Quaker Valley girls shake off growing pains, get in win column

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Patience and perseverance finally prevailed for the Quaker Valley girls basketball team, as the Quakers kept plugging away through the first four weeks of the season.

With a team comprised of three freshmen, six sophomores two juniors and one senior, the QV girls found it difficult to attain their first win of the season.

That is, until they began Section 2-4A play in the new year.

After seven nonsection losses in December, the Quakers landed in the win column Jan. 3 thanks to a 63-37 section decision at Ambridge.

“They have been working hard and steadily improving as a team,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “It may not have shown up on the scoreboard, but we could see it most every day.”

QV’s Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, a distinguished sophomore guard/forward, led all scorers against Ambridge with a career-high 41 points.

An all-section selection as a freshman when she averaged 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds, the 6-foot-4 Thiero is recognized as one of the top young players in the WPIAL.

This season, Thiero leads the Quakers in scoring (20.7 ppg), field goal percentage (39%), rebounds (15.7 rpg), blocked shots (6.2 avg) and steals (2 spg)

QV’s Madison Chapman, a 5-6 senior guard, chipped in with a 10-point performance against Ambridge.

“We were so relieved to get our first win,” Chapman said. “After losing so many games in a row, our confidence started to really take a hit, but regardless, we kept our heads up and knew it would all work out in the long run.

“In practice, we’ve been highlighting a lot of the areas we need to improve in, such as closing out, boxing out, etc.”

Chapman is a three-year varsity player who leads the team in assists this season. She also ranks in the top three in several other offensive categories.

“As the only senior, I just want to make sure everyone has a good season and everyone improves overall,” she said. “Winning and losing don’t mean much to me as long as we play as a team, improve each time we step on the court and always give 110% effort.”

As the saying goes, winning is contagious.

QV followed up the victory at Ambridge with a 35-28 section win the next night at home against Beaver.

Thiero and Chapman scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“It’s really great to have Mimi on the team,” Chapman said. “She’s a great player and we all love her.”

Others looking to grow into specific roles for the Quakers include Lucy Roig, a 5-5 sophomore guard; Anna Campbell, a 5-7 freshman guard; Lily Millet, a 5-10 sophomore forward; Lily Tarkin, a 5-10 junior forward; and Mia Floro, a 5-7 sophomore guard.

“Lucy Roig and Anna Campbell have been key contributors and will continue to play a major role on the team this year,” Johns said.

Quaker Valley lost to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Rochester in the season-opening Montour tournament. The Quakers then fell to the likes of Moon, Freedom, Shady Side Academy, Avonworth and Penn Hills.

Moon and Penn Hills are 5A teams. All but one of the remaining five opponents finished with winning records in December — OLSH (7-2), Rochester (5-4), (Freedom (4-5), SSA (6-2) and Avonworth (7-1).

“Our nonsection schedule is really tough,” Johns said, “and combined with a lot of new and young players, we knew there would be a period of adjustment to start the season.

“I’m hoping the improvement continues and we apply what we’ve learned through the tough start into our section games.”

After the first half of section games, QV will tangle with 3A Keystone Oaks (9-3) and 5A Lincoln Park (12-0) in nonsection matchups.

The Quakers lost to 6A Chartiers Valley, 59-19, on Jan. 6 in the PBC Hall of Fame Classic at Ambridge.

Returning to section play, QV fell to Hopewell, 49-32, on Jan. 8 to go to 2-9, 2-1 in section. Thiero led the Quakers with 25 points.

Tags: Quaker Valley