Starting 5s: Previewing girls high school basketball season in Westmoreland County

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Starting 5s

A preview of girls high school basketball season in Westmoreland County:

5 storylines to follow:

• The sugar high has worn off, for now, but the returning players remember how sweet it was, those glorious championship moments at “The Pete,” Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

Norwin and Greensburg Central Catholic last year put together WPIAL championship runs, with Norwin winning its third title (6A), and GCC romping its way to its sixth (2A), taking local fans along for the ride.

Can the teams repeat this winter? Both have talent again, but the climb will be steeper as they take on new identities and look for new role players.

• GCC was subject to the PIAA’s competitive balance formula and was forced up to Class 3A, which means no 2A repeat. Back-to-back state semifinal trips and a transfer prompted the state to move the Centurions, who can’t do anything about the decision and are ready to accept the challenge. They have made the WPIAL playoffs for 24 straight years.

Their new-look section includes Shady Side Academy, Avonworth, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Ligonier Valley, South Allegheny and Steel Valley.

GCC is expected to push defending WPIAL 3A champion Shady Side Academy.

• Junior Erica Gribble, one of the best point guards in the WPIAL, will suit up again for GCC, instantly making the team’s transition to 3A palatable.

The smooth-going scorer and playmaker has 19 NCAA Division I college offers. Already clear of the 1,000-point mark for her career, the question is, how many can she score?

Gribble, who has 1,087 points in two years, is on pace to break the GCC girls scoring mark of 1,725 points set by Ashley Henderson.

But with two full seasons, left, can Gribble get to 2,000 points? Is 3,000 in play, if GCC can keep the deep playoff runs coming?

Only two girls in Westmoreland history have topped 3,000 points, and six have gone over 2,000: WPIAL all-time scoring leader Gina Naccarato of Monessen (3,364), Charel Allen of Monessen (3,110), Vanessa Abel of Southmoreland (2,327), Ciara Gregory of Jeannette (2,130), Jen Sabota of Latrobe (2,072) and Danielle Dawson of Greensburg Salem (2,007).

• Greensburg Salem also moved up in class, due to enrollment numbers for the two-year cycle. The Golden Lions and veteran coach Rick Klimchock will play in 5A, in a competitive section that also includes Latrobe, Indiana, Kiski Area, Penn-Trafford, and McKeesport.

Burrell, Mt. Pleasant and Yough also moved up, going from 3A to 4A.

Jeannette is now in 2A.

• New coaches will take over at six local programs. They are Jenna Lusby (Jeannette), Cornelious Nesbit (Belle Vernon), Nathan Keller (Derry), Scott Hillen (Mt. Pleasant), Tonya Norman (Valley) and Jason F. Schmidt (Monessen).

Lusby, formerly Jenna Cole, was a two-time WPIAL champion player at Norwin. She takes on her first head coaching job.

Nesbit, who has 189 wins, spent nine season as the head coach at Shaler and guided Gateway from 2008-15.

Schmidt replaces veteran coach Janine Vertacnik, who quietly stepped away after six seasons.

Vertacnik won 365 games over a coaching career that included stops at Yough, Greensburg Salem, Jeannette and Pitt-Greensburg.

5 teams to watch:

• Norwin (23-4) has big shoes to fill with the graduation of TribLive Westmoreland Player of the Year Lauren Palangio, long-range threat and defender Ava Kobus and point guard Bailey Snowberger, but the Knights bring back guards Kendall Berger (12 ppg), Ava Christopher and Bella Furno, all of whom have played in big games.

Furno and Averi Brozeski will see increased roles.

Berger and Brozeski are Clarion commits, while Furno is headed to West Virginia Wesleyan.

• GCC will rely heavily on Gribble, but she will have quality help. Jayla Peterson and Abby Dlugos also started last year and will likely get more involved on both ends of the floor. The development of depth could be what triggers another deep run.

• Five starters are back for Franklin Regional, which could be primed to return to the WPIAL playoffs.

Madison DeRiggi, Addison Musto, Anna Novelli, Toryn Fulton and Chlo Pucka brings exprience to a group that could form a 10-girl rotation.

Also keep an eye on freshman Alyssa Bridges.

• Penn-Trafford could be the under-the-radar team in Class 5A. Two starters are gone, including standout Olivia Pepple, but look at what returns: Lauren Marton, Kamryn Pieper, a healthy Torrie DeStefano and Hanna Weishaar, along with a few others who saw key minutes off the bench.

The Warriors (14-9) have size and shooters. The key could be how well they take care of the ball and create defensive stops.

• Hempfield has experience, which could help the Spartans improve on an eight-win season. Class 6A will do them no favors, of course.

Allie Cervola, Mia Shipman, Gabby Coccia and Maddie Pevarnik all started last season and return. Also look for GCC transfer Reagan Fisher to make an impact.

Scoring will have to go up if Hempfield is going to win more than one section game.

5 players to watch:

• Kendall Berger, Sr., G, Norwin — Could be primed for best season yet as her game continues to mature. Smooth scorer but a sneaky good defender.

• Carley Berk, Sr., G, Latrobe — A Division II Millersville commit, she averaged 12 points a game and is the Wildcats’ only returning starter.

• Erica Gribble, Jr., PG, Greensburg Central Catholic — Her numbers speak for themselves, but Gribble could have to create offense for teammates more as double- and triple-teams come. Her passing ability doesn’t get enough play.

• Lauren Marton, Sr., F, Penn-Trafford — The 6-foot post player has committed to Division II Shippnsburg. A 10-point, 9-rebound player last year, she will be valuable around the rim.

• Jayla Peterson, Jr., G, Greensburg Central Catholic — A perfect complement to Gribble, she should see increased offense as GCC continues to shoot 3-pointers and work to create transition.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Monessen, Norwin, Penn-Trafford