Dec 10, 2017 4 min read

The landmark season of the Trinity High School girls basketball program is now a fond and distant memory. The pictures and videos from last season, when the Hillers became the first girls basketball program from Washington County to advance to a state championship game, are tucked away, to be revisited at a later date.

Though the Trinity team that fashioned a 26-4 record and played Archbishop Wood in Hershey for the Class 5A state title does not return intact, this season’s version of the Hillers is determined to make its own memories. So far, the results have been positive.

Trinity is off to a 2-0 start after winning its tipoff tournament, defeating Moon (56-26) and Class 6A Canon-McMillan (60-53), the latter in the championship game.

That’s a positive sign for Trinity because the Hillers are in a rebuilding mode. They return only two starters from last year’s team.

“We’re just a work in progress,” veteran head coach Bob Miles said. “We’re going to be competitive. Maybe not at first but we’re going to get better as the season goes along. By the time January rolls around …”

So the 2-0 start is encouraging. A win tonight over a talented Peters Township (2-0) team in a 6 p.m. game at Hiller Hall, would have the Hillers well ahead of Miles’ developmental expectations.

Trinity has lost some talented players over the last two years, such as forward Mary Dunn (Youngstown State) and guard Sierra Kotchman (Fairmont State). Kotchman eased the loss of Dunn last season by becoming the Observer-Reporter Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the Pennsylvania Class 5A Player of the Year after averaging 19.3 points per game.

This season, the Hillers might have to make up for the loss of Kotchman’s scoring by getting points from a variety of sources. Trinity returns only two starters, junior point guard Alayna Cappelli and Riley DeRubbo, a versatile sophomore who can play both guard and forward.

Cappelli’s role the past two years was to distribute the basketball. She averaged only 9.9 points per game a year ago but was a second team all-district selection. This year, Miles is looking for her to take on more of scoring role.

“Alayna is a leader out there. She’s like have a coach on the floor,” Miles said. “From time to time over the last two seasons, she’s had a big scoring game. I think she had 19 as a freshman against South Fayette. She can score. Her game has improved. Her shot is quicker and she has good penetrating moves. Plus, she’s also a lockdown defender.”

DeRubbo made steady improvement throughout last season and scored 13 points in the state championship game. She has shown an ability to consistently get to the free-throw line and will be counted on to score and rebound more this season.

“We have to manufacture points this year, Miles said. “Last year, we could isolate and get shots for Sierra. This year, I’ve said if this player can get us 10, and this one can get us six, and this one gets eight, then we’re going to be OK. Of course, we have to play great defense. I’ve always preached defense.”

Several players who played casual roles for the Hillers, such as senior forward Jayme Britton and senior guard Allie Scarfo, will have significant playing time and expanded roles this season as the Hillers try to find their way into another championship game. Two years ago, Trinity played South Fayette in the WPIAL finals.

“I told the kids that you don’t go to a championship game every year,” Miles said. “You have to work and play hard to get there. But going to the state championship game, everything we did in the postseason gave our younger kids exposure and made them better.

“We have some other puzzle pieces that we can use. We can play eight to 10 players and that’s OK.”

One of those puzzle pieces that seems to fit well for the Hillers is sophomore forward Marlaina Bozek, who scored 18 points in the win over Canon-McMillan. Cappelli led the way in that game with 20 points.

“We’re totally different style of team,” Miles said. “We have more speed and will have to pressure the basketball.”

Last season, Trinity didn’t get many challenges in section play. The Hillers went 12-0 in Section 3, winning half of those games by at least 38 points. Only one game was decided by single digits.

That’s why Miles has put together an aggressive nonsection schedule that includes Class 6A opponents Canon-McMillan, Peters Township, Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair along with a trip to the North Allegheny tournament.