Riverview’s Katerina Tsambis named Valley News Dispatch girls basketball player of the year

By: Michael Love
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 7:48 PM

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Katerina Tsambis

5-4, Sr., G, Riverview

The Riverview girls basketball team won 14 games this past season and lost just five.

Of those 14 games, a couple of them stand out for senior guard Katerina Tsambis.

“I would have to say beating some of the bigger schools we played like Freeport and Deer Lakes, those were just really good wins for the team,” she said. “It showed that even with our numbers and any adversity that we were up against, we were able to come together and compete with really good teams and players. They were some of our most fun games.

“Everyone stepped into their roles. The coaches really made an emphasis on everyone playing their roles for the team to be successful. If you were the scorer, the screener, or the rebounder, everyone settled into their roles as the season went on, and we worked really well together and were flowing nicely.”

Riverview was successful as it finished 8-2 in Section 4-2A — it’s only two losses came against section champion Winchester Thurston — and took part in the WPIAL playoffs for an eighth year in a row.

Tsambis, one of just two seniors on the Raiders roster along with forward Lily Bauer, rose to the occasion numerous times throughout 2024-25.

She averaged a team-best 18.3 points, scored 20 or more points nine times, and reached double figures in 18 of Riverview’s 19 games. She also provided 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.5 steals per game.

For her efforts in helping lead the Raiders throughout the season, Tsambis has been selected the Valley News Dispatch Girls Basketball Player of the Year among a group of candidates which included Highlands’ Tyarah Woody and Fox Chapel’s Natalia Schaffer.

“Kat was such a competitive player,” Riverview coach Jill Catanzaro said. “It didn’t matter who the opponent was. That is what drove her from Day 1, from seventh grade on. With her teammates, she was, ‘Let’s get focused. We’re here to win!’ It always came from her competitive side and the desire for her and everyone else on the team to prepare their best to be able to play their best. That is just her.

“When she’s committed to something like this team and to winning, there’s no stopping her. When you look at people who get hired for jobs, I was just reading in an article the other day that employers want those people because they are the ones who figure out how to win, how to compete and how to get the job done.”

Tsambis said she was even more comfortable this year in having that point guard role.

“I had the ball in my hands the majority of the time, so I knew I had to be that player who could score but also assist others,” Tsambis said.

“I had so many more assists this year, and I was proud of that. I also wanted to put an emphasis on being that person and player my teammates could rely on both in the game and outside the game. At the end of the day, I just wanted to be recognized as a leader.”

Tsambis said it was an emotional night Feb. 18 in Riverview’s WPIAL first-round game against Rochester.

The Raiders seemed to be in control and on their way to a win, but the Rams were able to rally in the second half for a 57-53 victory.

Tsambis scored 14 points in the game with junior guard Isabel Chaparro tallying a season-best 25.

Tsambis said the playoff loss didn’t take away from all that the team accomplished this season, one which helped cap her special career.

“I think the memories and relationships made with my teammates is what I will remember the most,” said Tsambis who is considering playing basketball in college.

“I saw myself grow as a player and a person. If you could’ve seen me from right before my freshman year to now, it’s not even the same person. Basketball and being a part of this team has really helped me grow in so many positive ways.”

Tsambis, a member of the Riverview track and field team this spring, plans to study kinesiology in college and still is deciding where that will take place. She said Penn State is an option, but basketball might be in the plans with Allegheny, Penn State Behrend or Penn State Altoona.

The three-sport standout said she’s always on the move and doesn’t like to have down time.

“I like to be active, so my schedule with athletics and academics really fits me,” Tsambis said.

“When the soccer season ended a few weeks before basketball season, I was in the gym with the team getting ready and getting focused. I am always looking for ways to better myself and take advantage of the time I am given to do that.”

First team all-stars

Isabel Chaparro

5-9, Jr., G, Riverview

Chaparro was a key component for a small-rostered Raiders squad that moved up to Class 2A and returned to the WPIAL playoffs for the eighth year in a row. She finished second on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game and added 7.6 rebounds a contest. She scored in double figures 14 times with a season-best 25 in the close WPIAL first-round loss to Rochester.

Gia Richter

5-4, Sr., G, St. Joseph

The only returning starter from last year’s WPIAL Class A runner-up and state qualifier, Richter helped a younger St. Joseph squad maintain its winning ways both in and out of section play. She averaged a team-best 16.2 points per game and despite her diminutive height, she led the team in rebounds at 8.4 a game. Richter also averaged 3.8 steals and 3.8 assists for a Spartans squad that reached the WPIAL quarterfinals before making a return trip to the PIAA tournament.

Natalia Schaffer

5-8, Sr., F, Fox Chapel

The Foxes were a competitive force in Section 1-5A against rivals Franklin Regional, Plum and Shaler, and Schaffer was one of the big reasons why. The first-team section all-star played all 23 games for Fox Chapel and led the way in scoring at 15.6 points a game. She also shot a team-best 41.7% from the field and 78.4% (80 for 102) from the free-throw line.

Tamia West

5-9, So., G, Plum

West kept up her strong play for the Mustangs after a breakout freshman season and helped her team finish tied with Fox Chapel for third in a competitive Section 1-5A and reach the WPIAL playoffs. She matured into Plum’s leading scorer at 13 points a game and was at the top of the team stat list in assists and rebounds. For her efforts, she was selected to the Section 1 all-star first team.

Tyarah Woody

5-11, Sr., G, Highlands

Woody was the lone returning starter for a Golden Rams squad that had several players step into larger roles. Woody assumed the responsibility of a top scorer, and she didn’t disappoint by averaging 20.2 points to go along with 12.1 rebounds, four assists and five steals for a Highlands squad which survived the rigors of a challenging Section 1-4A to make the WPIAL playoffs.

Second team

Lily Bauer

6-1, Sr., G/F, Riverview

Karlee Buterbaugh

6-0, Sr., F, Knoch

Gianna DeVito

5-10, Jr., F, Kiski Area

Lyla Jablon

5-4, Jr., G, Fox Chapel

Riley Stephans

5-9, Jr., G/F, Plum

Third team

Anna Clark

5-8, Sr., G/F, Deer Lakes

Neah Ewing

5-6, Jr., G, Knoch

Julianna Fisher

5-11, Sr., F, Burrell

Janelle Norman

6-2, Sr., F, Valley

Bella Urso

5-7, Sr., G, Fox Chapel

Honorable mention

Bella Bonnett, Jr., G/F Highlands; Casey Brancato, Jr., G, Burrell; Serena Carnahan, Sr., G/F, Plum; Nia DiSanti, Jr., PG, Freeport; Josie Farster, So., G/F, Deer Lakes; Kasey Cienik, Jr. G/F, St. Joseph; Ashlyn Ferderbar, Sr., PG, Springdale; Josalin McCauley, Jr., F, Apollo-Ridge; Addie Zanotto, Jr., G, Leechburg

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley