With 4 starters returning, Apollo-Ridge girls aim to challenge for section title

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12:01 AM

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There is a great deal of optimism surrounding the Apollo-Ridge girls basketball team, which returns four starters and several other key contributors after a trip to the WPIAL playoffs last season.

“I think the group of girls that we have gets along really well from top to bottom,” Vikings second-year coach Raevaan Mottley said. “The younger girls look up to and respect the upperclassmen, and the upperclassmen treat the younger girls with respect as well. They have fun together in the gym, and that’s exciting to me because it breeds chemistry and a desire to be at practice and work.”

Apollo-Ridge finished tied for third in Section 4-2A with Ellis School behind champion Winchester Thurston (10-0) and runner-up Riverview (8-2).

With just two lost to graduation, including starter Kyler Toland, Mottley said the program was full of energy entering the offseason workouts.

“We played a few summer league games as a fill-in team but did not get a chance to actually join a league, which I wasn’t too happy about,” Mottley said. “We did, however, spend quite a bit of time in the weight room and on the court. Throughout the fall, we had open gym, and, on average, we had four to six girls getting a lot of shots up.”

Several players from the soccer, cross country and volleyball teams joined the workouts in recent weeks once their fall seasons concluded.

The returning players include four starters: senior guard Lauren Gamble, senior guard/forward Mya McClain, senior forward Josalin McCauley and sophomore guard Madison Hughley.

McCauley led the team last year in scoring (7.9 ppg.) and rebounding (8.2).

She is scheduled for ankle surgery in December.

“We will have to overcome that hurdle when the time comes,” Mottley said. “She is a strong rebounder and one of our main vocal leaders out on the floor. It will be tough to fill that void.”

Hughley was right there, averaging 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds.

She scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures in Apollo-Ridge’s 70-46 preliminary-round victory over Bentworth. The Vikings then were eliminated by No. 1 Neshannock in the first round.

McClain (6.8 points, five rebounds, two steals) and Gamble (2.5 assists) also produced strong numbers last winter.

Others back hoping to have bigger impacts in the rotation are junior guard Arianna Hughley and sophomore forwards Mikaila Ditty and Sophia Gerardi.

Mottley said junior Reagan Ringle has impressed in open gyms, and he is looking forward to seeing what she can do as a varsity newcomer.

Freshmen Juliana Zelonka, Quinn Myers, Sara Murphy, Maddie Murphy and Emily Shellhammer, Mottley said, have been working hard and are committed to getting better.

“We have four starters returning, and I also coached the freshmen when they were in eighth grade, so mostly everyone is familiar with the system I have been implementing,” Mottley said. “I think last year, at both levels, we started to understand things better towards the end of the seasons, and it showed on the court. I’m hoping to pick up where we left off.”

Mottley said the goal is to win the section.

“I think we will be in the running,” he said. “Winchester-Thurston is the reigning section champ, and they did it with ease, but I think we will put up a better fight this time around.”

Apollo-Ridge girls at a glance

Coach: Raevaan Mottley (second year)

Last year’s record: 10-12 (5-5 in Section 4-2A)

Returning starters: Lauren Gamble (Sr., G), Mya McClain (Sr., G/F), Josalin McCauley (Sr., F), Madison Hughley (So., G)

Others to watch: Arianna Hughley (Jr., G), Mikaila Ditty (So., F), Sophia Gerardi (So., F)

Top newcomer: Reagan Ringle (Jr., G)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

11.29, Hampton^, 3 p.m.

11.30, TBD^, TBD

12.1, St. Joseph, 7:30 p.m.

12.3, Kiski Area, 7:30 p.m.

12.8, at Valley, 7:30 p.m.

12.11, at Beth-Center, 7:30 p.m.

12.16, at Armstrong, 7:30 p.m.

12.18, Winchester Thurston*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, at Riverview*, TBD

12.27, TBD+, TBD

12.29, TBD+, TBD

1.5, Jeannette*, 7:30 p.m.

1.6, at Ligonier Valley, 7:30 p.m.

1.8, Frazier*, 6:30 p.m.

1.12, at Ellis School*, 7:30 p.m.

1.14, at New Castle, 7:30 p.m.

1.19, Northgate, 7:30 p.m.

1.22, at Winchester Thurston*, 7:30 p.m.

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

1.29, at Jeannette*, 7:30 p.m.

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

2.5, Ellis School*, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Leechburg tip-off tournament

+Apollo-Ridge holiday tournament

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge