Belle Vernon girls plan to put pieces together in coach’s 2nd season

By: Brennan Valladares
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 1:25 PM

Going into Year 2, Belle Vernon girls basketball coach Cornelious Nesbit feels he better comprehends his team — and they him.

“I think we as a team, from a coaching staff and a player standpoint, I think we understand each other a lot more,” Nesbit said.

With a rather young team during the 2024-25 season — when the Leopards finished 11-12 and 8-6 in Section 3-4A — Nesbit needed to see what he had in his players. So, he utilized the season to figure that out.

“I think that was a big thing for me and my coaching staff — let’s give these young ladies an opportunity to see what they have, what we have,” he said.

“And then in Year 2, we get to kind of put the pieces together now that we really know our players.”

The first pieces of that puzzle are the two returning seniors — Mia Roebuck and Emerson LaCarte.

“I think they’re the heart and soul of our team,” Nesbit said. “… You tend to get kids who are older, who don’t buy into their roles. But this was the complete opposite. They bought into their roles. They bought into the expectations of what I needed from them to go into their senior year. I expect the same from those two young ladies.”

Roebuck and LaCarte were two of Belle Vernon’s starters in its opening-round playoff loss to Central Valley last season. The three other starters — junior Saylor Lee, junior Abby Russell and sophomore Aubrey Brown — are also returning this season.

“We lose (to Central Valley) by nine,” Nesbit said. “(We were) up by one or two at halftime on the road, which told me that everything that we led up to that playoff game with was successful because of the production and the performance of those girls on the court that night. Which was encouraging going into year No. 2.”

Lee (13 points) and Russell (11 points) combined for 24 points in the loss, showing they might be able to contribute offensively this season. Brown, the Leopards’ leading scorer last year, didn’t average in double digits, but her all-around performance (seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, three blocks) solidified her case as being the team’s best player entering her second season.

“There was a lot of pressure on a 14-year-old freshman to come in and help lead this program,” Nesbit said of Brown. “And I thought she did a phenomenal job at that.

“Year No. 2 for her in the program, expectations are a lot higher for her, and I think she would hold herself to that standard as well.”

Other players who are expected to contribute more this season are junior Payton Walsh, sophomore Morgan Hamed and freshmen Isis Almighty and Lyla McConnell.

Belle Vernon will start the season in the Woodland Hills tipoff tournament against York Suburban and Imhotep Charter on Nov. 29-30.

In Section 3-4A, the Leopards have 14 games against Ringgold, Yough, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland and South Park.

Belle Vernon girls at a glance

Coach: Cornelious Nesbit

Last year’s record: 11-12 (8-6 Section 3-4A)

Returning starters: Emerson LaCarte (Sr., G), Mia Roebuck (Sr., G), Saylor Lee (Jr., F), Abby Russell (Jr., G), Aubrey Brown (So., F)

Others to watch: Morgan Hamed (So., G), Payton Walsh (Jr., G)

Top newcomers: Isis Almighty (Fr., F), Lyla McConnell (Fr., G)

SCHEDULE

11.29, York Suburban^, 2:45 p.m.

11.30, Imhotep Charter^, 1:30 p.m.

12.1, at Rochester, 7:30 p.m.

12.8, Connellsville, 7 p.m.

12.11, at Ringgold*, 7:30 p.m.

12.15, at Yough*, 7:30 p.m.

12.18, South Park*, 7 p.m.

12.22, at Elizabeth Forward*, 7:30 p.m.

12.28, Bethel Park+, 5:30 p.m.

12.29, Allderdice+, 5:30 p.m.

1.5, Laurel Highlands*, 7 p.m.

1.8, at Mt. Pleasant*, 7 p.m.

1.10, TBA#

1.12, Southmoreland*, 7 p.m.

1.15, Ringgold*, 7 p.m.

1.19, Yough*, 7 p.m.

1.20, West Mifflin, 5 p.m.

1.22, at South Park*, 7 p.m.

1.26, Elizabeth Forward*, 7 p.m.

1.29, at Laurel Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.

2.2, Mt. Pleasant*, 7 p.m.

2.5, at Southmoreland*, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Woodland Hills tournament

+ Cal (Pa.) tournament

#MVI Shootout

Tags: Belle Vernon