Fox Chapel girls taking charge of defensive strategy

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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Fox Chapel girls basketball coach Marty Matvey has seen a higher number of his players spill onto the ground while they are playing defense. That has been the design of this iteration of the Foxes who have wanted to compensate for their lack of size with increased toughness.

“We’ve taken 18 or 19 charges this year,” Matvey said. “The most we have taken before in a season was nine.”

Fox Chapel’s dedication to defense, and the dirty work that comes with it, has put the Foxes in the middle of a highly-competitive race for the playoffs in Section 1-5A. Before Fox Chapel’s matchup with Shaler last Friday, the Foxes were in a three-way tie for first place with the Titans and Plum.

The Foxes have found their legs after getting off to a 1-3 start this season.

“I’m pleased with how things have worked out,” Matvey said. “I knew there would be more parity this year than in years’ past, but I didn’t think it would be this much.”

The Foxes (6-6, 3-1) have seen an improvement in their offense thanks to the one-two punch of Lyla Jablon and Emily McKee. Fox Chapel scores 46.5 points per game and Jablon averages around 16 points per game, while McKee averages nearly 12.

“I think for the newcomers to varsity basketball it was about getting comfortable with the physicality and speed,” Matvey said. “Defensively, they were fine, but on offense they took some time to be comfortable and know where their shots could come from.”

Sophomore 5-foot-9 guards Nakaya Kulikowski and Nina Kulikowski are the tallest players on the roster. The Kulikowskis have played a big role on each side of the ball for the Foxes.

Ella Shevchuk and Bella Geller also have stepped into important roles for Fox Chapel.

“One of the best compliments I get is that these kids play super hard no matter what the score is,” Matvey said. “They know they have to because of their lack of size. Outside of playing Franklin Regional, we haven’t been killed inside.”

In a recent win over Armstrong, the Foxes counted on creating more opportunities to score to help pull away in a 41-36 win. Fox Chapel turned over the River Hawks 30 times.

Matvey is hoping that the Foxes will be able to maintain their current level of play.

“We want to be in contention for a playoff spot,” Matvey said. “To compete for first place is something we have done. We haven’t won that big game. We’re hoping that (against Shaler) we can take that opportunity and win the big game.”

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