Keystone Oaks girls chasing 3rd straight section title

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 5:45 PM

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The Keystone Oaks girls are hoping for a trifecta this season.

Under the direction of Ron Muszynski, who’s now in his fourth year as head coach, Keystone Oaks won the first section title in girls basketball in school history in 2017.

The KO girls racked up a 20-4 record that season, after winning the Section 3-4A title with a 14-0 mark, and advanced to the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs.

The Golden Eagles repeated as Section 3-4A champs with a 13-1 record last season, again advanced to the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments, and finished 17-6 overall.

Keystone Oaks was looking to make it three section crowns in a row prior to the start of the 2018-19 season. The odds appear a little longer, however, then back in December.

The Golden Eagles (9-5, 4-2), now in Section 2-4A, ended the first half of league action in third place, behind Blackhawk (10-2, 5-0) and Central Valley (10-1, 4-1).

KO’s two section losses were to Blackhawk and Central Valley, which are ranked second and third in Class 4A.

“Our goals are section, WPIAL and states,” Muszynski said. “Our section is very competitive and, along with a challenging nonsection schedule, we feel we’ll be ready for a playoff run.”

Senior leadership is a team strength this season, and is provided by 5-foot-11 guard/forward Gillian Piccolino, 5-7 guard/forward and defensive whiz Isabella Bogdan, 5-6 point guard Jaylen Hoffmann, 5-5 guard/forward Caitlin Workmaster, 5-7 forward Maryam Suleyman and 5-3 guard/forward Atrooba Rehman.

The Golden Eagles have won 31 of their past 34 section games, and are 36-10 in section games over the past four seasons.

“Returning three three-year starters has made this team special,” Muszynski said. “We’ve had a great run with this group and each one of them has been a huge part of our success. They’ve been playing together since grade school. All three are very talented and are completely different players.”

KO qualified for the WPIAL playoffs in 2015-16, Muszynski’s first year as the Golden Eagles’ coach.

Piccolino, a 1,000-point career scorer and Kennesaw State recruit, has been one of the top offensive players in the past four seasons. She averaged 15 points as a freshman, 13.5 as a sophomore, 17.4 last year, and currently is scoring at a lofty 22 ppg clip.

“Gillian is a long, smooth-shooting guard and also a great defender,” Muszynski said.

A four-year starter who was lauded as a Class 4A player to watch the past two seasons by the Tribune-Review, Piccolino is a two-time all-section selection, and has accounted for 1,383 career points.

“The goal is definitely to win a third section title,” she said. “I believe that it is attainable. Even though we were moved into a harder section, I think we’re just as good as all these teams when we play together.

“Our main focus is defense and rebounding, and if we do those things well I think we have a pretty good chance at winning our section.”

Bogdan, a James Madison track and field recruit, owns a 14 ppg average. One of her best games this season was a 20-point, 18-rebound, 5-steal performance against New Castle.

“Isabella is our hardest worker,” Muszynski said. “She is a great defender and rebounder, and has developed into a good scorer.”

Hoffmann, a John Carroll basketball recruit who has been nursing an injury, is averaging 12 ppg.

“Jaylen is super fast, a great ball-handler, and very smart on and off the court,” Muszynski said.

Piccolino is joined in the starting lineup by Bogdan, Workmaster, and 5-7 juniors Erin Feeney and Gabby Harris. Sophomore guards Lexi Wagner and Jodie Poliziani are leading reserves.

“Erin Feeney and Gabby Harris are first-year starters and are getting better every game,” Muszynski said. “They will be a huge part of our success the rest of the season.

“Caitlin Workmaster, Lexie Wagner and Jodie Poliziani bring a lot of energy and depth to our team.”

Muszynski is a former assistant at Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle and Baldwin. His staff includes lifelong friend Ian Barrett, and former Baldwin and Duquesne hoops standout Belma Nurkic.

A Seton LaSalle graduate who excelled in basketball, baseball and football, Muszynski won a state title with the Seton hoopsters in 1988.

“With the help of our assistant coaches, who both add a ton of basketball knowledge, we are excited for the second half of the season and hopefully a long playoff run,” said Muszynski, who inherited a KO team that was 4-18 in 2014-15.

The Golden Eagles are idle until Friday when they host Central Valley.

“Injuries have hurt us so far,” Muszynski said, “but with girls healing, and an eight-day no-game break, that will really help.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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