Mimi Thiero provides spark for young Quaker Valley girls basketball roster

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Oumou “Mimi” Thiero is a still-growing 6-foot-4 sophomore guard/forward who was an all-section selection last year.

Thiero was named by Trib HSSN as a 4A player to watch “who has perhaps the highest ceiling of any player in WPIAL girls basketball.”

And she showed why with her two-game production in the season-opening Montour tip-off tournament.

“Mimi has played well so far,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “It’s only been two games, but she’s done what she does: score, rebound, defend and facilitate for others.

“As with everyone on the team, her role this year has changed and expanded, so that might take some time to get truly set, but her effort, attitude and approach to practices and games has been great. That’s been true of all of the players. I expect that Mimi will continue to work hard and help us achieve our goals.”

Thiero started out with a 20-point performance against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the tournament’s first round.

She followed up with 16 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocked shots against Rochester in the consolation game.

QV lost twice in the tournament by scores of 44-31 to OLSH and 59-25 to Rochester.

“I was pleased with the overall effort over the weekend,” Johns said. “Most of our girls had not played in a varsity basketball game prior to Friday, so there were some nerves and it’s just a lot different than practices.

“It’s very early in the season, so it was a good test to see what we need to work on. There were some things I thought we did quite well. We played hard and defended well in the half court. It was a learning experience for all of us and another step in us understanding what we need to work on and how to get better.”

The athletic Thiero was QV’s leading scorer (13.2 ppg) and rebounder (10.4 rpg) as a freshman. She also led the team in field-goal percentage (47%) and blocks (3.5 avg) and ranked second in steals (50).

Thiero already has received a Division I offer from Duquesne.

Other potential impact players for the Quakers in 2023-24 include Madison Chapman, a 5-6 senior guard; Lucy Roig and Olivia Hoose, both 5-5 sophomore guards; Lily Millet, a 5-10 sophomore forward; Lily Tarkin, a 5-10 junior forward; and Anna Campbell, a 5-6 freshman guard.

The Quakers finished 17-9 last season after posting an 8-2 record in Section 2-4A, good for second place.

QV advanced to the WPIAL and state playoffs, seeing its season end with a 43-40 loss to Harbor Creek in the PIAA first round.

“We will look to continue our streak of reaching the WPIAL playoffs,” Johns said, “but it will be a challenge in our section and given our experience level. The early part of the season will be geared towards getting ourselves prepared for section play.”

QV’s section opponents are Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley and Hopewell. Blackhawk was a WPIAL and PIAA finalist last year and has four returning starters.

The Quakers’ section schedule begins Jan. 2 at Ambridge, followed by a home game Jan. 4 against Beaver.

Tags: Quaker Valley