Thomas Jefferson girls take aim at section title

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 8, 2017 | 11:00 PM

Thomas Jefferson's girls basketball team has its sights firmly entrenched on a section championship.

“I think this is the year for us and big opportunities are coming our way,” said Marina Petruzzi, a senior guard and one of a host of returning players on the team. “We all want to try to lock down the section and go as deep as we can into the playoffs. I think we are a really competitive team, and we are ready to prove it.

“Our focus this preseason has been really trying to get everyone to mesh together, and work on getting that extra pass to the open person; working on patience and discipline.”

The Jaguars compiled a 12-10 overall record competing in the WPIAL Class 5A division last season, tying for third place in Section 2 with Gateway with a 6-4 record, behind Oakland Catholic (9-1) and McKeesport (7-3).

TJ lost a 53-42 decision to Chartiers Valley in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. The Colts went on to win the WPIAL Class 5A title, defeating Oakland Catholic, 52-36, in the championship game.

“This year's team has something to prove after finishing tied for third in the section last year, missing second place by one game,” said George Vlassich, the Jaguars' second-year coach. “We have had a very productive summer and fall preseason.

“Our goals are to finish first in the section, play in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game, and be WPIAL champs.”

Lexie Zovko was the only senior on last year's team. She was a three-year starter and four-year varsity letter winner and served as team captain for two seasons.

Along with the 5-foot-7 Petruzzi, the Jaguars will be led by Becca Mascaro, a 5-9 senior guard/forward; Jenna Clark, a 5-6 junior point guard; and Shaylor Williams, a 5-6 junior guard.

Petruzzi, a fourth-year starter, was an all-section selection last season. She averaged 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.4 assists.

“Marina is a very versatile player,” Vlassich said. “She is a long-range shooter who has explosive scoring potential, and is a physical defender who was second on the team with 50 steals last season.”

Clark was the second-leading scorer on last year's team, averaging 10 ppg. She led the squad in steals with 57, and also averaged a team-high three assists.

“Jenna is a Division I recruit who will be an impact player this season,” Vlassich said. “She has long-range shooting capability, along with excellent ball-handling and play-making skills. Jenna will be hard to guard this season.”

Mascaro is the top returning rebounder on the team, while Williams provides additional depth in the Jaguars' backcourt. Mascaro averaged 5.7 rebounds, along with 8.1 points, a year ago. Like Petruzzi and Clark, Williams is a 3-point scoring threat.

“Becca is a guard in a tall player's body who shot 45 percent from the field last season,” Vlassich said. “Becca has excellent hands and is a very savvy player. She will be a tough matchup for most opponents.

“Shaylor came off the bench last season. She had a bad ankle sprain along with a bad flu that limited her playing time. Shaylor will give us another long-range shooter and important defensive player.”

Other key players for TJ include returning letter winners Casey Gedman, a 5-5 senior guard, and Alyssa D'Angelo, a 5-9 sophomore guard/forward; along with Maura Siess, a 5-8 senior guard/forward; and Julia Shearn, a 5-6 junior guard. Siess missed last season with an ACL injury

Petruzzi regularly scores in double figures for the Jaguars. She plans to continue her basketball career at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where she will either major in biology or go on a pre-med track.

“Obviously, it's a little bit further away from home than I'd like to be,” Petruzzi said, “but it is an amazing school academically, and I loved the basketball team and coaches. The atmosphere was awesome; it just felt right.”

Petruzzi, who also considered attending Bowdoin College in Maine, said the strength of this year's team at TJ is its transition game.

“We are a full-speed team and love to get the ball upcourt,” she said.

Mascaro, who plans to study international relations in college, has high hopes for the Jaguars this winter.

“We expect to have a winning season, at the least, and are shooting for a WPIAL championship,” Mascaro said. “I think we can definitely reach this goal if we play to our potential.

“We've been working on new plays, and especially on sharing the ball more. We have been a lot better with finding the open girl this year. Every girl is capable of scoring. I am confident that anyone I pass to can handle the ball and make a good decision for the team. We also really work hard on defense and pressuring the ball.”

In all, there are 20 players in the TJ girls basketball program this season.

The sophomore class is represented by D'Angelo, forward Natasha Yanief, guard/forward Cathryn Coles; plus guards Ashley Guidone, Allison Weidman, Molly Wagner and Lydia Shaw.

“We have several sophomores who should see some (varsity) time, which gives us depth along with experience,” Vlassich said. “We have been working on pressure defense, offensive movement with emphasis on shot selection.”

Top freshman prospects include guards Lexi Dadig, Lexy Wagner and Paige Truax; forwards Jera Esper and Maddy Trainer; and guard/forward Ava Haythorn.

Vlassich said the teams to beat in the section again are Oakland Catholic, Gateway and McKeesport.

“West Mifflin and Woodland Hills are (also) much improved,” he said.

The TJ hoopsters start section play Dec. 21 at home against Gateway.

The Jaguars will participate in a holiday tournament Dec. 28-29 at Keystone Oaks.

TJ won last year's holiday tourney, defeating Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 40-32, and Keystone Oaks, 54-51.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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