Hempfield girls facing roster challenges as season begins

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Hempfield had to do some shuffling before official practice even began.

Senior point guard Madalyn Pevarnik, who would have been the top returning scorer, suffered a torn ACL in the summer while playing AAU basketball and will miss her final high school season.

Pevarnik is a Marietta commit.

“She was super steady for us,” third-year coach Bob Madison said. “It will change what we do a little bit. We’ll have to figure out what to do at the point.”

That isn’t the only key change.

Also, senior Katarina DeVito decided not to play this season as she focuses on golf, so that created another void in the starting rotation. It also meant senior Ava Shipman would be the only returning starter.

“Ava can help us at the point as a ball handler,” Madison said. “And (junior) Reagan Fisher can also play point guard.”

Hempfield only had 15 players for open gyms, so the roster could be light for a Class 6A program. How deep the rotation goes was a question mark heading into mid-November.

Senior 5-foot-10 forward Gabby Coccia will bring valuable experience to the lineup, and Fisher will be a key in the backcourt.

Scoring could be by committee until the Spartans find a go-to presence.

Shipman and Coccia are expected to be senior leaders and the glue that holds a mostly unseasoned unit together.

“We have to stay out of foul trouble and play good defense to compete,” Madison said. “When we played our best last year, we ran the 2-2-1 halfcourt trap really well. When we were right with it, we were really good.”

Junior Emma Smilie also is expected to log minutes.

Madison also will look to junior Mackenzie Little and freshman Lena Hisman in the post.

The Spartans will have six freshmen.

“We are going to grind, I can tell you that,” Madison said. “We will put the effort in.”

Hempfield girls at a glance

Coach: Bob Madison

Last year’s record: 10-11 (2-8 Section 2-6A)

Returning starters: Ava Shipman (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Gabby Coccia (Sr., F), Reagan Fisher (Jr., G)

Top newcomers: Lillian Houghtalen (So., G/F)

SCHEDULE

11.29, at Laurel Highlands, 1 p.m.

12.3, McKeesport, 7:30 p.m.

12.5, Mt. Pleasant^, 7:30 p.m.

12.6, Greensburg Salem^, 2:30 p.m.

12.9, at Fox Chapel, 5:30 p.m.

12.11, North Hills, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, at Plum, 6 p.m.

12.15, West Mifflin, 6:30 p.m.

12.18, Mt. Lebanon*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, Connellsville*, 6 p.m.

12.26, TBA+

12.27, TBA+

1.6, at Canon-McMillan*, 6 p.m.

1.8, Upper St. Clair*, 7:30 p.m.

1.12, at Norwin*, 7:30 p.m.

1.14, Penn-Trafford, 7:30 p.m.

1.19, at Butler, 7:30 p.m.

1.22, Mt. Lebanon*, 7:30 p.m.

1.26, Connellsville*, 6:30 p.m.

1.28, at KIski Area, 7 p.m.

1.29, Canon-McMillan*, 6 p.m.

2.2, at Upper St. Clair*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, Norwin*, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^ Greensburg Salem tournament

+Latrobe tournament

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield