Injuries force Chartiers Valley girls basketball team to adapt

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 16, 2017 | 2:18 AM

Things were looking good for the Charters Valley girls basketball team at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

The squad was set to return four of five starters and a eight of nine players who were regular contributors from a team that captured the program's first WPIAL title.

But a pair of injuries caused the Colts (2-1) to move bench players into starting roles and welcome new faces for depth.

“We had to adapt,” Charters Valley coach Dan Slain said. “That is why the dinosaurs became extinct. They didn't adapt.”

The team lost senior forward Lauren Wagner and 6-foot-2 junior forward Gabriella Legister to lower-body injuries. The setbacks caused the Colts to miss out on playing in fall or summer leagues because of a lack of players.

“I told the team the most dangerous animal is a wounded animal,” Slain said. “And we are wounded. We are looking to be dangerous as the defending champs, but we have some inexperience at three starting roles.”

The two returning starters are junior Mackenzie Wagner and sophomore Megan McConnell. The duo is leading the team in scoring, with McConnell averaging more than 22 points and Wagner scoring more than 18.

“I am blessed as a coach to have two of the best players in the WPIAL,” Slain said. “Not just (Class) 5A but the entire WPIAL. They fuel the engine and make us go. They are like coaches on the court.”

Junior guard Alexandra Ferrella was last season's top reserve and has the most experience of the new starters. Forward Mariah Demus and guard Carla Webb are both juniors who came off the bench last season.

The team also added a pair of athletic first-year seniors who help provide depth. Tia Horew and Caelan MacDonald both played in middle school but have focused on other sports in recent years — Horew was a member of the girls soccer team while McDonald ran with the cross country and track teams.

Slain called the group a WIP — work in progress.

“We just need game experience,” Slain said. “We are starting to get that. Sometimes we play too fast. I told them not everything is the Kentucky Derby or Indy 500. If we are up by six or 10 or 12 (points), we don't need to play like we are down by six or 10 or 12.”

To help get that game experience, Charters Valley is playing a tough nonsection schedule filled with Class 6A programs such as Penn Hills, Norwin and Peters Township, along with other perennial basketball powers such as Seton LaSalle, Oakland Catholic and Bishop Canevin.

“I call it the 6A gauntlet,” Slain said. “Whether they are good or bad, it is still 6A. My thing is to be a better team, you have to play better teams. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.”

And with a tough Section 1-5A schedule that features South Fayette, West Allegheny and Montour, there are no off nights for the defending WPIAL champs.

“We went from being the hunter to the hunted,” Slain said. “Every team we play, it will be like their Super Bowl. We cannot take one possession or quarter off. We need to play our best at all times.”

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Chartiers Valley