Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Yough’s Hailey Bock

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, December 30, 2024 | 10:09 AM

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Last year, Yough’s girls basketball team finished 9-12 overall and 2-8 in section play.

This year, the Cougars made the jump to Section 3-4A and already are seeing improvements, getting off to a 7-3 start and winning two of their first three section games.

For senior Hailey Bock, much of the team’s early success can be attributed to coach Brian Znavor.

“The motivation I have is my coach, Brian, who really pushes us to try our best to get better,” Bock said. “The main motivation for me is having a winning record and getting to the playoffs.”

Yough’s roster has remained largely intact, with four of five starters returning from last season.

They’ve had to fill the void left by Autumn Matthews, now at Pitt-Greensburg, who averaged 17 points last season.

“We have just been growing off each other and really pushing one another,” Bock said of the success so far. “It’s important for me to do well in our section this year because it’s my last year, and I hope everyone feels the same.”

Though only three of Yough’s first 10 games were section matchups, the schedule is about to ramp up.

Starting in the new year, 11 of the team’s final 12 games will be against section opponents.

“To play my hardest, keep my team up and if something isn’t going our way, don’t let it determine the next play,” Bock said of the mindset going into that stretch.

Reclassified to 4A, Yough is now one of the smallest schools in its section.

However, Bock sees this as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

“I actually think it’s an advantage because three of the eight teams in our section are solid teams,” Bock said. “We are going to have to play our absolute best when it comes to Laurel Highlands and Elizabeth Forward. It will be a challenge, but we just need to prepare.”

Yough’s program has experienced recent success, breaking a 13-year playoff drought just two seasons ago.

“It’s nice to break a drought,” Bock said. “It was an accomplishment that pushes our team to just keep getting better and to never be back in that position.”

In addition to playing basketball, Bock is an all-section volleyball player.

She plans to continue her basketball career at Pitt-Greensburg.

In the midst of the season, Bock took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with basketball?

Everyone told me I should play because I have the height, so I decided to start playing in fifth grade.

What do you think of the group around you this year?

I think a lot of the underclassmen will really help us out this season. They are athletic, and we are really going to need the younger ones to step in for us when we are tired because one of our main goals this year is pressuring the ball 100%, so we will need breaks here and there. As for the returning starters, I’m happy to be on the court with them, and we just have to push each other to be better.

What does your leadership role look like this year?

Now that (Matthews is) gone, I have had to really step up to be a good leader, especially because of the younger players getting minutes on the court. I know Coach Brian trusts me to be a leader for the team, and we really have just been working hard to overcome not having someone that will average 15-20 points a game.

Is there anything from one sport that helps with the other?

The only thing I can think of is reading the court. Volleyball has helped me to be able to read the basketball court because you’re always looking for the openings.

What is one thing that people may not know about you?

I am a Christian, and I put all my faith in Jesus, and I will always sit down and have a conversation about the Bible. My motivation in life is God, and I try my best to be a good example for others and lead them to Christ.

Tags: Yough