Despite roster turnover, St. Joseph girls aim to contend again in revamped Class A

By: Michael Love
Monday, November 25, 2024 | 3:22 PM

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The St. Joseph girls basketball team made a run to the WPIAL Class A title game last year.

It was a continuation of success for the program that has collected trophies and banners that are on display at Walter Dlubak Athletic Center.

Change swept through in the offseason with the graduation of four starters, including Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year Julie Spinelli, and the loss of others who accounted for nearly 83% of the total offense last winter.

Second-year coach Geoff Dutelle said with the change comes opportunity, and the mix of newcomers and returning talent have seized the day in forming the nucleus of this season’s team.

“There were some eager players out there who loved the opportunity to get to work and prove themselves in the offseason,” Dutelle said. “There is a lot of confidence in the returning girls because of what they were a part of the past couple of years. I feel a lot of carryover even though a lot of the girls don’t have that varsity playing experience.

“Last year’s run, we made it, in large part, because of some of these returning players. They bought in. They were the scout team. They learned every single play that Aquinas ran so we would be ready for the (WPIAL semifinal game). Yeah, there are big shoes to fill, but they don’t know anything other than success.”

Dutelle said the lone returning starter, senior guard Gia Richter, is putting her leadership skills on display. She was second to Spinelli in scoring at 11.1 points per game and fronted the team in assists (2.9) and steals (3.5).

“What Gia’s been able to show, even before this year, told me that she would be able to take on this next phase,” Dutelle said.

“She understands we’re looking at two different phases, what she’s used to and what she will have for this year. She played with that group for so long. She knows there is a lot of turnover. We talked a lot about it, even back to last year as the season was going on, about how it was a fresh challenge.

“Gia can talk you through something, and she can also let you know in a terse but direct way that you need to do this or we need this from you. The best thing was how the seniors would often look to her for that, and that doesn’t always happen. This is a really good role for her to be in.”

Dutelle said there have been things to sort out in terms of the starting lineup and how the rotation will take shape, but he is confident 5-foot-10 junior guard/forward Kasey Cienik will be one of those main candidates.

“Kasey is ready to step in,” he said. “She saw good minutes for us last year (in 15 games). I think, on any other team last year, she would have played more minutes, because no one had the long list of post players that we happened to have, and we didn’t want to play her out of position.”

Also expected to step into a bigger role is 5-10 senior guard/forward Riley Wilbert.

“Kasey and Riley work really well together,” Dutelle said.

“Even though they didn’t get as many minutes as I would’ve liked last year, they really developed as basketball players.”

Dutelle expects freshmen Bella Bartolovic, Gemma Hornack and Jordyn Cienik to contribute right away.

“All three play with a real nice fearlessness and a scrappy mentality,” he said.

Also hoping to make an impact are sophomore guard Jocelyn Spinelli and seniors Kni’je Middlebrook (guard/forward), Star Henwood (guard) and Violet Hill (guard).

Spinelli placed 52nd overall last month at the WPIAL Class 2A cross country championships at White Oak Park. Bartolovic and Jordyn Cienik also ran cross country this past fall.

“We are not made up full of volleyball and soccer players,” Dutelle said.

“We have a number of cross country athletes. There are some things we’re going to have to figure out as a young team, but athleticism and endurance are some things I am not worried about. I am counting on that from them.”

With the WPIAL realignment in the offseason, Class A has a whole new look. St. Joseph will play in Section 1 with Aquinas, Eden Christian, Leechburg, Sewickley Academy, Springdale, Union and Western Beaver.

St. Joseph split a pair of competitive games with Aquinas last year. The regular-season game went to overtime before Aquinas came out on top, while the Spartans prevailed in the WPIAL semifinal rematch.

“The only holdover from last year is Leechburg, but we’re really familiar with a lot of the other ones,” Dutelle said.

“I like the two big sections. I like it where the majority of the games are in section because it gives you a good feel for where you are and where you stand as the season progresses.”

St. Joseph kicks off its season Dec. 2 at home against Apollo-Ridge before visiting Highlands on Dec. 4.

“Everyone is really excited for that Highlands game,” Dutelle said.

The Spartans then will host their tip-off tournament Dec. 6-7. They will face Frazier on the first night at 6 p.m.

“It will be a challenging first week with those four games in six days,” Dutelle said.

“I always talk about us being in shape. We’re definitely going to find out about that right away.”

St. Joseph girls at a glance

Coach: Geoff Dutelle (second year)

Last year’s record: 23-5 (10-0 in Section 1-A)

Returning starter: Gia Richter (Sr., G)

Top newcomers: Bella Bartolovic (Fr., G), Gemma Hornack (Fr., G), and Jordyn Cienik (Fr., G)

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.

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