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

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 3:01 PM

WPIAL Class A girls basketball has a little bit of everything this season.

There are three teams that played in WPIAL championship games last winter. There’s a returning player who averaged more than 40 points per game. There are new coaches stepping in for longtime bench bosses. And, to top it off, realignment forced the teams into two eight-team sections, which should make nearly every victory a crucial one.

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

Preseason Player of the Year

Iyanna Wade, Clairton

5-4, senior, guard

40.1 ppg last season

Players to watch

Ava Frank, Avella

5-8, Sr., G, 14.2 ppg

Kylie Fruestorfer, Union

5-5, Sr., PG, 13.9 ppg

Abby Genes, Serra Catholic

5-7, Jr., SG, 15.2 ppg

Emma Larkin, Geibel

5-5, Jr., G, 29.8 ppg

Gia Richter, St. Joseph

5-6, Sr., G, 11.4 ppg

Preseason Top 5

1. Union (21-6 last season)

The Scotties have won back-to-back WPIAL Class A championships. Union edged St. Joseph in overtime in the 2024 WPIAL title game. The Scotties lost in the state quarterfinals to eventual PIAA champion Bishop Guilfoyle. All-state honoree Kelly Cleaver is now at Millersville after averaging 16 ppg. Union returns senior guard Kylie Fruehstorfer, a Pitt-Johnstown recruit who was a third-team all-state selection after averaging 13.9 ppg.

2. Serra Catholic (21-6)

The Eagles were runners-up in Section 3-2A at 10-2 last season and went on to finish second in the WPIAL after falling to Greensburg Central Catholic in the championship game. Back are junior guards Niki Sfanos and Abby Genes, who was an all-section selection after averaging 15.2 ppg. Serra Catholic graduated all-section forward Bri Battles (12.6 ppg).

3. Clairton (20-7)

Clairton will again be led by senior Iyanna Wade, who won her second straight WPIAL scoring title last winter and was a first-team all-state selection. She averaged 40.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists and has topped 2,100 points for her career. She broke a WPIAL single-game record with 65 points in a regular-season win and later scored 52 in a first-round win in the WPIAL 2A playoffs. The Bears finished third in Section 3-2A last season and advanced to the PIAA playoffs.

4. St. Joseph (23-5)

The Section 3-A champion at 10-0 last season, St. Joseph advanced to the WPIAL championship game before falling to Union. The Spartans graduated Julie Spinelli, who was a first-team all-state pick and averaged 21.2 ppg, as well as all-section forward Anna Kreinbrook (9.2 ppg), but they return senior all-section guard Gia Richter (11.4 ppg).

5. Geibel (16-7)

The Gators reached the WPIAL playoffs last season after finishing second in Section 2-A. Junior guard Emma Larkin was a first-team all-state selection after averaging 29.8 ppg and surpassing 1,000 career points. Shooting guard Ava Henderson also returns.

Notable

• Class A changed from three sections to two for 16 total teams. Sewickley Academy and Springdale dropped and will be in Section 1, with Leechburg and St. Joseph, which moved over from the defunct Section 3.

Clairton and Serra Catholic also dropped and will play in Section 2, along with Bishop Canevin, which moved over from Section 1.

• Cornell and Hillel Academy, both Class A teams a year ago, will not play a WPIAL schedule this season.

• Western Beaver will field a WPIAL team for the first time in more than a decade.

• Aquinas Academy (17-8) reached the WPIAL semifinals last season but returns just one starter — junior point guard Tess Duer. Fellow juniors Elliott Keverline and Becca Guillen should make an impact for first-year coach Andrew Kurzawski, who coached the past four years at McGuffey.

• Sewickley Academy (8-12) should benefit from a move down to Class A. Senior forward Skylar Nocito and sophomore guards Emma Eannarino and Grace Jardini return to the starting lineup.

• Springdale (7-15) had its most wins in a season in the past 11 years. The Dynamos return leading scorer Ashlyn Ferderbar, a senior point guard.

• First-year coach Allen Langston will lead Leechburg (8-11), which was hit hard by graduation after a trip to the postseason.

• Bishop Canevin (8-15) had a down season a year ago but has history on its side with six WPIAL championships, most recently in 2022.

• West Greene (10-15) finished third in Section 2 last season. The Pioneers, who have qualified for the playoffs in nine straight seasons, return three starters — junior G/F Kendra Tharp (8.0 ppg), sophomore forward Madelyn Roberts (6.0 ppg) and senior guard Marissa Tharp.

• Jason Schmidt replaces Janine Vertacnik as head coach at Monessen (20-7). Vertacnik had 365 career wins at Monessen, Yough, Greensburg Salem and Jeannette, as well as Pitt-Greensburg. Juniors NaJazia Carter and Madison Johnson return for the Greyhounds, who won Section 2 last season and reached the PIAA playoffs.

• Avella (4-18) will be led by senior guard Ava Frank (14.2 ppg), an all-section selection who has more than 1,000 career points.

Alignment

Section 1: Aquinas Academy, Eden Christian, Leechburg, Sewickley Academy, Springdale, St. Joseph, Union, Western Beaver

Section 2: Avella, Bishop Canevin, Clairton, Geibel, Mapletown, Monessen, Serra Catholic, West Greene

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Aquinas Academy, Avella, Bishop Canevin, Clairton, Geibel, Leechburg, Monessen, Serra Catholic, Sewickley Academy, Springdale, St. Joseph, Union, West Greene, Western Beaver