Morale high for Latrobe girls team with potential to score in bunches

By: Dave Mackall
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Ahhh, togetherness! Count Latrobe’s Mackenzie Livingston in.

Like many other high school coaches, Livingston says having her girls basketball team spend time together in the offseason is good for morale.

And, she says, it can carry over to the regular season.

“We did it in college. I like to carry on the tradition here,” said the former IUP and Lock Haven point guard, entering her third year as coach at Class 5A Latrobe.

The team’s togetherness has included, among other things, a summertime trip to Kennywood, a venture through a corn maze and a Halloween party complete with pumpkin carving.

Livingston hopes the camaraderie will pay off when the start of the season rolls around Dec. 2 with a trip to Class 3A Quaker Valley.

“I like to do team bonding,” she said while counting down the days.

Latrobe returns three starters from an 11-11 team that dropped a first-round WPIAL playoff game to Thomas Jefferson.

Despite the early exit, Livingston said she’s excited about her current group.

“The thing about this team that’s different than the other teams I’ve coached is we’ve got a lot of girls who can score,” Livingston said. “We’ve got eight or nine kids at any time who are capable of scoring in double digits.”

Though Latrobe’s 7-5 mark in Section 2 last season placed the Wildcats third among seven teams, five games off the pace of unbeaten Penn- Trafford and three behind second-place Indiana, Livingston was upbeat about improving on that mark this season.

“I believe our section record will be better, but P-T and Indiana are always tough,” she said. “If we play to the best of our ability, we can win the section this year.”

A pair of seniors — 5-foot-5 Brianna Havrilla and 5-9 Miley Williams — along with 5-11 junior Maggie Maiers, make up a short list of returning starters for Latrobe.

Junior Emry Bridge and either junior Julianna Bulebosh or sophomore Sophia Drnjevich could round out the starting five.

“If we’re looking for a lineup with a more defensive-minded approach, we can go to Julianna,” Livingston said. “Sophia is a crazy-good shooter, and we’ll look for more offense when she’s in there.”

Livingston hopes a sense of togetherness will define Latrobe’s season, no matter the outcome of games.

She’s taking the team on a Thanksgiving Day run to prove it.

“We’re planning on doing the Latrobe Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving,” Livingston said, referring to the lighthearted, annual holiday event Thursday, just five days before the team’s opener.

The day features a 5K run/walk beginning at 9 a.m. at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.

“It’s something we’re all looking forward to,” she said.

After all, it’s good for morale.

Latrobe girls at a glance

Coach: Mackenzie Livingston

Last year’s record: 11-11 (7-5 Section 2-5A)

Returning starters: Brianna Havrilla (Sr., G), Miley Williams (Sr., F), Maggie Maiers (Jr., F)

Others to watch: Emry Bridge (Jr., PG), Julianna Bulebosh (Jr., G), Sophia Drnjevich (Soph., G), Lindsey Gaskey (Sr., G), Morgan Maiers (Fr., F)

Top newcomers: Sophia Drnjevich (Soph., G), Natalia Scekeres (Soph., G)

SCHEDULE

12.2, at Quaker Valley, 7:30 p.m.

12.5, TBA^

12.6, TBA^

12.11, West Mifflin*, 7:30 p.m.

12.16, at Penn-Trafford*, 7:30 p.m.

12.18, McKeesport*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, at Kiski Area*, 7 p.m.

12.26, TBA+

12.27, TBA+

1.2, Butler, 7:30 p.m.

1.5, Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

1.8, at Greensburg Salem*, 7:30 p.m.

1.15, at West Mifflin*, 7 p.m.

1.19, Penn-Trafford*, 6 p.m.

1.22, at McKeesport*, 7 p.m.

1.26, Kiski Area*, 7:30 p.m.

1.29, at Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

2.2, at Greensburg Salem*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, Blackhawk, 7:30 p.m.

2.9, at Norwin, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Plum tournament

+ Latrobe tournament

Tags: Latrobe