Defending WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy girls ready for ‘new journey’

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, November 23, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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After a historic season where the Shady Side Academy girls basketball team won the first WPIAL title in program history, there will be some change, but a solid core returns.

The Bulldogs lost a pair of starters, Maggie Spell, who transferred to Thomas Jefferson, and Sydney Birchard, who graduated, but have four experienced players returning who bring different elements to the court.

Guards Karis Thomas, Leah Burford and Cam Capel and center Cassie Sauer all played pivotal roles to help the Bulldogs win the Class 3A championship and advance to the state quarterfinals.

They’ll be the key cogs to try to make a run at a repeat.

“It’s great that they were able to accomplish that last year, but this is a new season and a new journey, because the team is different,” Bulldogs coach Jonna Burke said. “We certainly have high expectations of ourselves, and we know that there will be pressure placed upon us from outside, but our approach is very simple. It’s the same every year, and that’s to make the playoffs. That starts a new season after that.

“We’re keeping our focus very narrow right now, and that’s to get better every day and see what this team can be.”

Burke is one of the most successful coaches in WPIAL girls basketball history, amassing over 500 wins in her career.

Not having Spell and her team-leading 19.5 points per game will be a challenge, but the Bulldogs have balance throughout their lineup. Thomas is one of the top guards in the WPIAL and Sauer brings size that is imposing both defensively and offensively. Both are juniors.

“We are lucky to have a strong inside presence in Cassie,” Burke said. “She’s able to change a lot of things for us defensively in the paint, and she’s worked on her game offensively. She can be someone that’s very hard to guard because she’s physical and strong. To balance that with Karis’ outside play is nice to have.”

Another returner, Ky Mitchell, played important minutes off the bench last year, and incoming freshman Laila Banner is expected to be a key contributor as well.

Shady Side Academy will open its season by playing two games Nov. 29-30 at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills.

The Bulldogs will host the annual Pete Sauer Memorial Tournament on Dec. 27-28. Seneca Valley, Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland, Woodland Hills and Plum are coming to the tournament.

Deer Lakes and Ligonier Valley are the only holdovers in Section 2-3A play for the Bulldogs with South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Avonworth, East Allegheny and Greensburg Central Catholic in as newcomers.

The schedule won’t be totally unfamiliar, however, because Shady Side Academy has played all of those teams in section play in the past except Greensburg Central Catholic.

The last two WPIAL 3A champs, Shady Side Academy and Avonworth, and the reigning Class 2A champs, Greensburg Central Catholic, are in the section.

Baldwin, Seneca Valley, Blackhawk, Woodland Hills, Pine-Richland and Belle Vernon are some of the nonsection opponents on the schedule.

“We wanted to play a tough nonsection schedule to prepare us for playoffs, and our section is definitely going to be tougher than it was last year,” Burke said. “We’re in for some very healthy competition all season long in and out of section.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

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