Westmoreland athletes of the week: Latrobe’s Reed Fenton, Ligonier Valley’s Lexie Petrof

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | 11:10 PM

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Reed Fenton

School: Latrobe

Sport: Basketball

Class: Junior

Claim to fame: Fenton hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead Latrobe (2-2) to a 92-91 double-overtime win over Gateway in nonsection play Dec. 12. Fenton finished with 36 points, including six 3-pointers, for the Wildcats.

“It was a good game, and it was hard fought. I thought as a team we played well and hustled really well,” he said. “We are still learning and working on some things, but once things click we will be a really good team.”

How exciting was the moment when you hit the 3-pointer at the buzzer?

It was pretty cool. I don't remember much after it. I remember shooting it and knowing it was going in, and next I remember being under a dog pile with my teammates. It was really cool.

What did you learn from playing alongside graduates Austin Butler and Jake Biss?

I learned about hard work and playing with composure. I also learned how to play 100 percent every game. Jake never got rattled, and Austin played 100 percent every time.

How did your game grow this summer after playing for the PK Flash AAU team?

I learned you have to come out every night because you never know who's coming out to watch and who you are facing. I learned it doesn't matter if you're bigger and stronger when you play defense, but you have to play with hard work and dedication.

What did the team learn from the 83-82 loss to Pine-Richland in the first round of the PIAA playoffs?

Finish it. It was a tough loss, but we learned about getting that one more stop and one more rebound. We had it the whole game, but we just let it slip away at the end.

If you were able to meet anyone in history, who would it be?

Abraham Lincoln because he was an incredible leader and kept our country together, especially during a time period where it could have easily been split apart.

Lexie Petrof

School: Ligonier Valley

Sport: Basketball

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Petrof, who is averaging 18.5 points and 12.3 rebounds, had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Ligonier Valley (2-2, 1-1) to a 68-39 win over Purchase Line on Dec. 15.

“It was a really big win for us. Everyone got to score and play. It was confidence-booster for us,” she said. “Since everyone was scoring, they didn't know who to stop. It allowed us to run our offense and run the court a lot.”

What made you commit to Akron for softball?

Academically, it was a perfect fit for me since I want to major in biomedical engineering. The coaching staff is amazing, and I loved how I could pursue softball at the next level.

What was it like to return to the basketball court after missing last season with an injury?

It was amazing to get back on the court. Missing last year was pretty devastating. I wasn't sure which sport I was going to miss. I was worried about going hard at first, but now I got my confidence back and it's a lot of fun.

What does the team need to do to make up for the departure of Olivia Miller?

It's a huge loss. She did a lot for the team. She was an offensive superstar and made a lot of steals. She had a persona where a lot of people looked up to her as a leader. The seniors need to step us as leaders, and we have to embrace our roles as a scorer or rebounder, etc. Right now, no one is trying to do too much.

What do you want to be remembered for when you graduate?

I want to be remembered for being really competitive and trying my best on the soccer field, basketball court or softball field. I want to be remembered for being the one that left it all out there on the court or field.

What is your favorite subject?

Lunch. I love to eat. I love the ramble, which is mashed potatoes, chicken, corn and gravy. It's really good.

— Andrew John

Tags: Latrobe, Ligonier Valley