Shaler girls ‘play for each other’ en route to section championship

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Tony Grenek was ready with the justification before his wife, Megan, approached him about the promise he made before taking the job as Shaler girls basketball coach.

Grenek, who coached collegiately at Seton Hill and Point Park before spending the previous two years as North Hills’ varsity coach, said he would scale back on how much time he spent watching film. But as Shaler crept closer to winning a section title, Grenek was back to old habits.

“My wife came up to me and said, ‘You are spending the same amount of time watching film,’ ” Grenek said. “I felt like the kids deserved it. It was fun to watch. The kids believed in what the staff was saying and made everything work.”

But thanks partly to Grenek’s preparation and a seasoned roster, Shaler finished the regular season 20-2 overall and 11-1 in section. The Titans cut down the nets following their 51-22 win over Franklin Regional in the season finale.

“I knew after our fall league games things would be different,” sophomore guard Reese Smetanka said. “I could tell we were playing a different game.”

The fourth-seeded Titans were scheduled to open the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs against No. 13 Mars on Feb. 14 at home. The results of that game were too late for this edition.

Shaler split with the Panthers in the regular season and shared the Section 1-5A crown. Senior point guard Bayleigh Perez has run the show for the Titans. Sophomore forward Olivia Gieraltowski has developed into a consistent shooter for Shaler, and center Jorja Brenesser gives the Titans size under the basket.

The Titans’ chemistry showed up with how they play defensively. The Titans only allow 34.1 points per game, which is the best mark in Class 5A.

“We wanted to play smart,” Smetanka said. “A lot of us have always played AAU together. We know how to play for each other.”

Grenek said he has his team prepared to throw several different options at opposing offenses. Shaler is just as comfortable using a zone as it is playing man-to-man.

“The main thing is we want to mix it up,” Grenek said. “I don’t know until the morning of the game how we will defend the other team. I talk to my staff, trust my gut and try to mix and match.”

The Titans closed the season with a nine-game winning streak. Shaler’s streak included a pair of wins over Class 6A teams Upper St. Clair and North Allegheny.

The Titans have been programmed to be ready for any atmosphere.

“I feel comfortable adjusting,” Smetanka said. “Coach Grenek gives us all the reps in practice. We are ready for whatever anyone throws at us.”

Tags: Shaler