Herald high school roundup: Fox Chapel girls basketball streak ends

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 12, 2018 | 7:12 PM

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The Fox Chapel girls basketball team picked up its second section win in a row Feb. 5 as it traveled to Latrobe and won in overtime 60-58. The Foxes were led by Claudia Guerreri with 19 points and six assists. Meg Friday's free throws in overtime gave them the lead for good.

“It's like everything is starting to click,” FC coach Jenn O'Shea said. “We are taking charges, executing on offense, making the extra pass and defending. We said all along that we need to win on of these close games to get over the hump. We were competitive with all of those top teams first time around. I think we are the only team with a losing record that has more points scored than allowed overall. All of the losses, except for Norwin, were so close.”

The Foxes made it three in a row with a 49-31 nonsection win over Greensburg Central Catholic on Feb. 6. They raced to a 30-13 halftime lead, and the Centurions never recovered. Guerrieri scored 11 points to lead the way. The winning streak came to an end Feb. 9 as visiting Gateway posted a 40-34 win after trailing by three at the half. Guerreri scored nine points for the Foxes (7-13, 2-8).

• Shady Side Academy dropped a 58-57 double-overtime nailbiter to Steel Valley in Class 3A, Section 3 on Feb. 8. Ariana Goitz scored 26, and Catherine Jewart added 16 as the Indians fell to 10-10 overall and 4-8 in the section.

“We had opportunities,” SSA coach Amy Szlachetka said. “At times, we played very well and very tough, but we also had some mental breakdowns. We definitely never quit, which has been this team's hallmark.”

She felt that close losses hampered the team's efforts to make the playoffs.

“We lost so many section games by five points or less. Now the challenge is learning how to win those games. We have a great group coming back next season, and this year's seniors have set a wonderful example and a great supportive tone in the gym and the locker room.”

SSA's seniors are Megan McInerney, Willis Munroe, Julie Staley and Stephanie Zhang.

“Stephanie is one of our international students from China. She never played basketball before, and she worked hard this season to understand the game. We have enjoyed having her on the team.”

Boys basketball

The Foxes traveled to Latrobe on Feb. 6 in a battle for third place in Class 6A, Section 3. Behind 23 first-half points from Carson Cohen, the Foxes took a commanding 48-33 halftime lead. Cohen finished with 31 points, and Dom McGriff added 24.

The Foxes (17-4, 11-3) wrapped up section play by hosting Plum on Feb. 8 and cruising to a 70-37 win.

• Shady Side Academy had no problems handling visiting Steel Valley in a Class 3A, Section 3 game Feb. 6 as they led by 38-17 at the half and posted an 81-48 win. Frankie Fuhrer IV and Grady Munroe each scored 14 points for SSA.

Swimming

Shady Side Academy swept Highlands on Feb. 6 with the girls (10-0, 5-0) winning 82.5-58.5 and the boys (7-3, 4-1) recording a 76-51 win.

Girls winners were the 200-meter medley relay team (Jeanne Lauer, Meredith Cummings, Heather Grune and Nicole Jani), the 200 free relay team (Heather Grune, Lindsey Grune, Cummings and Sasha Arefyev), Maya Groff (200 IM), Jani (50 free), Arefyev (200 free), Cummings (100 butterfly) and Heather Grune (100 free).

Boys winners were the 200 medley relay team (Raymond Zheng, Feno Monaco, Chase Kuhleman and Thomas Striker), the 200 free relay team (Sean Kelley, Spiker, Nick Lauer and Jonathan Hung), Will Engel (200 IM), Elisio Salazar (200 free), Lauer (100 butterfly) and Kelley (100 free).

• Fox Chapel fell to Franklin Regional on Feb. 8 with the girls losing 103-81 and the boys falling 96-88. Girls winners were the 200 medley relay team (Grace Gackenbach, Jaclyn Filo, Joslyn Filo and Molly Wiese), Joslyn Filo (50 free, 100 free), Jaclyn Filo (100 butterfly), Gackenbach (500 free) and the 400 free relay team (Gackenbach, Wiese, Maria Luciana and Vivian Shao).

Boys winners were the 200 medley relay team (Nate Roe, Will Wang, Liam Botos and Tristan McClelland) Wang (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Roe (50 free, 100 free), Jonah Cagley (diving), Colin Hackwelder (500 free) and the 400 free relay team (Brandon Brewster, Jake Sperry, Tristan McClelland and Hackwelder).

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy