With Clark back from concussion, Burrell girls continue on upward trajectory

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | 8:19 PM

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Burrell junior guard Anna Clark suffered a concussion Jan. 4 against Section 3-3A leader Shady Side Academy.

She missed the next four games through a dominating Bucs win over section rival Deer Lakes. Clark returned Jan. 18 for a nonsection matchup with Leechburg and tallied 11 points, nine rebounds and five steals in the win over the Blue Devils.

“It was so nice to be back,” said Clark, who is one of three Bucs players, along with sophomore guard Casey Brancato and junior forward Jules Fisher, averaging more than 10 points a game for a team that is 12-3 overall and 4-1 in section play heading into a crucial section rematch Thursday evening at Mt. Pleasant.

“It was horrible to not be able to play and be out there with my teammates. But everyone was really supportive. It’s great to be back. I am excited because we are playing well and are looking forward to some big games.”

Burrell has won five straight and hopes to make it six against a Mt. Pleasant team that is nipping at its heels at 3-2 in section play.

The Bucs won the first meeting, 37-35, on Dec. 20.

“We’re excited and focused for what we can do,” Clark said. “We like to have fun on the court, but we know what we need to do to take care of business Thursday.”

The December victory over the Vikings was the closest result for a youthful Bucs team with no seniors playing. The lone senior, Cassie Ley, a 5-foot-10 forward, continues to recover from an ACL injury.

“Cassie is and always has been a huge part of this team,” Burrell coach Shawn Reddick said. “She’s at every practice and every game. She’s such a positive person, and that is part of what this team needs to be successful. That is what we are seeing, that positivity and togetherness.”

Fisher said the players weren’t sure what direction the team would go at the start of the season with so many changes and new additions.

“But we soon saw that we all play really well together, and we started making so many great strides,” said Fisher who leads the team in scoring at 12.9 points a game.

“We are not done growing and improving. There are a lot of positives right now.”

Burrell will get another crack at Shady Side Academy (12-2, 5-0) at home Monday evening.

“(The record) is what we hoped for,” said Reddick, who saw Bucs win just four games in Class 4A two years ago before boosting the win total to nine last year and earning a WPIAL playoff berth. “We spent all that time in the summer preparing and putting ourselves in the best position to win games. Then we thought, ‘What’s next?’ Through all of the practices and games, we hoped to reach that next level.

“Sometimes we go back and review and work on things we’ve done. There’s so much going on. It is a lot to consume when you have such a young lineup. But I feel good with where we are. The second half of the section, that is where you make your money, and I know there are a few teams gunning for us for sure.”

After Shady Side, Burrell closes out section play at Ligonier Valley on Feb. 1 and at home with Apollo-Ridge on Feb. 5.

“Our team is clicking really well right now,” said Brancato, who is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points a game. “We’ve pushed through the adversity of some close wins, some tough losses and injuries. We just want to finish (the regular season strong). Against Mt. Pleasant the first time, we had the lead, lost it but pushed back and got a good win.”

Burrell won the first game against Mt. Pleasant on a last-second jumper from freshman guard/forward Leah Waldsmith.

“We did some silly things and got into foul trouble,” Reddick said. “Whenever you sit Jules for a quarter and a half to two quarters, that’s going to hurt. A lot of our opponents are game-planning for her because a lot of the offense runs through her. We had a lead when she went out, and when she came back in, it was tied or we were up two. The momentum swung in their direction.”

Waldsmith has just eight points this season, but she owns two of Burrell’s biggest.

“I think we all were more excited or showed it more than she did,” Reddick said. “The kid must have ice water in her veins because we were all jumping around, and she was like, ‘No big deal, right? This is what I do.’ We put her in because she plays great defense and rebounds. But she saw an open shot, and she took it. That is the confidence we want from everybody.”

Another freshman, McKenna Miller is started at point guard and leads the team in assists while averaging 6.1 points a game.

“We put a lot of pressure on her,” Reddick said. “I expected a lot from her, and she’s lived up to the billing. There’s still a lot of improvements she can make, and that goes for a lot of the girls.”

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.

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