Blogger's note: Just back from vacation. The Pennsylvania Sports Writers Girls Basketball All-State Team was released last week. Just catching up on things. Fort Cherry's Beka Bellhy, the O-R Player of the Year, was second team in Class A along with Monessen's Mariah Ward. South Fayette's Erika Ford was third-team in Class AAA. Seton-La Salle's Dennis Squeglia, the former head coach at Peters Township, was the Class AA Coach of the Year.
CLASS AAAA
FIRST TEAM
Ciara Andrews, Cheltenham, 5-10, sr.
Destiny Brown, Gateway, 5-11, sr.
Meghan Creighton, Archbishop Carroll, sr.
Sarah Curran, Archbishop Carroll, 5-11, jr.
Omowumi Rafiu, Neumann-Goretti, 6-2, sr.
Alex Wheatley, Council Rock South, 6-3, sr.
SECOND TEAM
Bobbi Baker, Oakland Catholic, 5-7, sr.
Ashley Espinosa, Governor Mifflin, 5-4, sr.
Shanice Johnson, Cardinal O’Hara, 6-1, jr.
Rachel Pearson, Archbishop Carroll, 5-7, sr.
Isis Thorpe, Reading, 5-7, jr.
Tara Zdancewicz, Wyoming Valley West, 5-9, sr.
THIRD TEAM
Jackie Falconer, Cumberland Valley, 5-11, jr.
Kayla Grimme, Altoona, 6-1, jr.
Kelly Johnson, Mount Lebanon, 5-6, sr.
Steph Knauer, North Penn, 6-0, sr.
Erica Maciejewski, Red Lion, 5-10, sr.
Brittany Sicinski, Downingtown West, 5-8, sr.
Sammy Stipa, Spring-Ford, 5-5 so.
Player of the Year: Ciara Andrews, Cheltenham
Coach of the Year: Shannon Boyle, Oakland Catholic
CLASS AAA
FIRST TEAM
Amanda Berchtold, Mercyhurst Prep, 5-4, sr.
Kahleah Copper, Prep Charter, 6-2, sr.
Kerry Kinek, Allentown Central Catholic, 6-0, sr.
Celeste Robinson, Jim Thorpe, 5-9, sr.
Porscha Speller, Lancaster Catholic, 5-7 jr.
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell, 5-11, jr.
SECOND TEAM
Natalie Hager, Franklin, 5-10, sr.
Mia Hopkins, Pittston Area, 5-11, jr.
Taylor Kaminski, Archbishop Wood, 5-9, sr.
Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk, 5-5, fr.
Brianna Thomas, Gettysburg, 5-10, sr.
Kaylynn Waters, New Castle, 5-9, sr.
THIRD TEAM
Jasmen Clark, Oley Valley, 5-4, sr.
Bridgette Dougherty, Southern Lehigh, 6-1, sr.
Erika Ford, South Fayette, 5-10, sr. Alex Heck, Archbishop Wood, 5-11, sr.
Shelby Lindsay, South Park, 5-10, jr.
Lisa Mirarchi, Malvern Villa Maria, 5-8, jr.
Kalista Walters, Bethlehem Catholic, 6-0, fr.
Player of the Year: Kahleah Copper, Prep Charter
Coach of the Year: Jim Ricci, Archbishop Wood
CLASS AA
FIRST TEAM
Dallas Ely, Montrose, 5-8, sr.
Naje Gibson, Seton-La Salle, 6-0, so.
Ciara Gregory, Jeannette, 5-7, jr.
Lisa Mifsud, Erie Villa Maria, 5-7, sr.
Sierra Moore, Delone Catholic, 5-11, sr.
Megan Quinn, Episcopal Academy, 6-1, jr.
Tierney Pfirman, South Williamsport, 6-2, sr.
SECOND TEAM
Jaryn Garner, Germantown Academy, 5-7, jr.
Karlee McBride, Erie Villa Maria, 5-10, jr.
Megan McGurk, Academy of Notre Dame, 5-6, jr.
Reighly Melochick, Minersville, 5-6, so.
Aimee Oertner, Northern Lehigh, 6-2, sr.
Danielle Terranella, Mid Valley, 5-7, sr.
Erin Waskowiak, Bishop Canevin, G, 5-10, jr.
THIRD TEAM
Kim Andruscavage, Mount Carmel, 5-7, sr.
Aja Ellison, Shipley, 6-3, so.
Angela Heintz, Seton-La Salle, 5-10, jr.
Marley Klunk, York Catholic, 5-11, jr.
Lauren Mayernik, Avonworth, 5-9, sr.
Dianna Thomas-Palmer, Penn Charter, 6-1, sr.
Player of the Year: Sierra Moore, Delone Catholic
Coach of the Year: Dennis Squeglia, Seton-La Salle
CLASS A
FIRST TEAM
Stevie Fortna, Lebanon Catholic, 5-5, sr.
Stacey MacArthur, Delco Christian, 5-5, jr.
Tara Nahodil, Tri-Valley, 6-4, jr.
Katelyn Skinner, Homer-Center, 5-10, sr.
Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Steelton-Highspire, 5-8, jr.
Juli Weber, Tri-Valley, 5-7, jr.
SECOND TEAM
Beka Bellhy, Fort Cherry, 5-9, sr. Carly Erdmann, Forest City, 5-8, so.
Morgan Johnson, Keystone, 5-11, jr.
Justine Seeley, Benton, 6-0, jr.
Lauren Wolosik, Pittsburgh North Catholic, 5-9, jr.
Mariah Ward, Monessen, 5-9, jr. THIRD TEAM
Mary Andrejko, Riverview, 5-8, sr.
Kayla Bates, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-8, jr.
Ashlee Darby, Vincentian, 5-8, sr.
Jayni Webster, Country Day of Sacred Heart, 5-7, sr.
Brenna Wise, Vincentian, 6-0, fr.
Brooke Scott-Knecht, Liberty, 6-2, sr.
Player of the Year: Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Steel-High
Coach of the Year: Jeffery Chisholm, Steel-High
Showing posts with label Beka Bellhy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beka Bellhy. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Bellhy is Observer-Reporter Girls Player of the Year
Senior Beka Bellhy became the second person from Fort Cherry to be the Observer-Reporter Girls Player of the Year. On an exceptional team, Bellhy managed to standout and force opponents to focus their defensive efforts on her.
For more on Bellhy and the O-R All-District Team, click here.
The first team included Carolena Gasbarro of Fort Cherry, Mariah Ward of Monessen, Sammie Weiss of McGuffey and Erika Ford of South Fayette. Weiss is a freshman.
Girls Players of the Year
2012 – Beka Bellhy, Fort Cherry
2011 – Emily Hansen, Canon-McMillan
2010 – Megan Sowers, Beth-Center
2009 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2008 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2007 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2006 – Vanessa Davison, Washington
2005 – Rachel Phillips, West Greene
2004 – Vanessa Davison, Washington
2003 – Amber Harris, Washington
2002 – Emily Briggs, Chartiers-Houston
2001 – Emily Briggs, Chartiers-Houston
2000 – Kristen Lancas, Ringgold
1999 – Lauren Hull, West Greene
1998 – Kristin Polosky, Mapletown
1997 – Amanda Burchett, Trinity
1996 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1995 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1994 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1993 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1992 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1991 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1990 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1989 – Pam Noble, Fort Cherry
1988 – Jamie O'Donnell, Burgettstown
1987 – Jamie O'Donnell, Burgettstown
1986 – Kim Spencer, Washington
1985 – Michelle Bazzolli, Chartiers-Houston
1984 – Lynette Schwartz, Peters Township
1983 – Lynn Bazzolli, Chartiers-Houston
For more on Bellhy and the O-R All-District Team, click here.
The first team included Carolena Gasbarro of Fort Cherry, Mariah Ward of Monessen, Sammie Weiss of McGuffey and Erika Ford of South Fayette. Weiss is a freshman.
Girls Players of the Year
2012 – Beka Bellhy, Fort Cherry
2011 – Emily Hansen, Canon-McMillan
2010 – Megan Sowers, Beth-Center
2009 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2008 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2007 – Emily Correal, Peters Township
2006 – Vanessa Davison, Washington
2005 – Rachel Phillips, West Greene
2004 – Vanessa Davison, Washington
2003 – Amber Harris, Washington
2002 – Emily Briggs, Chartiers-Houston
2001 – Emily Briggs, Chartiers-Houston
2000 – Kristen Lancas, Ringgold
1999 – Lauren Hull, West Greene
1998 – Kristin Polosky, Mapletown
1997 – Amanda Burchett, Trinity
1996 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1995 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1994 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1993 – Gina Naccarato, Monessen
1992 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1991 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1990 – Elizabeth Proudfit, Washington
1989 – Pam Noble, Fort Cherry
1988 – Jamie O'Donnell, Burgettstown
1987 – Jamie O'Donnell, Burgettstown
1986 – Kim Spencer, Washington
1985 – Michelle Bazzolli, Chartiers-Houston
1984 – Lynette Schwartz, Peters Township
1983 – Lynn Bazzolli, Chartiers-Houston
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Putting a bowtie on basketball season
One great run came to an end in the PIAA basketball playoffs, while two other teams leave their respective followings wondering about potential greatness next season.
South Fayette, coming of a Class AA state title, dominated Class AAA competition throughout the regular season and entered the postseason as a prohibitive favorite to win a WPIAL title, the school's first.
The Lions, led by eight seniors and a defensive-minded attitude, cruised into the championship game before Montour - a team that lost to South Fayette twice during the regular season - dominated the pace of the title game and won by 11 points.
South Fayette bumped into Montour once again in the PIAA semifinals. This time, the Lions got off to a strong start before Montour exerted its will, got hot from three-point range and pulled away in the second half.
It was a bitter end for South Fayette, a competitive and talented group that wanted to add more hardware to its collection.
Still, the Lions go down as one great team.
South Fayette played in one WPIAL championship game and reached the semifinals two other times, in year's where the Class AA bracket was absolutely loaded. The Lions won a state title, reached the semifinals the following year in a higher classification. They won more than 90 games in a four-year stretch, including eight WPIAL playoff games and nine state playoff games, including eight consecutive before the loss to Montour.
It's the type of run that schools like Washington and Monessen know about.
Speaking of Monessen, the Greyhounds
provided one great story in winning the WPIAL Class AA championship - their fourth under head coach Joe Salvino.
After a 20-point win over Greensburg Central Catholic in the championship, Salvino said this title was the sweetest.
Part of that reasoning had to do with Monessen winning with an outstanding team work ethic. The Greyhounds got through the bracket without leading scorer Jaisen Irwin, who returned for the state playoffs and helped the Greyhounds reach the semifinals before GCC gained a measure of revenge.
Monessen returns several key figures, including Irwin and Jalen Madison. The Greyhounds could factor into the championship picture again
next year.
So could the Fort Cherry girls.
The Rangers, with four junior starters and a freshman as the first player off the bench, dominated Section 3-A before reaching their first WPIAL championship game.
The most encouraging sign for Fort Cherry is it played its best basketball during the postseason and reached the PIAA quarterfinals before it lost to perennial power Bishop Guilfoyle - the state runner-up.
Fort Cherry had that game tied in the fourth quarter.
* Trinity's Josh Valentic became the first player from a Washington County school to average 30-plus points in 13 years. One reason why was Valentic's ability to get to the basket.
Anyone who thinks Valentic is strictly a jump shooter must not have watched him play his senior season.
* Avella's Amanda Temple led the WPIAL in girls scoring with a 22.0 average.
Does anyone remember the last time a player from Washington or Greene led the district in scoring?
Anyone?
If so, let us know.
* The Monessen girls didn't reach the WPIAL or PIAA Class A championship games but, like Fort Cherry, the Greyhounds return so many top players that winning both titles will be goals set before next season starts.
* The Chartiers-Houston girls could be very good in 2011-12.
* So could the Wash High boys, especially if the highly hyped freshman class lives up to the billing when they join the varsity as sophomores.
* One player that looks intriguing as a possible college prospect is Fort Cherry junior Carolena Gasbarro.
Her game isn't as polished as teammate Beka Bellhy and she's not as explosive quick as Jessie Merckle, but Gasbarro has some qualities college coaches like. At 5-10, she has the length to play at the next level and her defense is top-notch. Gasbarro is also an effective interior offensive player.
Wouldn't be surprised if Gasbarro ends up being the most heavily recruited girls player from the area next year.
* After watching South Fayette lose to Montour in the PIAA Class AAA semifinals and Washington lose to North Catholic two years ago in the Class AA semis, the thought here is that losing that game may be the toughest one to drop.
Losing a WPIAL championship is tough, but unless it's football, the season continues. Losing a PIAA championship stinks, but the experience is amazing.
* Early predictions for 2012 players of the year - Fort Cherry's Beka Bellhy and Washington's Josh Wise.
* Canon-McMillan senior Dylan Berger said his three finalists are Millersville, Lycoming and Bethany. If Berger, a 6-8 forward who can play outside, chooses Millersville that would give this area four Division II players.
That's almost unheard of and certainly has not happened in my time at this newspaper.
* The Tri-County Athletic Directors Association selects boys and girls basketball coaches of the year. Every coach in the Tri-CADA area, which runs from South Fayette to Fayette County, votes for the top three choices (not including himself/herself). The Observer-Reporter sports staff also gets one vote and the winner is honored at the annual Coach of the Year Banquet.
The guess here is the boys winner will be Monessen's Joe Salvino, who led the Greyhounds to the WPIAL Class AA championship and PIAA semifinals in addition to picking up his 500th career victory.
The girls winner could be Fort Cherry's Bob Miles.
* If the selection process were limited to Washington and Greene counties, a strong candidate for boys coach would be Ringgold's Pete Logan.
The Rams won two games last year in Class AAAA, but finished tied for third with Trinity in Section 5-AAA, which should be considered the best in the state considering South Fayette and Montour played in the state semifinals and for the WPIAL championship.
Ringgold also won its first playoff game since the 1990s.
* I'm in the process of compiling the boys and girls all-district teams.
The boys team has a heavy senior flavor. Real heavy.
Makes me wonder if 2011-12 will be a rebuilding process for many of the area's more competitive teams.
* Speaking of next year, will someone please play some semblance of defense in next year's Washington-Greene all-star game?
South Fayette, coming of a Class AA state title, dominated Class AAA competition throughout the regular season and entered the postseason as a prohibitive favorite to win a WPIAL title, the school's first.
The Lions, led by eight seniors and a defensive-minded attitude, cruised into the championship game before Montour - a team that lost to South Fayette twice during the regular season - dominated the pace of the title game and won by 11 points.South Fayette bumped into Montour once again in the PIAA semifinals. This time, the Lions got off to a strong start before Montour exerted its will, got hot from three-point range and pulled away in the second half.
It was a bitter end for South Fayette, a competitive and talented group that wanted to add more hardware to its collection.
Still, the Lions go down as one great team.
South Fayette played in one WPIAL championship game and reached the semifinals two other times, in year's where the Class AA bracket was absolutely loaded. The Lions won a state title, reached the semifinals the following year in a higher classification. They won more than 90 games in a four-year stretch, including eight WPIAL playoff games and nine state playoff games, including eight consecutive before the loss to Montour.
It's the type of run that schools like Washington and Monessen know about.
Speaking of Monessen, the Greyhounds
provided one great story in winning the WPIAL Class AA championship - their fourth under head coach Joe Salvino.After a 20-point win over Greensburg Central Catholic in the championship, Salvino said this title was the sweetest.
Part of that reasoning had to do with Monessen winning with an outstanding team work ethic. The Greyhounds got through the bracket without leading scorer Jaisen Irwin, who returned for the state playoffs and helped the Greyhounds reach the semifinals before GCC gained a measure of revenge.
Monessen returns several key figures, including Irwin and Jalen Madison. The Greyhounds could factor into the championship picture again
next year.So could the Fort Cherry girls.
The Rangers, with four junior starters and a freshman as the first player off the bench, dominated Section 3-A before reaching their first WPIAL championship game.
The most encouraging sign for Fort Cherry is it played its best basketball during the postseason and reached the PIAA quarterfinals before it lost to perennial power Bishop Guilfoyle - the state runner-up.
Fort Cherry had that game tied in the fourth quarter.
* Trinity's Josh Valentic became the first player from a Washington County school to average 30-plus points in 13 years. One reason why was Valentic's ability to get to the basket.
Anyone who thinks Valentic is strictly a jump shooter must not have watched him play his senior season.
* Avella's Amanda Temple led the WPIAL in girls scoring with a 22.0 average.
Does anyone remember the last time a player from Washington or Greene led the district in scoring?
Anyone?
If so, let us know.
* The Monessen girls didn't reach the WPIAL or PIAA Class A championship games but, like Fort Cherry, the Greyhounds return so many top players that winning both titles will be goals set before next season starts.
* The Chartiers-Houston girls could be very good in 2011-12.
* So could the Wash High boys, especially if the highly hyped freshman class lives up to the billing when they join the varsity as sophomores.
* One player that looks intriguing as a possible college prospect is Fort Cherry junior Carolena Gasbarro.
Her game isn't as polished as teammate Beka Bellhy and she's not as explosive quick as Jessie Merckle, but Gasbarro has some qualities college coaches like. At 5-10, she has the length to play at the next level and her defense is top-notch. Gasbarro is also an effective interior offensive player.
Wouldn't be surprised if Gasbarro ends up being the most heavily recruited girls player from the area next year.
* After watching South Fayette lose to Montour in the PIAA Class AAA semifinals and Washington lose to North Catholic two years ago in the Class AA semis, the thought here is that losing that game may be the toughest one to drop.
Losing a WPIAL championship is tough, but unless it's football, the season continues. Losing a PIAA championship stinks, but the experience is amazing.
* Early predictions for 2012 players of the year - Fort Cherry's Beka Bellhy and Washington's Josh Wise.
* Canon-McMillan senior Dylan Berger said his three finalists are Millersville, Lycoming and Bethany. If Berger, a 6-8 forward who can play outside, chooses Millersville that would give this area four Division II players.
That's almost unheard of and certainly has not happened in my time at this newspaper.
* The Tri-County Athletic Directors Association selects boys and girls basketball coaches of the year. Every coach in the Tri-CADA area, which runs from South Fayette to Fayette County, votes for the top three choices (not including himself/herself). The Observer-Reporter sports staff also gets one vote and the winner is honored at the annual Coach of the Year Banquet.
The guess here is the boys winner will be Monessen's Joe Salvino, who led the Greyhounds to the WPIAL Class AA championship and PIAA semifinals in addition to picking up his 500th career victory.
The girls winner could be Fort Cherry's Bob Miles.
* If the selection process were limited to Washington and Greene counties, a strong candidate for boys coach would be Ringgold's Pete Logan.
The Rams won two games last year in Class AAAA, but finished tied for third with Trinity in Section 5-AAA, which should be considered the best in the state considering South Fayette and Montour played in the state semifinals and for the WPIAL championship.
Ringgold also won its first playoff game since the 1990s.
* I'm in the process of compiling the boys and girls all-district teams.
The boys team has a heavy senior flavor. Real heavy.
Makes me wonder if 2011-12 will be a rebuilding process for many of the area's more competitive teams.
* Speaking of next year, will someone please play some semblance of defense in next year's Washington-Greene all-star game?
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