What rust? Deer Lakes’ Olivia Ryan wins hot shots event at Cager Classic skills competition

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, April 4, 2025 | 9:34 PM

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Deer Lakes senior Olivia Ryan wouldn’t have ever willingly signed herself up to do a basketball hot shots competition. Not just because the 5-foot-8 post player primarily played on the inside during her high school career.

But Ryan expected a bit of rust when she competed during the event during the 28th annual Cager Classic on Friday night at Highlands High School.

“Since the end of the season, I’ve barely touched the ball,” Ryan said.

Ryan didn’t come up with a strategy. She just relaxed and had fun. That allowed her to outlast Riverview’s Katerina Tsambis in the final.

“I thought it was really fun,” Ryan said. “It was a little nerve-wracking. But, I mean, once you get out there, all the nerves kind of go away, and muscle memory takes over.”

The Cager Classic skills competition allowed plenty of All-Kiski players to have another shot at one shining moment. Franklin Regional’s Connor Crossey won the boys hot shot competition.

Butler’s Tayt Lucas outlasted West Shamokin’s Braydn Rodgers in an extra overtime round during the 3-point shooting competition.

Tsambis made two appearances in the finals, also earning a spot in the 3-point competition against St. Joseph’s Gia Richter.

Richter wasn’t sure how she was going to do, but she managed to pull out a win.

“It was something new but like something old at the same time,” Richter said. “I just love playing basketball.”

Ryan said she didn’t overthink any of the events.

Not having a determined strategy might have been a good thing for Ryan. After Ryan missed her free throw in the final, the ensuing rebound went soaring over her head when she came in to track the ball down.

“I was like, ‘Oh, shoot. I’m going to have to run for the ball,’ ” Ryan said “I thought that was going to get me down.”

Valley’s Janelle Norman teamed up with Franklin Regional’s Jonah Johnston to win the co-ed hot shots competition. They outlasted Butler’s Avery Maier and Highlands’ Colton Svitek in the final.

Norman said she didn’t know Johnston before they competed together. It’s apart of what she enjoyed about the event, seeing everyone compete

“No, I didn’t,” Norman said. “I was really excited to come to this competition. I thought it was really exciting to watch everyone. It was exciting and a little nerve-wracking.”

When Norman’s name was called for the finals, it was a nice rush of energy for her. She didn’t think she performed all that well.

But Norman earned the win.

“I was shocked actually. I didn’t think I did that well,” Norman said.