Fox Chapel girls motivated to reach WPIAL playoffs

By: Antonio Rossetti
Saturday, December 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Coach Marty Matvey and the Fox Chapel girls basketball coaching staff were one win away from 100 as a staff.

Matvey is in his fifth year coaching the Foxes, who started the season 2-2 heading into last Friday’s meeting with Penn Hills in the Section 1-5A opener.

He wouldn’t want to reach the milestone with any other group of players.

“I love it because we have a huge freshman class,” Matvey said. “I believe there’s 12 of them, and I’ve known them and I’ve known most of these girls since they’ve been in seventh grade. But this freshman class, I’ve known them since they’ve been in sixth grade, and I watched them in rec league, and then in seventh grade. … Their energy is contagious, and they’re supportive of each other.

“There is a team-first attitude, and that, combined with our upperclassmen, especially Bella Urso and Natalia Schaffer, who’ve done a great job taking a young team that has five seniors and some experience, and meshing it together to where there’s no like, ‘Hey, here’s a freshman, here’s the juniors.’ Having the team be one unit has made this experience and the potential thought of celebrating a team milestone with them awesome.”

Matvey appreciates the players’ coachability, is grateful for his staff and players and said that coaches put players in positions to succeed, but it’s ultimately the players who do the work.

“These kids, I can genuinely be myself with them and they return the favor,” Matvey said. “They’re such a genuine, authentic group that’s really open to learning because they want to get that ultimate goal, which is to get back into the playoffs. We missed by two games the last two years so that’s driving us nuts.”

The Foxes had a competitive game against North Hills, losing 54-48. They won against Highlands and Freeport at the Freeport tournament and also lost to undefeated Hempfield.

“That’s just a testament to them buying into one of our biggest mottos in the program, which is, ‘Don’t let the last play dictate,’ ” Matvey said. “Always make the next great play. … You can’t let last year’s disappointments, or the last play’s disappointments, dictate how you act in the future. Everyone knows that we haven’t made it. We’ve been close, but we’re taking those tools and applying them so that we can be successful this year.”

Matvey said he is proud of his seniors — Schaffer, Urso, Adina Rosen, Shay Pick and Avri Ebig, who captains the JV team.

“(Schaffer and Urso have) done everything I’ve asked for them, and they’ve been key players the last four years,” Matvey said. “Shay and Dina are the ultimate teammates. They can start any game, but right now they’re coming off the bench because they give us steadiness off the bench. They’re both selfless players, especially with their bodies. They both have drawn six chargers each. I’ve challenged them this year to try to break our charge records.”

He added that he’s known Ebig for a long time, dating back to when he coached at Duquesne with Suzie McConell-Serio when Ebig’s grandmother was a physical trainer there.

Matvey, wife Kate and his two children recently moved to the Fox Chapel Area School District. He’s grateful for the support of athletic director Mike O’Brien.

“They supported our mission to make this the most engaged program within the district,” Matvey said. “They’ve definitely have done that. We had our fifth grade travel team travel to come watch us play at Hempfield, cheering on our girls. Our youth program has been great. We finally have it connected from high school all the way down to the first grade, and that’s because of Mike O’Brien, the school district supporting me and allowing this dream to come to fruition.

“My wife’s just incredible,” Matvey said. “She’s been on this journey with me since 2007 allowing me to follow my dream and my passion. … I was trying to do this Division I coaching thing and wasn’t making much money at all. A lot of people were like ‘what are you doing?’ But my wife supported me throughout thick and thin.”

Matvey said he also is grateful for his coaching staff, which includes Kelly Gibson, Duquesne alum Amanda Kalin, Rachel Ranii and Angela Tassari. Tassari was a star at Oakland Catholic and has been with Matvey for nine years since his days at South Park.

He also is grateful for Jason Jablon, who is Lyla Jablon’s father, who has been instrumental in connecting middle school basketball to high school.

“They’re so important,” Matvey said. “With my job, I do travel a good bit, so I know that I can trust them if I step away. … They are the backbone of the team.”

Junior Lyla Jablon, freshman Bailey Sacco, freshman Ella Shevchuk, sophomore Emily McKee and sophomore Taylor Stocker are all players Matvey has seen help the Foxes this year. Jablon has started all three years.

“The best part is they just want to win,” he said, “and that’s why they’re one of the most coachable groups I’ve had, and that’s the best thing so far this season.”

Tags: Fox Chapel