Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Madison Lampe
School: West Greene
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Class: Sophomore
Lampe’s week: Lampe scored a career-high 32 points in an 86-17 victory over Monessen and 25 points in a 72-37 victory over Geibel Catholic that sewed up the Section 2-A title for the Pioneers. It was the first section championship for the West Greene girls basketball program since the 1999-2000 season.
“We all knew it,” Lampe said of the victory giving the Pioneers a section title. “It’s been a long time. We didn’t do a lot of celebrating in the locker room after the game. We just all went out to eat after the game as a team.”
Lampe had 32 points, seven steals, seven rebounds and six assists against Monessen and 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals and three assists against Geibel. For the season, she averages, 17.5 points, 5.6 steals, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. She entered Tuesday’s game against Avella with 326 points, 30 more than her freshman season.
“Madison is such a good all-round player,” said West Greene head coach Jordan Watson. “She creates turnovers and is our best on-ball defender.”
Not only did the Pioneers snap a 17-year drought winning a section title but their 16-3 record can set the season record for victories by accumulating four more. Winning out should give west Greene one of the top seeds in the upcoming WPIAL Class A playoffs.
Work ethic: One way Watson tries to motivate players in basketball practice is a series of contests that results in the losers running laps or “gassers.” The winners are afforded the luxury of watching.
“It doesn’t matter if Madison wins or loses the drill, she runs,” Watson said. “That’s how competitive she is. I think that’s really unique for an athlete in high school. She never complains about anything. If I say we’re doing this or we’re doing that, she just does it. That’s what stands out, her great work ethic.”
Against Monessen, Lampe reached her career high of 28 points before halftime. She was pulled, as normally happens in lopsided games, early in the third quarter.
“I’d rather play against teams that are competitive,” Lampe said. “We never underestimate the teams we play. I like close games.”
Madison Lampe is part of West Greene’s three-guard offense. Her sister, McKenna is on one wing and Kaitlyn Rizor is the point guard.
“Madison has no glaring weaknesses,” Watson said. “She does everything well.”
Compiled by Joe Tuscano