Behind Thiero’s double-double pace, Quaker Valley girls off to strong start in Section 1-3A

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Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 11:01 AM


Quaker Valley’s Oumou Thiero has a rich basketball heritage.

But she is inspirational both in and away from the gym.

For example, the 6-foot-5 junior on the girls basketball team annually travels with her family back to her parent’s hometown of Segou, Mali, with basketball shoes, athletic equipment, food and clothing for those in need.

On the court, Thiero, who has received dozens of Division I offers and plans to make her college choice this summer, was lauded recently as the Trib HSSN girls basketball player of the week.

Her individual stat line through 12 games was indeed impressive: She averaged 19.8 points, 15.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 4.6 steals and 3.8 blocks per game.

And she provides an imposing stance on defense for the Quakers.

“Mimi has always been a pretty good defender and a lot of that has come from her length in blocking shots,” QV coach Ken Johns said in a Trib HSSN interview. “She’s communicating well, guarding the ball well and her help-side defense has really improved. Knowing she can guard inside and out on the perimeter allows us to do a lot of different things and she will go a rebound from wherever she is.

“Over the past four games she has averaged 20 points and 20 rebounds and she gets her share on both ends, but she’s been rebounding the ball well defensively.”

Thiero has been a model of consistency coming off a sophomore season in which scored at a 19.4 ppg clip — after averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds as a freshman.

“I think her all-around game has improved since her freshman year,” Johns said. “I don’t know that there’s one specific thing that stands out, all of it has gotten better.

“She is making shots a bit more consistently. I have seen improvement in her post game and in her mid-range jump shot, which makes her even harder to guard.

“I think the biggest thing for me is her continued growth as a leader. She has grown into a vocal leader, and I see it more and more every practice and game. With such a young team, it is important for us to have that. Mimi and our other co-captain Lucy Roig are beginning to embrace that role. That is going to continue to be a big part of us being the best version of ourselves as a team.”

The Quakers’ starting lineup this season has included Thiero, 5-5 junior guard Lucy Roig, 5-7 freshman guard Keira Watson, 5-7 sophomore guard Anna Campbell, 5-10 freshman forward Leasia Karto and 5-7 sophomore forward Annabel Miko.

Thiero, Roig, Watson and Campbell are constants in the starting rotation. Karto and Miko are considered flex players.

Rose Cline, a 5-7 sophomore guard, and juniors Lily Millet, a 5-10 forward, and Mia Floro, a 5-7 guard/forward, are the Quakers’ top reserves.

“Our starting lineup can flex a bit,” Johns said. “It is somewhat dependent on matchups.”

The Quakers started off 2025 with consecutive victories against Riverside, 47-24, New Brighton, 65-5, Mohawk, 51-6, and Ellwood City, 53-45, to improve to 5-2 in Section 1-3A and 7-6 overall.

Thiero poured in 34 points in the win Jan. 13 at Ellwood City as the QV girls donned their rally caps against the Wolverines, erasing a 16-point first half deficit.

Staff writer Don Rebel contributed.

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