Trib HSSN 2024-25 WPIAL Class 4A girls basketball preseason breakdown

By: Jonathan Bombulie
Monday, November 25, 2024 | 9:41 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Since the PIAA went to six classifications in 2017, North Catholic has dominated Class 4A girls basketball.

The Trojanettes have won six of the eight WPIAL championships awarded during that span, and they might have won the other two, but they were playing in Class 3A in 2021 and 2022.

To go along with that, they’ve won 103 consecutive section games, which is why Jan. 16, 2025 is circled on the Class 4A calendar.

WPIAL realignment bumped Class 5A power Oakland Catholic down to Section 1-4A alongside North Catholic.

The new section rivals will meet for the first time Dec. 12 at North Catholic, but Oakland Catholic star London Creach figures to be sidelined for that game as she recovers from an ACL injury suffered in the playoffs last year.

Could Creach be back for the rematch Jan. 16 at Oakland Catholic? Might that be the night North Catholic’s section winning streak faces a serious threat?

Those questions will be answered in time. The other three semifinalists from last year’s Class 4A playoffs — runner-up Blackhawk, Laurel Highlands and Elizabeth Forward — will pose entirely different questions of their own. And new contenders will undoubtedly pop up as the season plays out.

Here is a rundown of players to watch, the preseason top 5 teams and other notables in WPIAL 4A girls basketball this season.

Preseason player of the year

London Creach, Oakland Catholic

5-8, Sr., guard

13.4 ppg last season

Players to watch

Nyah Hayes, Central Valley

5-9, Sr., forward, 13.6

Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk

5-11, Jr., forward, 13.0

Ayrianna Sumpter, Laurel Highlands

5-9, Sr., guard/forward, 14.0

Caylee Sundy, Hopewell

5-7, Jr., guard, 14.5

Brady Wehner, North Catholic

5-6, So., guard

Preseason Top 5

1. North Catholic (19-8 last season)

A team can’t win six WPIAL titles in eight years without the ability to reload, so if there’s a team capable of weathering the graduation of a star like Alayna Rocco, who’s now at Harvard, it’s North Catholic. Sarah Loughry is a senior and returning starter in the backcourt. Point guard Brady Wehner and 6-foot-2 forward Lauren Reitz are super sophomores.

2. Blackhawk (27-3)

The Cougars also suffered significant graduation losses, including leading scorer Alena Fusetti, who’s now at Mercyhurst, but they bring back plenty of talent. Aubree Hupp, a 5-11 junior forward, emerged as a difference maker in the playoffs. Outstanding senior point guard Andrea Klinger is also back. Fellow seniors Ava Pagani and Alivia Rabick provide leadership too.

3. Oakland Catholic (26-3)

Robert Morris recruit London Creach figures to be out until the middle of the season as she recovers from knee surgery, but the Eagles have plenty of players to keep them on track in the meantime. That starts with 6-2 junior Josie Fontana, one of the top post players in the WPIAL. Henry Schecter takes over as head coach after Eddie Benton moved on to Robert Morris. Schecter, an Allderdice grad, was a state coach of the year in Virginia.

4. Laurel Highlands (21-5)

The Mustangs belong in the conversation with the top teams in Class 4A. The low-post duo of 5-9 senior Aryianna Sumpter and 6-1 junior Aierra Jenkins will give any opponent fits. Senior Miya Harris is a top guard too. A very difficult team to defend.

5. Elizabeth Forward (22-4)

The Warriors will have to replace top scorers Alyssa Terza, who is now at Clarion, but the defending Section 3 champs have a deep roster of scorers led by a pair of 5-10 seniors, Chloe Zombek and Michelle Jellison, who both averaged 10 points per game last season.

Notable

• Burrell, making the jump from 3A to 4A, is a team to watch, led by 5-11 senior Julianna Fisher, who averaged 12.4 points per game last season.

• Highlands, the second-place team in Section 1 last season, brings back only one starter in 5-8 guard Tyarah Woody but will welcome a talented group of freshmen.

• Knoch has made the playoffs seven straight seasons and brings back three starters in senior guard Karlee Buterbaugh, junior guard Neah Ewing and sophomore forward Aubrey Spencer.

• Central Valley might be the team with the best shot at giving Blackhawk a run for its money in Section 2. The Warriors are led by 5-9 senior forward Nyah Hayes, who averaged 13.6 points per game last year. Another top contender is Hopewell, led by the classification’s top returning scorer in Caylee Sundy, who averaged 14.5 points per game last season.

• Led by guard Annsley Baker, who averaged 11.5 points per game as a freshman last season, Beaver is a strong candidate to return to the playoffs after a year away. Starters Kylie Conley and Bridget Mayo are also back.

• Hampton and Lincoln Park are newcomers to Section 2. Both suffered significant graduation losses but were playoff teams in Class 5A last season that can’t be overlooked.

• Mt. Pleasant, South Park and Yough are new to Section 3, having moved up from Class 2A. The Vikings and Eagles were playoff teams a year ago.

Alignment

Section 1: Burrell, Derry, Freeport, Highlands, Knoch, North Catholic, Oakland Catholic, Valley

Section 2: Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Hopewell, Hampton, Lincoln Park

Section 3: Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, Mt. Pleasant, Ringgold, South Park, Southmoreland, Yough

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

Tags: Ambridge, Beaver, Belle Vernon, Blackhawk, Burrell, Central Valley, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Freeport, Hampton, Highlands, Hopewell, Knoch, Laurel Highlands, Lincoln Park, Mt. Pleasant, North Catholic, Oakland Catholic, Ringgold, South Park, Southmoreland, Valley, Yough