Monessen girls driven to improve in coach’s 2nd season

By: Brennan Valladares
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 4:01 PM

Jason Schmidt inherited a young Monessen girls basketball team in 2024 that had just made it to the Class A quarterfinals the year before under veteran coach Janine Vertacnik.

In his first season, as to be expected, the team had a lot to learn — from adjusting to a new coaching staff and system to meeting different program standards. The result was a 15-win drop from the previous season, as the Greyhounds went 5-15 overall (2-12) and missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.

“I think taking over any position it’s, you know, them learning me and my staff, and then us learning them as well,” Schmidt said of the challenges his team faced last year.

“(Getting to know each other) comes with buy-in and time, and those things you’ll see, you know, help later down the road.”

A year later, Schmidt believes there has been that buy-in as the team has grown more familiar with one another. With the entire roster returning, he is emphasizing “winning the day” to achieve a more successful season.

“So it’s winning and having a good practice,” Schmidt explained. “It’s showing up every day with a good attitude. Those things are how the record changes. You know, it’s one thing to do drills and this and that and talk X’s and O’s, but it’s another to show up and buy in and have that positive attitude, which I think we’ve seen so far with some open gyms and getting back into it with our team.”

Schmidt’s roster includes three seniors. Two of them — Madison Johnson and Na’Jaziah Carter — are returners, while Lillie Mackey joins the team as a key newcomer.

Johnson, a 2025 TribLive Westmoreland County All-Star, and Carter are expected to be significant two-way players and set the tone for the team’s “win the day” mentality.

“They’re significantly a big help on both sides — offense and defense,” Schmidt said of the two returning seniors, “and then we’re looking to them just to continue to step in that leadership role, too, and help bring everyone to the same page.”

Mackey joins the Greyhounds after strictly playing softball the last three years. Her natural athleticism should make an impact defensively, but maybe more importantly will be her ability to bring the team together.

“She’s bubbly,” Schmidt said. “She’s a great team person.

“… To see her step into that, like just being a glue kind of person, and playing her role and being very coachable … I’m excited to have a season with her because she wants to listen, she wants to be on the same page, she wants to do well, she wants to help everybody.”

Other key returners expected to contribute on both ends of the floor — and to the team’s competitive mindset — include juniors Rayniya Lyons and Erriol Washington, along with sophomores Amirra Brewer and Destiny Porter.

Freshmen Giana Horton, Mya Kelly and Abby Ward are also expected to make meaningful contributions this season.

“These girls want to compete,” Schmidt said. “They don’t want to get shown up. You know, they care about competing. They care about winning. So those things are nice to see because it’s one thing when you walk into a situation where maybe people are not on the side of competition. They’re just cool with going with the flow. That’s not what we have. You know, we want to get better. We want to show up to practice and do the right things. And that’ll ideally translate to a different record, more positively.”

Monessen girls at a glance

Coach: Jason Schmidt

Last year’s record: 5-15 (2-12 Section 2-A)

Returning starters: Madison Johnson (Sr., G), Na’Jaziah Carter (Sr., G/F), Rayniya Lyons (Jr., G)

Top newcomers: Lillie Mackey (Sr.), Giana Horton (Fr.), Mya Kelly (Fr.), Abby Ward (Fr.)

SCHEDULE

12.5 Jeannette^, 7 p.m.

12,6, TBA^

12.11 at Bishop Canevin*, 7 p.m.

12.15 Avella*, 7 p.m.

12.18 at Mapletown*, 7 p.m.

12.22 at West Greene*, 7 p.m.

12.29, TBA+

12.30, TBA+

1.5 Serra Catholic*, 7 p.m.

1.8 at Geibel Catholic*, 7 p.m.

1.12 Clairton*, 7 p.m.

1.15 Bishop Canevin*, 7 p.m.

1.18 Ellis School#, 1 p.m.

1.20 at Avella*, 7:30 p.m.

1.21 Carmichaels, 7 p.m.

1.22 Mapletown*, 7 p.m.

1.26 West Greene*, 7 p.m.

1.29 at Serra Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

2.2 Geibel Catholic*, 7 p.m.

2.3 at Frazier, 7 p.m.

2.5 at Clairton*, 7 p.m.

2.7 Washington, 1 p.m.

*Section game

^Major Corley Memorial Tournament at Monessen

+Burgettstown tournament

#MLK Showcase at Neighborhood Academy

Tags: Monessen