Sewickley Herald notebook: Panthers win school’s 1st home state playoff game

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Sewickley Academy’s 64-36 victory March 8 against visiting Windber was significant in that it moved the Panthers into the quarterfinal round of the PIAA Class 2A basketball playoffs.

It also proved noteworthy for another reason.

“Someone mentioned the game was Sewickley Academy’s first-ever home state playoff game,” Sewickley junior forward Lucas Grimsley said. “It’s fitting the game was played on Win Palmer Court. The fans and students provided a lot of energy to the gym. We know coach Palmer is proud.”

Grimsley was the catalyst for his team against Windber with a 15-point explosion in the first quarter that included four long-range triples.

“The players and coaches were really focused during our practices,” Grimsley said. “We started the game with a high level of focus, and during the game, we stayed disciplined and executed our game plan. Everyone was able to contribute.

“I started the game particularly focused on playing solid defense, and the offensive side just followed. I got into an offensive rhythm early, and it continued from there.”

Grimsley’s dedication to the sport of basketball began at a very early time in his life.

“I took to basketball at age 6 and have never really let it go,” Grimsley said. “My parents tell me I was shooting baskets at 8 months when I started walking. I’ve played AAU basketball since second grade. My parents did ask me to try other sports in middle school, so I played soccer and lacrosse for one semester in eighth grade. But we knew I would focus solely on basketball in high school, and I look forward to continuing playing in college.”

Grimsley works on different facets of his game year-round including the summer months.

“The most points I’ve scored in a game is 28, which was in the offseason last summer,” Grimsley said. “I think I hit 24 or 25 points a handful of times, which may be the most I’ve scored in a high school game so far.”

Season to remember

Players on the Quaker Valley girls basketball team were appreciative of the success experienced by the Quakers in 2024-25.

QV finished with a 15-10 record after advancing to the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals. The Quakers defeated McGuffey, 39-35, in the first round.

Mimi Thiero is a 6-foot-5 junior who led the team in scoring and rebounding this season. She also is a top performer on the QV girls track and field team.

“I’m very proud of how my teammates did this year. It’s all in the process of maturing,” Thiero said. “I knew we would take some hits, but we went out to every game and played our hardest, and I am very proud of that.

“I think that next season we will be more mature and have more experience. I know some of the girls are using this summer to do AAU basketball or getting in the gym, so we will see a lot of improvement.”

Lucy Roig, a feisty junior guard, also was a key player in the Quakers’ lineup. She echoed some of Thiero’s sentiments.

“I’m very proud of my team. We had a great year and fought hard,” Roig said. “My early expectations for next year are that we work hard during preseason and come in ready for the season.”

Roig also is a top player on the QV girls lacrosse team.

Break out the bats

Todd Kagle enjoyed a sensational season-opening performance at the plate for the Quaker Valley baseball team.

Kagle, a junior pitcher/infielder, blasted a solo home run and a grand slam March 17 to account for five RBIs in a 12-12 tie with Ambridge.

Shortstop Oscar Roig had two hits, walked twice and scored three runs for the Quakers, who tied the game by scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning.

“Oscar came in relief and pitched great,” QV coach Rich Garbee said. “Freshman Holden Kirkham pitched the last inning.”

Other leading contributors offensively for the Quakers included CF Henry Zupanc, C Brad Semonik, 1B Nolan Wagoner, 2B Jack Cindrich, DH Kyle Rader and Kirkham, who played right field.

“There were lots of big plays in the game,” Garbee said. “We will work on reducing the number of Ks. As a team we struck out 15 times — against good pitching, I might add.”

The nonsection contest was called in the eighth inning due to darkness.

Gold on the mats

Since the 2016-17 high school wrestling season, Quaker Valley has had nine WPIAL champions and nine runner-up finishes.

Conner Redinger was the Quakers’ first WPIAL titlist on the mat with championships in 2018 and 2019. John Rocco Cutchember also won a crown in 2019.

Donovan Cutchember was next to capture a district title in 2020 while Patrick Cutchember reeled in victories in 2021 and 2022. Justin Richey joined Cutchember as a WPIAL champ in ‘22.

Finally, Jack Kazalas earned consecutive crowns in 2023 and 2024.

Second-place finishes were awarded to Geoff Magin (2017, 2019), Patrick Cutchember (2019, 2020), Richey (2021), Kazalas (2021), Mason Diemert (2022) and Bruce Anderchak (2024, 2025).

As a team, QV has won seven section titles in a row and gone 34-1 against section opponents. The Quakers have won 30 consecutive times in section action.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy