Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week for March 24, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 7:57 PM

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Trib HSSN girls basketball team of the week: Blackhawk Cougars

Coach: Greg Huston (first season at Blackhawk, 18th overall)

Record: 10-0 in Section 2-4A, 27-3 overall

#Earned: After back-to-back district runner-up finishes and state silver a year ago, Blackhawk’s girls basketball players began the week determined to finally wear gold around their neck with two more wins. In the state semifinals on Tuesday, Blackhawk faced undefeated District 3 champion Wyomissing. After allowing 10 points in the opening quarter, the Cougars only allowed the Spartans to score 8, 5 and 8 points over the final three quarters as Blackhawk earned a second straight trip to the 4A finals in Hershey with a 47-31 win. Defense was the star again for the green and white at the Giant Center as Blackhawk jumped out on District 2 champion Scranton Prep, 14-7, after one quarter. The slow squeeze continued as the Cougars leads increased to eight by halftime and nine points after three quarters. Blackhawk won its fifth game in the PIAA postseason by double-digit points in capturing its first state title since 2015, 56-44.

Scoring stars: Sophomore forward Aubree Hupp continued her torrid postseason by scoring a game-high 22 points while senior Alena Fusetti added 11 points for Blackhawk in the win over previously undefeated Wyomissing. Then in the state championship game at the Giant Center in Hershey, Hupp hit 11 free throws and scored 21 points and had nine rebounds while Fusetti had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Romigh twins, seniors Haley and Piper, combined for 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in the 12-point triumph over Scranton Prep.

Last year: The 2023 season had a silver lining to it for Blackhawk. The Cougars were undefeated Section 2-4A champions (like this year), then knocked off Belle Vernon and Quaker Valley to reach the WPIAL title game against North Catholic (like this year) and fell to the Trojans (like this year), 51-35. Blackhawk regrouped (like this year) and won four PIAA playoff games to reach Hershey (like this year) before they lost in the state title game to Lansdale Catholic (NOT like this year). Last season was the final one for coach Steve Lodovico, who resigned after 18 successful years as head coach of the Cougars’ girls basketball program.

Remember when: The victory for Blackhawk in the PIAA 4A championship game breaks a tie with Oakland Catholic and put the Cougars alone in second place among WPIAL girls basketball teams behind North Catholic with five state championship crowns. This bodes well for next year because the Cougars’ four previous PIAA titles were repeat performances. It was 25 years ago when Blackhawk defeated Montoursville to win the school’s first PIAA girls hoops championship. They then repeated as state champs in 2000 after defeating Montoursville again. Then in 2014, Blackhawk knocked off Archbishop Wood to win 3A state gold and successfully defended a year later when the Cougars again knocked off Archbishop Wood in 2015.

2024 Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 11 – McKeesport Tigers

Week 10 – North Catholic Trojans

Week 9 – South Fayette Lions

Week 8 – Laurel Highlands Mustangs

Week 7 – Penn Hills Indians

Week 6 – Trinity Hillers

Week 5 – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Week 4 – Lincoln Park Leopards

Week 3 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 2 – Aliquippa Quips

Week 1 – Norwin Knights

Tags: Blackhawk