Thiero, Chapman hope to guide Quaker Valley girls basketball back to WPIAL playoffs

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 3, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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There will be several new players in the Quaker Valley girls basketball lineup this season.

However, two returning starters will be instrumental to any success experienced by the team, which was placed fifth in Class 4A in the Trib HSSN preseason rankings.

Oumou “Mimi” Thiero is a dynamic, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard/forward who was an all-section selection last year as QV’s leading scorer (13.2 ppg) and rebounder (10.4 rpg). The smooth and athletic Thiero also led the squad in field-goal percentage (47%) and blocks (3.5 avg) and ranked second in steals with 50.

QV coach Ken Johns has seen improvement in her game since the end of last season, which bodes well for the Quakers.

“Mimi spent a lot of time over the summer and in the preseason working on her game,” Johns said. “Her shot has improved as has her finishing around the rim. We’re going to need her to continue to play well on both ends of the floor.

“We’re really concentrating on defense overall and Mimi’s a big part of that. She’s also a very good facilitator and gets other people involved.”

Thiero was named by Trib HSSN as a 4A player to watch “who has perhaps the highest ceiling of any player in WPIAL girls basketball.”

Thiero already has received a Division I offer from Duquesne.

“All I expect for my (QV) team is for us to play together,” she said. “Individually, we have such great players, but together we’re even better. I hope they all stay focused for the whole season to hopefully prepare ourselves for the playoffs later in the season.”

Madison Chapman is a 5-6 senior guard who finished among the team leaders in assists in 2022-23.

“(Chapman and Thiero) will be relied upon for leadership and taking on expanded leadership roles,” Johns said. “Madi’s role will evolve to be our primary ball-handler, and she will be relied upon for more scoring. While we have two returning starters, we are very young with only one senior and one junior on the team. We are going to have to grow into some new roles and play a number of girls who haven’t played a lot of minutes.

“There will be a period of adjustment early in the season as we get used to all of that, but I’m excited about what I’ve seen so far. The energy and enthusiasm with this group is really good. We will keep working to get better and we’ll just have to see where that takes us this year.”

Other potential impact players for the Quakers include Lucy Roig and Olivia Hoose, both 5-5 sophomore guards; Lily Millet, a 5-10 sophomore forward; Lily Tarkin, a 5-10 junior forward; and Anna Campbell, a 5-6 freshman guard.

“They will all see playing time and are expected to have an impact,” said Johns, who is a Quaker Valley and Ohio University graduate and is in his third year as the Quakers’ floor boss.

QV finished 17-9 overall last season after compiling an 8-2 record in Section 2-4A, good for second place.

The Quakers advanced to the WPIAL and state playoffs, seeing their season end with a 43-40 loss to Harbor Creek in the PIAA first round.

“We will look to continue our streak of reaching the WPIAL playoffs, but it will be a challenge in our section, and given our experience level,” Johns said. “The early part of the season will be geared towards getting ourselves prepared for section play.”

QV’s section opponents consist of Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley and Hopewell.

One of QV’s season highlights in 2022-23 was a seven-game winning streak against Montour, Avonworth, Chartiers-Houston, Burgettstown, Ambridge, Beaver and Hopewell.

Johns is assisted by Derek Liebert and Emily Melnek.

Tags: Quaker Valley