Brentwood girls celebrate most successful season since ’93

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 23, 2018 | 11:00 PM

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Brentwood's girls basketball team turned in a performance for the ages this season.

The Spartans advanced to the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA second round for the first time since 1993, finishing with an 18-8 overall record.

“I am very proud of the girls and their overall performance this season,” said Rachel Thomas, Brentwood's coach during the program's recent renaissance. “They came together and started to really play well at the right time. It is so exciting to see their hard work pay off.

“This team never quit and gave it their all every minute of these games.”

Brentwood qualified for the WPIAL playoffs as the third-place team in Section 2-2A with a 10-4 record, behind WPIAL champion Vincentian Academy (14-0) and Leechburg (12-2).

The Spartans have been playoff qualifiers five consecutive times since 2013-14.

Brentwood rolled past Fort Cherry, 54-18, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 51-31, in its first two WPIAL playoff games before losing to Chartiers-Houston, 54-45, in the semifinals.

In the PIAA tournament, the Spartans defeated Windber, 59-52, and lost to Penns Manor, 63-45.

For the season, Brentwood averaged 56.2 points while allowing just 39.4. The Spartans registered 60 or more points 11 times, including two games in the 70s. They also held 15 opponents to 40 points or fewer.

“One of the things I love most about these girls is we are so well-balanced,” Thomas said. “We don't have a superstar, but at any given moment, we have eight or nine solid players that can take control of a game both offensively and defensively.

“This is a special group of young ladies, and together they proved hard work, dedication, teamwork and a belief in themselves and each other can make a difference and a winning team.”

Senior leadership was provided by forwards Morgan Dryburgh, Marie Stofesky and Taylor Kottler, and guard Brittany Stewart.

Dryburgh, Stewart and Stofesky were joined in the starting lineup by junior guards Anna Betz and Natalie Murrio.

The team's leading reserves included junior forward Rebecca Dirling, junior guards Abby Wolf and Brooke McQuillan, and sophomore guard/forward Maddi Travis; along with junior forward Sydney Gilchrist and sophomore guard Jayden Schwartz.

“I believe we will be just as strong next year,” Thomas said. “We have a great catalyst of players to work around. Natalie, Anna, Abby, Rebecca, Brooke and Maddi all made extraordinary strides this year and are ready to continue this progress. Along with Syd and Jayden, I expect our team to be just as competitive next year.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Brentwood