Undersized Greensburg Salem girls plan to attack opponents with speed, pressure

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Greensburg Salem does not only have the smallest enrollment among WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball teams, it also may be the smallest in height.

That does not bother veteran coach Rick Klimchock.

That is because he plans to use his team’s quickness to its advantage. The Golden Lions will apply pressure defenses against their opponents.

Greensburg Salem plays in one of the toughest sections in Class 5A: Section 2.

The Golden Lions finished 13-10 overall and 6-6 in the section. They lost to PIAA champion South Fayette, 57-30, in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs.

“We played well against them,” Klimchock said. “They have everyone back. They will be favored again.”

The Golden Lions have holes to fill. They graduated 5-foot-6 guard Savannah Herring, 5-11 forward Regan Kerr and 6-foot center Blessing Gantt.

Kerr, who averaged seven points, is playing basketball at Geneva. Gantt, who averaged nine points, is a student at Pitt.

Klimchock will be relying on senior guard Mya Heasley, sophomore guard Vienna Jevicky and junior forward Sophia Beckerleg to carry the load.

Heasley made 57 3-pointers last and averaged 14 points. Jevicky averaged six points and Beckerleg five.

Sophomore Isabella Dinkel, who was first off the bench last season, will be the starting point guard, and her freshman sister, Maria, will back her up.

Junior forward Patty Redinger is expected to start.

“We are small but fast,” Klimchock said. “We are going to utilize our quickness to push the ball up court and be disruptive on defense.

“We had a good summer. We played a lot of good teams. The key is finding consistent scoring.”

Klimchock said a lot of the girls played on the volleyball team, which had a great season.

He said the girls are fighters, and he hopes to build on the success of the volleyball team.

Others who will contribute include freshman guard Maddie Steel, an outstanding soccer player, senior forward Kylie Peace, senior forward Kione Grace and physical sophomore forward Maddie Henry.

“My concern is our overall size,” Klimchock said. “We have to be fundamentally strong rebounders. If we can rebound, we will be OK.”

Greensburg Salem finished behind Penn-Trafford (25-2, 12-0), Indiana (19-8, 10-2) and Latrobe (11-11, 7-5) last season.

“Our league is very strong,” Klimchock said. “I expect Indiana and Penn-Trafford to be strong again. Latrobe is good, and McKeesport, Kiski Area and West Mifflin will be improved. We will have our hands full.”

Klimchock has previously coached the Jeannette boys and the Franklin Regional girls.

He also assisted at Saint Vincent and is helping his son Chris at Pitt-Greensburg.

Greensburg Salem girls at a glance

Coach: Rick Klimchock

Last year’s record: 13-10 (6-6 in Section 2-5A)

Returning starters: Vienna Jevicky (So., F), Mya Heasley (Sr., G), Sophia Beckerleg (Jr., F).

Others to watch: Isabella Dinkel (So., PG), Patty Redinger (So., G).

Top newcomers: Maria Dinkel (Fr., PG), Maddie Steel (Sr., G), Kylie Peace (Sr., F), Kione Grace (Sr., F), Maddie Henry (So., F).

SCHEDULE

12.5, TBA^

12.6, TBA^

12.9, at Southmoreland, 7:30 p.m.

12.11, Penn-Trafford*, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, at Yough, 7:30 p.m.

12.15, Connellsville, 7:30 p.m.

12.16, at McKeesport*, 7 p.m.

12.18, Kiski Area*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, at Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

12.29, TBA+

12.30, TBA+

1.5, Franklin Regional, 7:30 p.m.

1.8, Latrobe*, 7:30 p.m.

1.12, at West Mifflin*, 7:30 p.m.

1.16, at Penn-Trafford*, 7:30 p.m.

1.20, McKeesport*, 7:30 p.m.

1.22, at Kiski Area*, 7:30 p.m.

1.26, Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

1.28, Gateway, 7:30 p.m.

2.2, at Latrobe*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, West Mifflin*, 7:30 p.m.

2.9, at Plum, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Greensburg Salem tournament

+Mt. Pleasant tournament

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg Salem