Fox Chapel Area’s girls basketball team did not quite amass the record it wanted in the 2023-2024 season, finishing 6-16 and just missing out on the postseason. But there is optimism for the upcoming campaign as a strong offseason, combined with some talented returning players, just might result in vast improvement.
“We’ve had a really nice offseason with our summer league and our fall league that we hosted,” says coach Marty Matvey, who is entering his sixth year as the coach. “These kids are one of the most coachable groups I’ve had. They’re supportive of each other. Being supportive of each other has allowed freshmen to make mistakes that will pay off in the long run. The freshmen are playing without fear right now, and if we’re going to be any good, those freshmen are going to have to play some big minutes and play without fear. I’m very grateful to have the type of leaders we have.”
A lot of that leadership comes from seniors Bella Urso and Natalia Schaffer, each of whom will be embarking on their fourth year as starters.
“They’re both just really good kids,” coach Matvey says. “Those two have really bought into my mantra of everyone is important, everyone has a role, and the more, as a senior, you build up the freshmen, the better senior year you’re likely to have. We’re going to need these girls to contribute. Bella and Natalia’s leadership has helped us get the program to where we want it to be.”
Bella is tabbed to be the shooting guard after a strong junior season during which she averaged 10 points, four assists, and four rebounds a game.
“She has a humble approach to the game,” the coach says. “She never takes anything for granted. She’s almost too humble. When she was younger, she would always defer. I would tell her she’s one of the most talented players on the team, let that shot fly. With her humbleness, she just continues to learn. The attitude she has has enabled her to grow. We’re trying to get her to be a little more selfish in the appropriate way.”
Natalia, a forward, also put up nice numbers last season with nine points, seven rebounds, and one blocked shot per contest.
Another veteran player who will be joining them in the starting lineup is junior point guard Lyla Jablon, who can be quite pesky on defense, as she averaged four steals a game last season to go along with her nine points and two assists a contest. This will be her third year as a starter.
“She is definitely the driver of the bus,” coach Matvey said of Lyla.
Lyla and Bella each were Big 56 all-section second team last season.
“We have to fill two gaps,” coach Matvey said of the rest of the starting lineup. “We have a bunch of freshmen and a couple of sophomores, then the rest of the senior class that have been filling those two gaps.”
Other seniors in the mix include Adina Rosen and Shay Pick, whom coach Matvey said love taking charge.
A sophomore who may be counted on is Emily McKee, a star for the Fox Chapel Area girls soccer team, which advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A championship game. She already has reached the 50-goal mark on the pitch.
“She’s just an incredible kid,” coach Matvey said of Emily.
Two members of the group of freshmen on the roster have stood out to coach Matvey – Bailey Sacco and Ella Shevchuk. Ella has already made her mark on the school’s cross country team, and pressures the ball the length of the court.
It’s that kind of tenacity the Foxes will need this year since coach Matvey admits it is a team without a lot of length.
“We’re going to press a lot, try to spread people out,” the coach says. “Hopefully, spacing and pressure will be our key this year. We’re going to defend full court and try to prevent people from pounding it inside on us on the half court. That allows us to score points off turnovers. When you don’t have somebody to pound it inside to, you have to create points in other ways.”
The Foxes find themselves in a new section this season, WPIAL Class 5A Section 1. Shaler Area, a section rival for the last four seasons, joins the Foxes, as well as Armstrong, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Penn Hills, and Plum.
“It’s going to be a tough section,” coach Matvey says. “There’s a lot of teams that are scrappy.”
But the coach does carry optimism into the upcoming season.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs and hopefully, make a run at the section title,” he says. “We’re taking it one day at a time. We just have to continue to support each other in this journey. This is the greatest team sport, in my opinion. We’re only going to be as good as we can be if we support each other as a team unit.”