Predicting the WPIAL girls basketball season
The season has started and a few surprises have come up, but we won’t analyze wins and losses yet. Instead, let’s take a look at how each section in WPIAL girls basketball looks and I’ll predict my winners, including which teams hoist each of the four championship trophies.
Class AAAA
Section 4
Mt. Lebanon is the favorite with McKenzie Bushee, Kate Sramac and Maura Wallace returning, but Bethel Park is right up there. The Black Hawks have Justina Mascaro and Shannon Conely back after reaching the WPIAL semifinals last year. Baldwin has four starters back and don’t count out Peters Township. The Indians went through a two-year stretch where they were young, but that’s about to pay off.
Madison Kerr, a Indiana University of Pennsylvania recruit, has been dominant so far, and the Indians are deep. Look for them to end the playoff drought. The biggest question mark is Canon-McMillan, which will likely struggle at times early in the season. It didn’t get much time practicing under new head coach Lou Waller, who wasn’t hired until August. Cheyenne Trest is one of the top players in the section and Becca Turney can be a dominant post player.
Section champion: Mt. Lebanon
Quad-A champion: North Allegheny. The Tigers have great guard play and have a ton of experience. Don’t count out Mt. Lebanon or Norwin, which has Alayna Gribble, a Pitt recruit.
Class AAA
Section 4
South Park, which is led by head coach Juliet Highberger, a Wash High graduate, could be in for a big year. The Eagles have senior guard/forward Allison McGrath back, a Maryland-Baltimore County commit who had breakout season two years ago in their run to the PIAA playoffs, and Natalie Clydesdale is also back. Post play and rebounding could be an issue against teams such as South Fayette and Trinity.
Brownsville could surprise people, while Belle Vernon and Elizabeth Forward are both young. The coaching situation at Thomas Jefferson is cloudy, which could be an issue longterm. On a positive note, Ringgold could be solid again. Bailey Cooper has the potential to play Division II and sophomore forward Ashley Briscoe was one of the more impressive players I saw last year. The coaching change will cause growing pains early, but the Rams should have some depth and the section isn’t as strong this year.
Section winner: South Park
Section 5
Chartiers Valley and McGuffey will be down, but this is stiill the best section in Class AAA and it’s because of the two teams at the top. South Fayette returns five starters, including senior center Emily Anderson (6-4) and junior guard Carlee Kilgus. The Lions have good guard play and are tough defensively. They’ll be the popular pick to win the WPIAL.
It’s a pick I’d agree with if it wasn’t for Trinity. The Hillers have senior center Mary Dunn (6-2) and arguably the best backcourt in AAA – Sierra Kotchman and Alayna Cappelli. They have depth inside and out. Katie Demi will keep the Highlanders competitive, but they’re young.
Section champion: Trinity
WPIAL champion: Trinity. That’s not a knock on South Fayette, which could easily prove me wrong.
Class AA
Section 3
Bishop Canevin has five starters back afte reaching the WPIAL championship game and PIAA semifinals last season. That includes Gina Vallecorsa, Erin Joyce and Sarah Green. The Crusaders are going to beat opponents with a pressure-heavy defense and it’s tough to pick against them.
Seton-La Salle is arguably the most athletic team in Class AA, but underwent a coaching change and lost four starters. That opens the door for Chartiers-Houston, which returns sophomore forward Alexa Williamson and three other starters. The Bucs’ biggest problem last season was handling pressure, but they’re tough defensively and few teams find an answer for Williamson. Keep an eye out for Burgettstown, which could grab the final playoff spot.
Section 4
Washington returns the most with Tajah Gordon and Mikala Maltony, plus the Prexies have a very strong freshman class. Beth-Center has Kinlee Whited back, who could be the top player in the section this season. Charleroi is going to surprise people. The Cougars have a great nucleus, depsite playing without Sierra Short, they are deep and are talented. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they won the section and surprised some people in the playoffs.
Section champion: Washington
WPIAL champion: Bishop Canevin.
Class A
Section 3
Jefferson-Morgan has five starters back, including the section’s top threat from the perimeter – Kayla Yorko. The Rockets can have trouble rebounding, but that won’t be a problem in section play, which no longer features a dominant post player. Fort Cherry has probably the best in junior forward Hannah Greene and the Rangers will be tough defensively.
California is without forward Kylie Huffman after she transferred to North Catholic, so the Trojans are down two six-foot forwards from last season. They’ll rely on guards Jenna Miller and Bailey Vig, but Cal has started the season with three consecutive losses. Rebounding will be an issue, but the Trojans are certainly a playoff team.
West Greene is going to be much better after a rebuilding year. The Pioneers only have two seniors, but still have eight freshmen on the roster.
Section champion: Jefferson-Morgan
WPIAL champion: North Catholic