After 4th straight PIAA playoff appearance, St. Joseph girls aim to remain consistent contender

By: Michael Love
Friday, November 28, 2025 | 10:11 AM

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Despite losing four seniors and a few other key members from its run to the 2023-24 WPIAL Class A title game at Petersen Events Center, the St. Joseph girls basketball team refocused its efforts last season, fused with youthful talent eager to keep up the success of the last several years.

The Spartans did just that as they made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals and survived two consolation games to secure a spot in the PIAA playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

Now, with a core of five returning players — one senior, one junior and three sophomores — with starting experience from last year’s team that went 18-9 overall and 11-3 (second place) in Section 1-A, the Spartans hope to again be in the mix for postseason success.

“Having so much youth is always exciting, but we also return a lot of experience with so many of them playing critical minutes last year as we made a run to qualify for states,” St. Joseph coach Geoff Dutelle said.

“The fact that we only have one senior and one junior means this is a multi-year vision for this group.”

Five seniors moved on from last year’s team. None was more impactful than four-year starter Gia Richter. The all-star guard led St. Joseph in scoring in her final varsity season at 16.2 points a game. She also averaged 8.4 rebounds and produced 94 assists and 91 steals.

Dutelle will be counting on the core of returning talent in senior forward Kasey Cienik, junior guard Jocelyn Spinelli and sophomore guards Bella Bartolovic, JJ Cienik and Gemma Hornack on the nine-player roster.

Kasey Cienik and Bartolovic scored in double figures for the season at 11.8 and 11.6 points per game, respectively. Both also averaged nearly six rebounds.

Bartolovic also fronted the team from the free-throw line at 71.4% (100 of 140).

Dutelle expects three freshmen — forward Francesca Drizos and guards Maddie Krill and Peyton Hornack — to be a part of the rotation.

Junior guard Kenzie Jones also hopes to make an impact.

“We are still transitioning the new players and have gotten good, full practices in after the fall sports ended,” Dutelle said.

“But we played in the Fox Chapel Fall League and showed pretty well, so we developed a nice baseline to start with as a coaching staff. We took some lumps, but we also won a few games and played more competitively than we had in years past. The games we did win, we consistently improved throughout the game. As a single-A team, playing those bigger schools only helped us.”

Dutelle said he sees speed and athleticism as a strength this season, while working on playing consistent, tough defense without fouling always is a team focus.

Union rolled through the section last year at 14-0 and was undefeated overall in winning its third straight WPIAL title. St. Joseph and Aquinas Academy tied for second in the section. They split their season series, each winning on their home court.

Section rival Springdale qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for just the second time in the past decade.

“The section is always improving,” Dutelle said. “Aquinas and Union are the teams to beat until somebody beats them, but I think the overall depth of the section will be better than last year.”

St. Joseph opens its season Monday at Apollo-Ridge before hosting a tip-off tournament Dec. 5-6 with Steel Valley, Lincoln Park and West Allegheny.

Serra Catholic comes to Walter Dlubak Athletic Center for a Dec. 9 nonsection game before the Spartans kick off section play Dec. 11 at Western Beaver.

“Those early games will be a good test to see where we are at and what we still need to work on,” Dutelle said.

St. Joseph girls at a glance

Coach: Geoff Dutelle (third year)

Last year’s record: 18-9 (11-3 Section 1-A)

Returning starters: Kasey Cienik (Sr., F), Jocelyn Spinelli (Jr., G), Bella Bartolovic (So., G), JJ Cienik (So., G), Gemma Hornack (So., G)

Top newcomers: Maddie Kozuk (Fr., F), Francesca Drizos (Fr., F), Maddie Krill (Fr., G), Peyton Hornack (Fr., G)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

12.1, at Apollo-Ridge, 6 p.m.

12.5, TBD^, TBD

12.6, TBD^, TBD

12.9, Serra Catholic, 7 p.m.

12.11, at Western Beaver*, 6 p.m.

12.15, Leechburg*, 7 p.m.

12.18, at Eden Christian*, 7 p.m.

12.22, Aquinas Academy*, 7 p.m.

12.29, TBD+, TBD

12.30, TBD+, TBD

1.5, at Union*, 5:30 p.m.

1.8, Sewickley Academy*, 7 p.m.

1.12, at Springdale*, 7 p.m.

1.15, Western Beaver*, 7 p.m.

1.19, at Leechburg*, 6:30 p.m.

1.20, Riverview, 7 p.m.

1.22, Eden Christian*, 7 p.m.

1.26, at Aquinas Academy*, 7 p.m.

1.29, Union*, 7 p.m.

2.2, at Sewickley Academy*, 6:30 p.m.

2.5, Springdale*, 7 p.m.

2.9, at Butler, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^St. Joseph tip-off tournament

+St. Joseph holiday tournament

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: St. Joseph