2 perfect seasons help shape Trib 10 girls basketball all-star team
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Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 11:39 PM
Chartiers Valley’s Mackenzie Wagner kisses the championship trophy with teammates after defeating Bishop Carroll in the PIAA Class 5A girls state championship game Saturday, Mar. 23, 2019, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Peters Twp.’s Makenna Marisa drives to the basket past Bethel Park’s Emma Dzieggowski and Lauren Mullen during their game Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at Bethel Park High School.
Thomas Jefferson’s Jenna Clark drives past Oakland Catholic’s Alexis Sestric during their WPIAL Class 5A girls semifinal Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Rachel Martindale scores over Norwin’s Abby Best during their WPIAL Class 6A girls semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, at Fox Chapel High School.
North Catholic’s Tess Myers drives past Bethlehem Catholic’s Briana Barnard during the PIAA Class 4A girls state championship game Saturday, Mar. 23, 2019, at Giant Center in Hershey.
OLSH’s Ashley Norling drives past Brentwood’s Maura Daly during the WPIAL Class 2A girls championship game Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, at Petersen Events Center.
Chartiers Valley’s Megan McConnell drives past Bishop Carroll’s Grace O’Neill during the PIAA Class 5A girls state championship game Saturday, Mar. 23, 2019, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Central Valley’ North Catholic’s Kylee Lewandowski scores past Central Valley’ Allyson Kirby during the 4A girls WPIAL Championship at Petersen Events Center.
One word can describe both Peters Township and Chartiers Valley: Perfect.
Only three girls basketball teams in WPIAL history had celebrated undefeated state titles before this season. But the Indians and Colts added their names to that list last month when they capped 30-0 seasons a day apart with state championship victories in Hershey.
They headlined what was a remarkable year for girls basketball in Western Pennsylvania. Both undefeated teams are represented here in the Trib 10 all-stars.
MACKENZIE AMALIA | Blackhawk
Junior, 5-5, guard
College: Robert Morris
Amalia led her team in scoring average (19.2 points), 3-pointers (85), assists (174) and steals (102). The Cougars (20-6) reached the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals and the PIAA second round.
JENNA CLARK | Thomas Jefferson
Senior, 5-7, guard
College: Yale
Clark averaged 20.6 points, six assists and 3.7 steals for Thomas Jefferson (22-8), which finished as the WPIAL Class 5A runner-up and reached the PIAA semifinals.
KYLEE LEWANDOWSKI | North Catholic
Junior, 6-1, guard
College: uncommitted
Lewandowski averaged 15 points and six rebounds for North Catholic (26-4), which won its third straight WPIAL title and finished as the PIAA Class 4A runner-up. She lists offers from Bucknell, Marshall, Niagara, Quinnipiac and Xavier.
MAKENNA MARISA | Peters Township
Senior, 5-11, guard
College: Penn State
Peters Township went undefeated and won WPIAL and PIAA Class 6A titles behind Marisa, who averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Marisa scored 29 points in the state championship.
RACHEL MARTINDALE | North Allegheny
Senior, 5-8, guard
College: Akron
North Allegheny went 105-11 with Martindale on the court, including 24-3 this season. She returned from a torn ACL to average 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Tigers, who finished as WPIAL Class 6A runners-up.
MEGAN McCONNELL | Chartiers Valley
Junior, 5-7, guard
College: uncommitted
The point guard led undefeated Chartiers Valley (30-0) to the first state basketball title — boys or girls — in school history. McConnell averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 steals. She lists offers from Robert Morris and Niagara.
TESS MYERS | North Catholic
Junior, 5-10, guard
College: uncommitted
North Catholic’s top scorer (15.4 ppg) upped her output even higher in the playoffs including a game-high 26 in the WPIAL Class 4A finals. She lists offers from Charlotte, Kent State, LaSalle, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph’s, UNC Wilmington and William & Mary.
ASHLEY NORLING | OLSH
Senior, 5-11, forward
College: Pitt-Johnstown
Norling led Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to its first WPIAL girls basketball title. She averaged 18 points and eight rebounds for the Chargers (22-5), who toppled three-time defending champion Bishop Canevin in the semifinals.
SHAMYJHA PRICE | Bishop Canevin
Senior, 5-9, guard
College: UMass Lowell
Canevin went 92-20 in Price’s four seasons with three WPIAL gold medals and two state silver medals. Price averaged 18 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season for the Crusaders (22-4).
MACKENZIE WAGNER | Chartiers Valley
Senior, 5-10, guard
College: Loyola
Wagner averaged a team-best 16 points, including a game-high 24 for Chartiers Valley (30-0) in the PIAA Class 5A finals against Archbishop Carroll. She reached double figures in 27 of her team’s 30 games and averaged 5.7 rebounds.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Bishop Canevin, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson
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