Pioneers poised for another successful season
There has been plenty of successful teams at West Greene High School over the last four years. Not many more successful than the Pioneers’ girls basketball team.
Fresh off a 22-4 season and the school’s first appearance in the WPIAL Class A championship game, West Greene will look to continue its upward trend this winter.
“This group is pretty poised on and off the court,” said coach Jordan Watson, who enters his eighth season. “These girls are always focused. We don’t take anything for granted. This team has a lot of skill, but it’s their overall work ethic and chemistry that has made us such a winning program.
One of our goals is to make it back to the Pete and to win a state playoff game. This group has had a lot of pressure-packed situations in the playoffs, both in basketball and softball, over the last three years.”
West Greene lost to Winchester Thurston in the WPIAL Class A championship last season. It lost to Farrell in the opening round of the PIAA tournament.
Over the last three seasons, the Pioneers are 57-17, have won 20 of their 24 section games, competed in nine playoff games, won a pair of section titles and have made two appearances in the PIAA playoffs.
With California added to a mix of familiar foes in Section 2-A, West Greene returns five seniors, six sophomores and adds six freshmen to its roster.
“Our first goal every year is to go undefeated in section,” Watson said. “If you go undefeated in your section, then that should give you a top four seed in the playoffs and a first-round bye. Avella has a lot of talent coming back, and Mapletown has a lot of size with a new coach. California always has a winning tradition and is tough to play every year.”
The Pioneers have put together a stacked non-section schedule this year, which include games against Wheeling Central Catholic, Washington, Winchester Thurston, Sewickley Academy and Bishop Canevin.
“We always believe in scheduling the best competition,” Watson said. “When you play better teams, it makes you better down the road. Wheeling Central is a two-time defending state champion in West Virginia. Our record may not show it this year, but I really believe that we are going to be a better team heading into the playoffs.”
Leading the Pioneers this season will be a trio of three-year starters in McKenna Lampe, Madison Lampe and Kaitlyn Rizor.
McKenna Lampe currently ranks third in program history behind Rachel Phillips (1,838) and Jackie Metheny (1,419) with 1,264 points. Last year, she averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 steals, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
Twin sister Madison Lampe has compiled 1,085 career points and averaged 13.7 points, 5.5 steals, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last year.
Rizor, who is 205 points away from reaching 1,000, finished last season averaging 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 steals.
The Pioneers will also rely on seniors Brianna Goodwin and Savannah Pettit and sophomores Elizabeth Brudnock and Jersey Wise. West Greene will also welcome in a crop of freshmen that will see time on the court in Anna Durbin, Brooke Barner and Katie Lampe.
“I think this is one of the deepest teams I have ever coached,” Watson said. “Our seniors are always pushing themselves. They are never satisfied with past successes. I think that rubs off on the younger kids. They know what type of work ethic they must have in order to compete.”