Natalia Schaffer had an unforgettable performance at the recent KDKA Radio Holiday Hoops Classic in December. The four-year starter has been a consistent force for the Foxes all season, but during the Classic, she shined as brightly as the season’s holiday lights.
Even prior to the game, which the Foxes won, 44-39, against Kiski Area High School, Natalia had already been named as one of the KDKA Radio Super 7, a weekly honor roll determined by a panel of basketball experts and the station’s staff. Naturally, Natalia went into the game already pumped and ready to excel.
“When I first found out I was one of the Super 7, I was filled with excitement,” recalls Natalia. “It was a great achievement for me, but I couldn’t have done any of it without the help of my teammates leading me there.”
And excel, she did.
Natalia tied her single-game career high with 24 points, leading all scorers in the game, and was named the MVP. She also dominated at the free throw line, going 11 for 12. Her all-around skill set has helped her become the Foxes’ leading scorer this season, averaging 16.3 points and 10 rebounds per game. Frequently, she records double-doubles. Natalia also heads the team leaderboard in three-pointers and has a free throw percentage of 80%.
Moments of Reflection
After the game, held at PPG Paints Arena, Natalia reflected on the experience.
“It was all just an adrenaline rush,” she says. “Playing in that atmosphere with the big screens and lights was so thrilling.”
The game had added significance for Natalia and her teammates because it served as payback for a loss to Kiski Area last season.
“For us, this did feel like a revenge game,” she admits. “Being able to beat a team that we have lost to in previous years is always a good feeling. So far, we also have been able to beat Highlands, which we lost to last year.”
Driven to Succeed
Natalia’s leadership and dedication to the game is evident in her preparation. She arrives an hour early before each game to practice her shooting and to loosen up.
“Once I put my mind to something, I will always do anything I can to achieve it,” she says. “This trait has gotten me extremely far both in life and basketball.”
She credits basketball with teaching her the importance of determination and positivity, pointing out that anything can happen in a game at any given moment. Natalia explains, “Whether it’s a game-winning shot, or being down by two with seconds to go, anything can change in a split second.”
Natalia also praised her teammates, whom she describes as a passionate and supportive group that’s ready to rise to challenges and the unexpected.
“They all show how dedicated they are to the team and support each other, no matter what,” says Natalia of this year’s group, which features a good mix of experienced players and the largest freshmen class in coach Marty Matvey’s tenure with the Foxes. “The chemistry is forming between all of us, and we are all becoming very close as a team.”
With all the good news that’s coming from girls basketball, the team seems poised to fulfill Natalia’s early season prediction that, indeed, the Foxes will go far this season.