Expectations high for Thomas Jefferson, Brentwood, Baldwin girls basketball

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 14, 2018 | 8:06 PM

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Here’s a look at girls basketball teams in the South Hills record coverage area:

Thomas Jeffeson

Lisa Fairman is back home.

After serving as coach of the Belle Vernon girls basketball team for seven seasons, Fairman, a Thomas Jefferson graduate, has taken over as floor boss of the TJ girls hoops program.

TJ finished 21-5 overall in 2017-18 and won the Section 2-5A title with a 9-1 mark. The Jaguars advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA second round.

There were four seniors, including two starters, on the last year’s squad. Eight letter winners are back.

Fairman has been impressed by the talent and diligence displayed by the TJ hoopsters this season.

“This year’s team has a strong work ethic with a will-to-win mentality,” Fairman said. “The girls are focused and playing together as a team. We are very well balanced with talented guards, shooters and a strong presence inside on the boards.

“We have been focusing on our defense, and also learning and executing new strategies. I believe a strong defense will motivate our offense. Playing together as a team is our mindset. Our team plays with heart, and the girls support each other.”

Senior guard Jenna Clark (17.7 ppg) was the Jaguars’ leading scorer last year. Clark, one of the WPIAL’s premier point guards and an all-state selection, committed to Yale this fall. She also received offers from Appalachian State, St. Francis (Pa.), St. Bonaventure, Morehead State, Niagara and Stony Brook.

“Our team is looking really strong,” Clark said. “Our (early) goal is to start strong and prove ourselves.”

Senior Shaylor Williams and junior Alyssa DeAngelo are returning starters in the backcourt, and are joined by five other letter winners in senior guard Julia Shearn; and juniors Ashley Guidone (G), Lydia Shaw (G/F), Molly Wagner (F) and Natasha Yanief (F).

Rounding out the squad are juniors Deanna Bennett (G) and Dalaney Ranallo (F), sophomore G/F Maddy Trainer, plus freshman guards Graci Fairman, the coach’s daughter, and Lydia Zoglmann.

Clark, Williams, DeAngelo, Ranallo and Wagner made up the starting lineup at the season’s onset, complemented by Yanief, Bennett, Shaw, Shearn, Fairman and Zoglmann.

Ranallo, an athletic 5-foot-11 forward, has made a verbal commitment to continue her soccer career at Old Dominion. She has rejoined the basketball team after sitting out last season.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the girls basketball team. Not playing my sophomore year was a hard choice for me to make,” Ranallo said. “That being said, the girls and coaching staff were so welcoming when I returned. I am super pumped to play and contribute this season.”

TJ is a member of Section 1-5A, along with Chartiers Valley, Lincoln Park, Montour, Moon, South Fayette, Trinity and West Allegheny.

“Our section is very strong,” said Fairman, the veteran floor boss whose maiden name is Pritchard. “Chartiers Valley and West Allegheny are two of the top teams.”

Clark has been looking forward to playing in a new section this season.

“We love that our section is so competitive because we can play tough games night in and night out,” Clark said. “We have a tough schedule in 5A, but it’s exciting to see some of the best girls in the WPIAL.”

The TJ girls tipped off the season with a 74-40 win against Woodland Hills, followed by an 81-52 loss to Peters Township, which was ranked second in Class 6A.

The Jaguars defeated Hampton, 69-32, in their home opener Dec. 11, jumping out to leads of 12-0, 16-2, 21-4 and 28-8 in the first two quarters.

Clark and DeAngelo paced TJ with 22 and 21 points, respectively.

Brentwood

Optimism abounds again in the Brentwood girls basketball program.

The Spartans, WPIAL and PIAA qualifiers last year, opened the 2018-19 season by winning their sixth consecutive Brentwood High Athletic Boosters tip-off tournament.

“I am very optimistic about this year,” Brentwood coach Rachel Thomas said. “We are excited about the possibilities. We have a great core of players with a lot of experience. These girls have been working really hard and are ready to build on last year’s success.”

Brentwood ended up 18-8 last season, advancing to the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA second round. The Spartans have qualified for the postseason five years in a row.

The seniors on this year’s team have been instrumental in the Spartans’ recent success, particularly in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Guards Anna Betz and Natalie Murrio and forward Rebecca Dirling are returning senior starters.

Other returning letterwinners include guards Brooke McQuillan, Maddi Travis and Abby Wolf, and forward Sydney Gilchrist. All all seniors except Travis, who is a junior.

“Sydney Gilchrist provided quality minutes off the bench (in the Brentwood’s tip-off tourney), along with Maura Daly.

“Maura did not play like a freshmen. She pulled down some key rebounds in vital parts of the championship game.”

Rounding out the squad are sophomores Taylor Davis, at guard, and Paige Miller, at forward; freshmen guards Cecilia Foley, Hannah Fornear and Isabella Grimm; and freshman forward Jaelynn Lindahl.

Brentwood’s starting lineup in the tournament consisted of Betz, Murrio, Dirling, Wolf and McQuillan. Top reserves included Daly, Gilchrist and an injured Travis.

“During the preseason we continued to strengthen our fundamentals while teaching the younger players our system,” Thomas said. “We are fast and quick so we have been working on our transition game, as well. This year’s team is confident and competitive.

“We had a strong offseason in camps and leagues. We have a great nucleus with support from our younger players. Our freshmen group continues to improve every day.”

Brentwood is a member of Section 2-2A, along with Ellis School, Jeannette, Riverview, Serra Catholic, Springdale and Winchester Thurston.

“We are in a new section with some new teams, but I believe Brentwood, Winchester Thurston and Serra are the teams to beat,” Thomas said.

Brentwood, Winchester Thurston, Serra Catholic and Riverview were WPIAL qualifiers a year ago. WT won the WPIAL Class A championship; Serra Catholic was a WPIAL Class 2A semifinalist.

Baldwin

There’s a new identity within the Baldwin girls basketball program with Kyle DeGregorio taking over as head coach.

A Baldwin guidance counselor and the former boys hoops coach at Belle Vernon and Baldwin, DeGregorio has been working with a young roster that includes one senior, three juniors, 10 sophomores and 11 freshmen.

Ashley Barker is a senior guard; forward Jenna Lutz, guard Alexis Kennard and center Angela Wanjohi are juniors.

The sophomore class is strong, represented by guards Alexia Bernotas, Sydney Carr, Abby Joyce, Anna Lucarelli, Abby Marzina, Emily Meador and Cassie Pantelis; and forwards Nina Dongilli, Meghan Dryburgh (G/F) and Kayla Radomsky.

Freshman prospects include Morgan Altavilla, Alyvia Cox, Meagan Crough, Nikki Crough, Emiley Hillgartner, Leyna Laurent and Bella Marabito in the backcourt; Heidi Johnston, Drew Martin and Anna Wiatrowski in the frontcourt; and Jenna Fox at center.

The Highlanders opened the season with a starting lineup consisting of one junior, Lutz, at forward; and four sophomores, Bernotas and Lucarelli at guard, Dryburgh a guard/forward, and Dongilli, at forward.

Top reserves included Radomsky in the frontcourt, and Altavilla and Hillgartner in the backcourt.

Radomsky (14), Dryburgh (13) and Lucarelli (12) combined for 39 points in the team’s season-opening win against Elizabeth Forward.

Baldwin is a member of Section 2-6A, along with Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.

The Highlanders, who finished 3-17 last year, won their first two games this season against EF, 51-43, and South Park, 37-32.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin, Brentwood, Thomas Jefferson