Main characters return, but Shady Side Academy girls plan to write new story

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Jonna Burke doesn’t plan to let the Shady Side Academy girls basketball team live in the past. The Bulldogs coach knows every season is different.

Shady Side Academy went 28-2 last season and reached the PIAA Class 3A championship game for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs lost to Loyalsock Township, 55-43, in the final.

“We’ve been talking about how we are a different team,” Burke said. “We are not the same team that made the run, while we do have some of the same parts. I don’t think it’s provided us with any momentum other than there is an X on our back. Everyone wants to beat us.”

The Bulldogs have the benefit of bringing back several key starters.

Karis Thomas, who committed to Division I Purdue Fort Wayne, did a little bit of everything during her junior season. She averaged 19.4 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Thomas has already topped 1,000 points in her career.

Shady Side Academy will also benefit from the return of 6-foot-2 forward Cassie Sauer. The University of Chicago recruit averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds per game last season. She missed most of Shady Side Academy’s playoff run last season after suffering an injury in the WPIAL quarterfinals against Riverside.

“The injury itself was terrible,” Sauer said in August after announcing her commitment. “It was a misstep that led to my hip popping out. When it popped back in, it led to a bone bruise on top of my femur.”

Sophomore guard Laila Banner and junior forward Leah Buford will return for Shady Side Academy. The Bulldogs won’t have a large team this year. Shady Side Academy will have 13 players and won’t play junior varsity this season.

“This may sound insane, but even though we only have 13 players, I think we have depth this season,” Burke said. “I feel like I can rotate eight or nine players, where in the past I’ve had some teams where I only played six or seven.”

Shady Side Academy will get tested right off the bat at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills. The Bulldogs will open the season with games against Imhotep Charter and Berlin Brothersvalley.

Berlin Brothersvalley is the defending Class 2A state champion.

Burke said she would like to see this team start to write its own story. What happened last year is no guarantee of what will happen moving forward.

“From the start of the season, I want us to defend and rebound,” Burke said. “Those are the two cornerstones of our philosophy and program. We want to be strong defensively and focus on outrebounding teams. That’s something we can always do. Offensively, things can change depending on your opponent.”

SCHEDULE

11.29, Imhotep Charter^, 1:15 p.m.

11.30, TBA^

12.3, Baldwin

12.5, at South Park, 6:30 p.m.

12.11, at South Allegheny*, 7 p.m.

12.15, Avonworth*, 6:30 p.m.

12.18, at Ligonier Valley*, 7:15 p.m.

12.20, at Oakland Catholic, 2:30 p.m.

12.22, at Steel Valley*, 6 p.m.

12.30, Pine-Richland+, 3 p.m.

1.5, at Deer Lakes*, 6:30 p.m.

1.8, at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 6 p.m.

1.12, East Allegheny*, 6:30 p.m.

1.15, South Allegheny*, 6:30 p.m.

1.20, at Avonworth*, 6 p.m.

1.22, Ligonier Valley*, 6:30 p.m.

1.26, Steel Valley*, 6:30 p.m.

1.29, at Deer Lakes*, 6 p.m.

2.2, Greensburg Central Catholic*, 6:30 p.m.

2.5, at East Allegheny*, 6:30 p.m.

2.9, Obama Academy, 6:30 p.m.

*Section games

^Play 4 Mae tournament at Woodland Hills

+Peter Sauer Memorial tournament at Shady Side Academy

Tags: Shady Side Academy