Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week for March 16, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, March 16, 2025 | 7:50 PM

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Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Coach – Pete Serio (11th season)

Record – 8-2 and second place in Section 2-6A, 22-6 overall

#Earned – In five previous seasons in this decade, the Upper St. Clair girls basketball program has had its share of silver linings. The Panthers lost in the WPIAL 6A championship game three straight seasons in 2021, 2022 and 2023. USC lost in the semifinals in 2020 and was bounced in the first round of the district playoffs a year ago after losing star guard Riley Kalocay to a serious knee injury early in the season. However, last year’s modest success in just making the playoffs without the Kent State commit may have set the table for overall team success this winter. Despite a second-place finish in Section 2, Upper St. Clair defeated Pine-Richland, Mt. Lebanon and Norwin in the district playoffs to win that elusive gold medal, the seventh title in program history and first since 2008. There has been no WPIAL title hangover in the state playoffs for these Panthers. Following a blowout of Manheim Township in the first round, USC picked up two more state wins last week. In the second round, it captured the rubber game of the season series against rival Canon-McMillan, 46-32, and then pulled away from District 1 Haverford in the quarterfinals, 51-35, to punch a ticket to the PIAA semifinals and a date with District 1 runner-up Garnet Valley.

Scoring stars – Against Canon-McMillan in the PIAA second round, Upper St. Clair struggled to score the basketball in the first two quarters. USC was held to its lowest scoring half of the season, but because of their amped up defense, the Panthers led the Big Macs at the half, 15-12. However, after senior guard Meredith Huzjak hit a 3-pointer and fellow senior guard Olivia Terlecki dropped back-to-back treys, USC opened up and pulled away to the victory. Senior Riley Kalocay led USC with 20 points while Kuzjak added 10 points. Against Haverford in the quarterfinals, those two were at it again, this time it was Huzjak leading the way with 17 points while Kalocay chipped in 14 points. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ defense was on the prowl again as the likes of junior Ryan Prunzik, senior Claire Rosenberry, senior Grace Howell and freshman Ekaterina Polstyanko all played a part in limiting the Fords to single-digit points in three of the four quarters with the lone exceptions being a 10-point bonanza for Haverford in the third quarter.

Last year – Against a tough nonsection schedule to start the season, Upper St. Clair was sitting at 6-4 heading into the team’s second section game of the season against Peters Township on the second day of 2024. That was the game when junior standout Kalocay suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her left knee, ending her season. The team lost four of its next five games, but battled to win five of its last seven games of the season and finish in fourth place and earn a playoff berth. Even in a quarterfinal loss, USC stood toe-to-toe with powerhouse North Allegheny before falling 44-41 to end the season with a record of 12-11.

Remember when – The Upper St. Clair girls basketball program first won district gold in 1973 in the third ever WPIAL girls basketball championship game, beating North Allegheny, 41-40. The Panthers also claimed district titles in 1993, 1994, 1996, 2003 and 2008 before winning it all this season. However, the one PIAA crown the program won was 26 years ago, capturing it all after not winning a WPIAL championship that season. In the 1999 district 4A playoffs, USC knocked off Indiana in the first round and Bethel Park in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Oakland Catholic, 61-46. Head coach Ernie Koontz’s squad rebounded in the state playoffs, beating Perry (78-41), Bethel Park (61-52), Altoona (59-51) and Mt. Lebanon (64-48) to reach the finals in Hershey where they defeated Cheltenham, 62-58, to win the program’s only girls basketball state championship…at least for now.

2025 Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 10 – Canon-McMillan Big Macs

Week 9 – Peters Township Indians

Week 8 – Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 7 – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Week 6 – South Fayette Lions

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: Upper St. Clair