Feb 14, 2024 3 min read

Name: Ruby Morgan

School: Trinity

Class: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Morgan’s week: For the longest time, Morgan had plateaued in the low-to-mid 20s for the most points in a single game throughout her high school career.

She picked a perfect time to surpass it.

With Trinity trying to remain in contention for the section title, Morgan was lights out from behind the arc making nine three-point field goals in route to scoring a career-high 31 points in a 52-46 win over South Fayette on Senior Night. It was the penultimate game of the regular season.

Three nights later, the Hillers struck back against Lincoln Park to emerge with a 32-29 victory in a defensive struggle to clinch a share of the Class 5A Section 4 title.

Morgan was one of two players for Trinity to reach double figures with the section on the line, finishing with 10 points.

“One of my big things is once I see that ball go through the hoop I continue to get more and more confident,” Morgan said. “I have confidence the next one or the one after that will go down, too. I also have the confidence of my coaches and teammates.”

Rightfully so, as Morgan has made 68 three-pointers in the 20 games she’s played in this season, averaging 15 points per game.

The regular-season finale win over the Leopards avenged a bitter overtime loss to them, a game in which Morgan had six three-pointers in the first half. It was a week-and-a-half portion of the season when Trinity had lost four consecutive games in overtime.

“Those four games taught us a lot,” Morgan said. “We took a step back and all five seniors talked about how we wanted the rest of this season to go. We needed to be a better team in the second half. I think it might be different if we played those teams again. Now, it’s like a new season and we have to prove it in the playoffs.”

Third-seeded Trinity (17-5) will have that opportunity as it rides a six-game winning streak into a first-round matchup against 14th-seeded Woodland Hills (9-11) Tuesday night.

Back to her first love: Morgan isn’t limited to success on the hardwood, where she has been an all-section guard each of the last two seasons.

Throughout the early portion of her life, despite a two-year break when she found an interest in basketball, Morgan was excelling at soccer.

After recovering from a torn ACL at the beginning of her eighth-grade year, she transitioned into being the Hillers’ goalkeeper. Between the posts, Morgan has been one of the best in the WPIAL since her freshman year.

A four-year starter in goal, Morgan was a three-time All-WPIAL selection and earned first-team all-section honors each of the last three seasons. She was named the Hillers’ Team MVP the last two years.

“Tearing my ACL taught me a ton of lessons,” Morgan remembers. “It was a nine-month recovery and it was also during COVID. I guess it was just a perfect time to work on myself. In seventh grade I started as a goalkeeper. I used to play up top. It’s 100 percent a different mindset. You have to put your body on the line to stop a shot. The pressure is definitely on, but I like having pressure.”

Morgan is committed to play soccer at Division I Eastern Kentucky next year.

Compiled by Luke Campbell.