Fox Chapel girls set new standards during playoff season
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Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM
The Fox Chapel girls basketball team made its return to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs after a three-year absence. The Foxes weren’t able to upend potential title hopeful Peters Township, but Fox Chapel coach Marty Matvey was happy with the progress.
The Foxes lost 66-58 and hope they have the pieces in place for a bright future.
“We turned the page,” Matvey said. “We had a good senior class and an incredibly enthusiastic freshman class. They had a lot of good intangibles and were a coachable group. They bought into everything we were selling and overachieved.”
The Foxes (13-10, 7-5) weathered the storm when they ran into adversity. Fox Chapel lost three of its final four section games.
However, the Foxes were in good position to make the playoffs because they had opened by winning their first two.
“I think they loved it and they think this is the standard,” Matvey said. “We want them to believe this is the standard. It doesn’t happen every year. Every game matters. We can’t take anything for granted.”
Five-foot-8 senior forward Natalia Schaffer took a big step forward this season. Schaffer averaged a double-double, putting up 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.
“In years past, she has always been fighting for a starting spot,” Schaffer said. “I think this year, since we lost so much from last year, she didn’t feel any additional pressure. She knew she was going to be the tallest kid on the team and she started to believe in herself.”
Senior guard Bella Urso finished second on the team in scoring by averaging 15 points per game. Junior point guard Lyla Jablon averaged 12 points per game.
In the playoffs, Matvey was proud of his team’s effort against second-seeded Peters Township.
“We were the 15 seed and some people thought we may lose by 30,” Matvey said. “They are loaded, but I’m proud of how our girls played.”
Matvey said Fox Chapel learned a lot by not having a lot of height on the roster. He believes the Foxes will be motivated to work hard to get back to the postseason next year.
“They learned what it’s like to buy into the team concept,” Matvey said. “They are already back in the gym working.”
Tags: Fox Chapel
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