Area’s success in basketball not going anywhere
Basketball season has come to an end for local teams. This year brought plenty of surprises, including the rise of Chartiers-Houston’s girls basketball team and Monessen winning the WPIAL title.
In 2013-14, only Monessen reached the second round of the PIAA playoffs. This season, the Bucs and Greyhounds reached the quarterfinals, while California and McGuffey won a state playoff game.
I’m not about to claim basketball has become the strength of the coverage area, but it’s certainly an improvement. The girls teams are incredibly strong and that won’t change next season. South Fayette returns Emily Anderson, Carlee Kilgus and the rest of its core.
California has Kylie Huffman and Jenna Miller back. Trinity has as good of a chance as anyone to compete for a WPIAL title with Mary Dunn, Sierra Kotchman and Alayna Cappelli.
On the boys side, Monessen will be the favorite to win another WPIAL title. Wash High has a chance to go far with Nate Swart. Charleroi could be a nice sleeper. Also, Trinity could open some eyes in 2015-16.
The Hillers return Joey Koroly and with South Fayette probably taking a step back, the door is open for Trinity to return to the WPIAL playoffs.
The area does not have the prestigious history of winning like some of the catholic schools further north, but these schools continue to produce quality players.
Here are a few more teams and players to watch out for next season:
Chartiers-Houston guard A.J. Myers
Myers will be asked to do a lot more with Alec Ferrari gone. He won’t be shifted to point guard, but his defensive game will need to improve. Myers has the tools to be not only the most talented player in the O-R’s coverage area, but in the entire WPIAL.
He took a gigantic leap forward as a sophomore in 2014-15 by averaging more than 17 points per game and proved to be a prolific shooter, but Ferrari leaving will allow opponents to focus on Myers.
How he responds will determine if the Bucs reach the WPIAL playoffs for the third consecutive season.
California forward Kass Taylor
Taylor, who stands at 6-4, has the tools to be a dominant player in WPIAL Class A. With another AAU season under his belt, I expect to see more refined post moves next season and he should learn how to avoid foul trouble.
His defensive ability will help the Trojans compete for the playoffs next season, but if Taylor puts on some muscle and works on developing a baby hook shot, look out. His athleticism is incredible and there are times he’s by far the best player on the floor.
Let’s see what his junior season holds.
Canon-McMillan girls basketball
Before junior center Rebecca Turney, a Division I recruit, suffered a season-ending knee injury, the Big Macs owned the highest-scoring offense in Quad-A girls basketball.
They still finished third in the classification in points per game behind sophomore guard Cheyenne Trest, who may be an unknown outside of Washington County, but that will change soon. She has incredible vision on the court, makes free throws at an impressive rate and is great defensively.
With those two players returning and C-M losing just one starter, the Big Macs should be seen as a sleeper entering next season. There were stretches in 2014-15 where a playoff run seemed inevitable, but injuries derailed their rise. If healthy next season, look out.
Chartiers-Houston girls basketball
I don’t need to remind you that the Bucs reached the PIAA quarterfinals or that they only lose two seniors. Thought Alexa Williamson and the bulk of the roster returns next season, replacing senior guard Jalynn Myers could be a tough task.
Myers, the team’s starting point guard, was great defensively and though her stat line was not like Williamson’s, one could argue that Myers was the team’s MVP this season.
C-H will likely turn to Jenna Vulcanoa or Madison Simpson at point guard. If the transition is smooth, the Bucs will be back in the postseason.