Small roster doesn’t dampen hopes of Riverview girls

By: Michael Love
Friday, November 22, 2024 | 5:09 PM

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Riverview girls basketball coach Jill Catanzaro doesn’t need a lot of time to take roll call before a practice session.

With a roster of eight players, creativity in practice is the rule of the day.

But Catanzaro said the small roster, which also is youthful with just two seniors in point guard Kat Tsambis and guard/forward Lily Bauer, is full of players who have talent and the enthusiasm to make things happen in and out of section play this season.

“We’re doing what we can do to get drills done and build up our game concepts with what we do in the offense and defense,” Catanzaro said.

“A challenge is getting the old and young together and meshing well. The big thing is going to be the opportunities each girl has to contribute, and we’ve talked a lot about what their roles are going to be, whether that is as a scorer, a screener, a rebounder or a defender.”

Riverview ended last season 16-9 overall after finishing runner-up to St. Joseph in Section 3-A with a 6-2 record.

As the No. 4 seed for the WPIAL playoffs, the Raiders defeated Monessen, 44-23, in the quarterfinals at Fox Chapel before falling to No. 1 Union in the semifinals.

Riverview saw its season end in the PIAA playoffs with a 58-33 loss to Bishop Guilfoyle.

With WPIAL realignment, Riverview was bumped up to Class 2A. The Raiders will face Apollo-Ridge, Ellis School, Frazier, Jeannette and Winchester Thurston in section play.

“The only one we’re not really familiar with is Frazier,” Catanzaro said. “We played Apollo last season, Jeannette was in our section and we’ve played Winchester Thurston and Ellis. We’re going to prepare the best we can for whatever comes our way. The girls will definitely be ready for the challenge of getting back to the playoffs.”

The mission of a return to the playoffs will fall largely upon the four returning starters: Bauer, Tsambis, junior shooting guard Isabel Chaparro and sophomore guard/forward Juliette Brun.

“They are stepping up a lot more with leadership with these younger girls,” Catanzaro said. “I’ve always said that you have to have a mix of persistence with patience, and they are doing a great job of blending both in practices.”

Brun’s contributions will be delayed.

She departed for a couple of months of study in Belgium shortly after the end of the Riverview girls soccer season. She is expected to return for the latter half of the basketball season.

Tsambis, a Valley News Dispatch second-team all-star last year, said practices have been demanding, and the team is meeting the necessary requirements of being in good condition for the challenges of the season.

“With only eight players, staying healthy is very important, and being in good condition prevents injuries,” Tsambis said. “We know everyone has to be ready to go and play a lot. Building each other up each day is only going to help us. We can’t focus on just one or two people. We have to focus on total team concepts. That is how we are going to win games.”

Sophomore forward Blake Huffman, Catanzaro said, has a quiet personality but makes a lot of noise on the court.

“Blake does everything right,” she said. “She is looking forward to building on what she was able to do last year as a freshman. She’s just a solid player.”

Catanzaro said junior forward Lana Lynch will be a pivotal player at both ends of the court.

“Lana came to open gyms all summer and rarely missed,” she said. “She understands her opportunity to play. She prepared for her number to be called. We’re really going to depend on her.”

Catanzaro said the team’s three freshmen — guard Elise Bear and forwards Alexis Doas and Corina Cook — will not have to wait to be in the varsity mix.

“For them it’s like, ‘You’re going to sprint. No, you’re going to run a marathon,’ ” Catanzaro said. “But they are great kids. They have heart, desire and are great teammates. They are giving me everything they’ve got, and we are going to be counting on them a lot. As a coach, my job is to get them to reach their potential.”

Catanzaro said the team will miss the services of sophomore guard Catie Hoolahan, who will be out for the season while recovering from foot surgery.

The Raiders will test themselves with a pair of scrimmages, Saturday against South Allegheny and Monday against Bishop Canevin, before opening the season Dec. 4 at home against Springdale.

Riverview then will play in the Aquinas Academy tournament Dec. 6-7.

“The girls have put in the work on and off the court and are ready to compete,” Catanzaro said.

Riverview girls at a glance

Coach: Jill Catanzaro

Last year’s record: 16-9 (6-2 in Section 3-A)

Returning starters: Lily Bauer (Sr., G/F), Kat Tsambis (Sr., G), Isabel Chaparro (Jr., G/F), Juliette Brun (So., G/F)

Top newcomers: Elise Bear (Fr., G), Corina Cook (Fr., F), Alexis Doas (Fr., F).

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.

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