bri Morreale, sr., Peters Township
Sam Miller, sr., Canon-McMillan
Tess Pauley, fr., Waynesburg