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Sunday, July 14, 2024, TRIB-REVIEW
Marty Matvey has the tools at his disposal to be ambitious when it comes to the Fox Chapel girls basketball team’s summer league.
The Foxes coach is appreciative of how the district supports his desire to grow what has become a burgeoning fall and summer league for basketball players looking to get some work in.
Fox Chapel’s summer league runs Tuesday nights in June, allowing varsity players to get eight games in. This year was the best attended one, with 51 participants from middle school to high school for Fox Chapel.
Matvey wanted to help run the league to keep the team working close to home.
“Our first offseason, unfortunately, we were hit by covid,” Matvey said. “I wanted to have our own league. We used to play in the Penn Hills fall league, but there’s nothing like being at home. What I’m blessed with is that our athletic director, Mike O’Brien, gives us full access to the high school gym, auxiliary gym and middle school. We are able to host a lot of games.”
This summer, Fox Chapel had a 12-team league, and six junior varsity teams participated. The Foxes had their seventh and eighth graders compete on a team against the JV squads.
Fox Chapel welcomed Mt. Lebanon and Montour to the league this year, but the Foxes also pulled in many other Alle-Kiski Valley schools. Freeport, Plum, Apollo-Ridge and Shady Side Academy participated, and North Hills also was involved.
“We’re in a central location,” O’Brien said. “We’re trying to run a top-notch league. We try to charge just enough so the boosters and the coaches can make enough to help make a little bit of money to help the kids here.”
Fox Chapel assistant coach Kelly Gibson helps with most of the league’s logistics. She schedules the games and helps to coordinate a lot of the details that keep the machine moving. Local officials also have been able to use these games to gain experience. Evaluators have come to critique the three-man crews who work the games.
Matvey said he was happy with Fox Chapel’s overall participation and anticipates there will be 40 players trying out for the varsity team next winter.
“One of the highlights of our season was we had 15 freshmen trying out,” Matvey said. “They can all handle the ball, and they call all the pressure. They are great teammates.”
Matvey said the most important thing in summer is finding the right balance. Fox Chapel doesn’t have any activities in July, as the AAU schedule kicks up and the kids do other activities.
“I try to make sure every offseason the kids have a break,” Matvey said. “We have a lot of multisport athletes. You only do high school once, and I want the kids to try different things. One thing I learned is that they need a break from hearing my voice.”