Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week for Feb. 10, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, February 10, 2025 | 8:02 PM

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Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week – South Fayette Lions

Coach: Bryan Bennett (eighth season)

Record: 12-0 in Section 3-5A, 21-1 overall

#Earned: South Fayette has been on a mission all season long. Only two other teams in this century have captured four straight WPIAL girls basketball championships since 2000: Vincentian Academy claimed Class A gold from 2012-2016 and North Catholic won four 4A titles from 2017-2020. As far as this year’s Lions team, all systems are go for another crown following a 21-1 regular season. They will enter the 5A postseason as the No. 1 seed in the bracket for the second time in three years. Last week, they sealed up the Section 3-5A crown with an impressive victory over the No. 4 seed in the upcoming 5A playoffs, Chartier Valley. Even though the Lions and Colts played early even after the opening eight minutes, the one-sided start sealed the deal on the 20th South Fayette win, 69-43. SF outscored CV 24-5 in the first quarter to take any of the drama out of the fight for first place. Win No. 21 came Saturday in the regular season finale as South Fayette rolled past Section 1-6A winner Seneca Valley, 65-30.

Scoring stars: The Lions have plenty of players to lead the way on offense who can dribble, drive and shoot the basketball. Their team’s length and quickness also make them a force on defense as they pressure the basketball and take turnovers and convert them into easy points. Three players scored in double-digit points for the Lions in the outright section title-clinching win over the Colts led by Junior guard Ryan Oldaker with 16 points. Junior guard Haylie Lamonde scored 14 and sophomore guard Lailah Wright added 12 points for South Fayette. In the 35-point rout of Seneca Valley at North Allegheny, Oldaker, the daughter of 2025 WPIAL Hall of Fame coach Dori Oldaker, led all scorers with 22 points while junior forward Juliette Leroux chipped in with 15 points for the Lions.

Last year: While South Fayette was a No. 2 and a No. 1 seed when it won district gold in 2022 and 2023, a three-peat wasn’t on a lot of radars after the Lions finished in third place in Section 4-5A last winter, two games behind section co-champs Lincoln Park and Trinity. As the No. 6 ssed, South Fayette first ousted Mars, 55-36, then upended No. 3 Trinity in the quarterfinals, 53-39, before stunning No. 2 McKeesport in semifinals, 49-41. In a surprise title game, the Lions knocked off No. 5 Armstrong, 70-63. Leroux led South Fayette with 18 points while Lamonde and Erica Hall each scored 17 points. In the PIAA playoffs, the District 7 winner eliminated Red Land, 48-20, then the Lions lost to Oakland Catholic in the second round, 48-28. South Fayette finished 19-9 with a third straight district crown.

Remember when: While the chat of South Fayette trying to win a fourth straight district girls basketball title might not have reached the level of Kansas City Chiefs three-peat banter the last few weeks, it is definitely one of the major storylines heading into the 2025 WPIAL basketball playoffs. If they were to win it all, it would be four in a row and the program’s fifth championship. The title that put the girls hoops green machine on the map nearly a decade ago was when top-seed South Fayette cruised past Ringgold, Chartiers Valley and Hampton before ousting Trinity in the Class 3A championship game, 59-52. Emily Anderson had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions.

2025 Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 5 – Oakland Catholic Eagles

Week 4 – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

Week 3 – Penn-Trafford Warriors

Week 2 – Shady Side Academy Bulldogs

Week 1 – Shaler Titans

Tags: South Fayette