Kotchman finds fit with Fairmont State
Trinity High School senior Sierra Kotchman and the Hillers will be moving to a new section in basketball this season as they make the transition to playing in Class 5-A under the state’s new classification rules.
While that might add a little uncertainty to the Hillers’ season, Kotchman, an all-state guard, knows exactly where she’ll be playing next year. The sharp-shooting 5-6 guard will sign a letter of intent with Fairmont State University today.
“I was really impressed with the coaching staff, the campus and the fact they’re a winning program,” said Kotchman, who plans to major in business administration. “Plus, they play an up-tempo game with a lot of pressing. I like that.”
It fits Kotchman’s skillset.
Kotchman, who has been a starter for the Hillers since her freshman season, averaged 17.9 points per game last season while helping Trinity to a 21-5 record and a berth in the WPIAL championship game in Class AAA. She shot 51 percent from the field and had a 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Kotchman had several other offers, including NCAA Division II schools Charleston (W.Va.), Notre Dame (Ohio) and Pitt-Johnstown, among others, but Fairmont State was a natural fit.
“It’s not too big and they really fit her style of game,” said Trinity head coach Bob Miles. “She’s got an opportunity to go there and play right away and it’s a winning program. I think they’ve won 20-plus games four or five straight years.”
The Falcons had five players average double digits in scoring last season and will lose six seniors to graduation after the upcoming season. They went 20-11 in 2015-16.
The coaching staff saw Kotchman at several different camps over the summer and offered a scholarship.
That doesn’t surprise Miles.
“She’s an unselfish player and gets people shots,” he said. “She makes the people around her better. Nobody outworks her in the gym.”
Kotchman already has surpassed 1,000 career points and heads into her senior season hoping to help the Hillers go even deeper into the playoffs than they did a year ago, when they lost in the opening round of the PIAA tournament.
“I really think we’re going to have a great year,” Kotchman said. “It’s a different section, but we’ve been together since the second grade as a group. We’re really comfortable playing together.”