West Allegheny girls basketball in hunt for program’s 1st section title

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 | 6:06 PM

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The turnaround process has continued for the West Allegheny girls basketball program.

The Indians were 7-15 and 9-13 in coach Reggie Wells' first two years, then posted a 14-9 record with a WPIAL Class 5A playoff appearance in 2016-17.

Prior to last year, the Indians had not had a winning season since 2008-09, and had not advanced to the playoffs since 2010-11. And West Allegheny has never won a section title in girls basketball.

The Indians (14-5, 7-1) currently are tied for first place in Section 1 with South Fayette (12-4, 7-1), one game ahead of Chartiers Valley (12-6, 6-2).

With five returning starters on this year's team, Wells & Co. were anticipating a banner season. All five starters scored in double figures last season, and have provided a balanced offensive attack for much of this winter.

“With the same five starters returning, our expectations were to feed into the experiences that we were able attain over the last year,” Wells said, “as we try to compete for the section title and advance further into the playoffs.

“I feel that our team has performed well, and it's been different adjusting to teams chasing us this year.”

The were no seniors and two juniors on last year's team; those two are the only seniors on this year's squad.

West Allegheny is led again by senior co-captains Ashley Seamon, a 5-foot-10 forward, and Melina Lynn, a 5-8 guard. Both were recognized Monday prior to their team's 78-39 section win at home against Moon.

“Ashley and Melina are team captains this year, and we have improved each year under their leadership,” Wells said. “Ashley is a great rebounder and defensive player; Melina is a great shooter and defender.

“This team has been fortunate to have them. They have put winning above their own statistics in order that the team succeeds.”

Both are four-year letter winners, and both are outstanding student-athletes.

Seamon, who has a 3.9 GPA (4.4 weighted), also is a multiple letter winner in softball and volleyball, and has been chosen all-state twice in volleyball. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Friends of Rachel Club, StandTogether Program and Peer to Peer Empowerment.

She plans to continue her basketball and softball careers at Penn State Behrend while studying industrial engineering.

“I couldn't be more proud about the progress our team has made this season, but we're not satisfied yet,” Seamon said. “At the beginning of the season, each individual player had a different goal, but they were all centered around playing together and winning as a team.

“My freshman year was the first year that coach Wells entered the program, and this was also the year that the West A girls basketball program turned around. His coaching has developed a team of players dedicated to working hard every day. Our team wants to prove that nothing beats hard work.”

Lynn, who attended Bishop Canevin as a freshman, also has a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and Art Club. She plans to study accounting in college, then hopes to go to law school to become a corporate attorney.

“I am immensely proud of our team this year and how far we've come,” Lynn said. “Our goals were to win the section and get the first girls' basketball banner in our gym. Obviously, we have room for improvement, but the way we have come together is commendable for our program.

“My career at West A has been full of ups and downs and a lot of development. Ending on a winning season and hopefully a playoff run is probably the most fulfilling thing for me.”

A trio of juniors — 5-8 point guard Hannah Lindemouth, 5-10 guard/forward Grace Faulk and 5-8 guard/forward Patience Ashaolu — join Seamon and Lynn in the starting lineup.

Ashaolu connected for a game-high 18 points against Moon; Faulk chipped in with 16.

Lindemouth, who led the team in scoring last season, netted a team-high 14 points in the CV loss.

Among the Indians' top reserves are juniors Claire Mercurio, a 5-4 guard; Emily Fullard, a 5-11 forward; and Amaka Joanis, a 5-8 forward.

“This year's team is strengthened more than last year due to our bench play,” Wells said. “Claire has improved to the point where she starts at times and plays multiple positions. Emily brings size, scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking. Amaka is highly athletic, great defensively, rebounds exceptionally well, and can score.

“Claire Mercurio has turned out to be as important a player as we have. She has stepped into the starting lineup when we have had other players injured, and we can trust her coming into the game to give us positive play.”

Wells previously coached the boys team at South Park for five seasons and the South Park girls for nine years. His approach to a basketball season is basic and fundamental.

“My coaching philosophy focuses on developing the players and helping them get better; getting them to be as good as they can be, from summer to fall, after each session,” he said. “Then, hopefully during the season, it all comes together.

“We want to develop all-around skills, but our main attention is to the defense, on the defensive end of the floor.”

West Allegheny averaged 47.1 ppg defensively in section play a year ago and is averaging 43.3 ppg this year.

West A lost its first section game last week to Chartiers Valley, 49-39. The Indians' four other defeats in 2017-18 were to Class 6A opponents — Peters Township, Bethel Park, Norwin and Canon-McMillan.

Things could be settled in the section Friday when the Indians visit rival South Fayette; the winner clinches at least a share of the section title.

“South Fayette has been the standard in our section for years,” Wells said. “They are very well-coached, and make many adjustments during the game. They don't have a weakness that you can attack, so you must play well to have a chance.

“I think our team has worked hard getting in position to play in a big game that is meaningful to the section, our program and our school. It is really good to watch our kids walk with pride while attempting to accomplish goals they have set for themselves.”

Last year, Seamon was a part of WPIAL championship teams in both volleyball and softball at West Allegheny.

“And it was an unforgettable experience,” she said. “If we work hard, I think that our basketball team has the talent to take part in a similar experience this year.

“This group of girls has been playing together since we were 8 and 9 years old. Ever since we started playing together, we have had our minds set on making history for West Allegheny. Now is finally our chance to make it happen.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.