For four-year Foxes starter Bella Urso, the thrill of playoffs was familiar – just not in basketball. Having won a WPIAL championship with the Foxes girls soccer team, she knew the excitement of postseason competition.
Fellow senior Natalia Schaffer, who has dedicated her athletic career solely to basketball, also has never stepped onto the court for a playoff game.
For both players and their teammates, they are experiencing something special: a new kind of victory by advancing to the WPIAL Class 5A girls basketball playoffs, something that has not occurred in three seasons.
The moment coach Marty Matvey announced after a recent practice that they had officially secured a WPIAL 5A playoff berth, the celebration began.
“We sprayed water and yelled in excitement. It was such a relieving, exciting feeling, especially because we know how hard we worked for it,” says Natalia, the team’s leading scorer who averages 15 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game.
Defining Moments
Bella, who contributes an average of 14.5 points, seven rebounds and three steals each game, recalls the defining moment when she felt confident the squad could compete with the top teams. Surprisingly, it came after a loss.
“It was actually when we lost a close game to Franklin Regional, the section leader, that I realized we can compete with tough teams and could make the playoffs,” she says. “We have gelled more and become more of a unit. As the season has gone on, we have learned how to bring out each other’s strengths.”
Natalia attributes the team’s growth to a shift in mindset.
She says, “The team has matured. Everyone is stepping up and doing their part, whether it is cheering on the bench or being in the starting rotation. Everyone has started to understand what it means to be a team. Our team chemistry played a huge part in that. Everyone is on the same page knowing what has to happen to get things done.”
A New Approach
Before the KDKA Radio Holiday Hoops Classic at PPG Arena in December, during which Natalia earned Player of the Game honors, coach Matvey and his assistants – Amanda Kalin, Kelly Gibson, and Rachel Ranii – decided to tweak their strategy.
They ramped up their half-court defensive switching tactics and pressure, focusing more on how to their half-court defense could lock into creating scoring opportunities. The shift has paid off.
Natalia recalls, “The game we played at PPG was the game, I believe, we all played our best in. We knew going in that this was an awesome opportunity for us to be able to play at PPG, and we wanted to walk out of there with a win. Everyone contributed something to make that happen.”
Even with one of the smallest lineups in 5A, the Foxes are making up for it with speed. Lyla Jablon, the team leader in steals, and speedster Emily McKee (an all-state soccer player), provide plenty of that. Though she didn’t start last season, Emily is an invaluable two-way player known for keeping her emotions even-keeled, which enables her to contribute in all facets of the game.
In addition to Bella and Natalia, junior Lyla, and sophomore Emily, the starting five also includes freshman lefty guard Bailey Sacco.
“Bailey just goes out there and plays. She’s still learning, but she’s not afraid of making mistakes. She has a lot of confidence, and her future is bright,” coach Matvey says.
Seniors Shay Pick and Adina Rosen, and freshman Ella Shevchuk also add valuable skills off the bench, while fostering a team mentality and willing to do whatever it takes to win for the team.
However, when asked about naming an unsung hero of the season, the coach replies that he would credit the entire freshmen class.
“Because of the freshmen and what they bring to our team culture, even the older girls have rediscovered the joy of playing, and everyone is genuinely having fun,” coach Matvey says.
The Road Ahead
With less than two weeks until the playoffs begin, the team knows there’s still work to do. The coaches recognize they need to make some tweaks if they are to be competitive during the postseason.
“Playoffs are going to be tough,” admits coach Matvey. “A lot of good teams dropped down from 6A this year, and the 5A field is very crowded and the most talented by a long shot. We need to sharpen our offense when it matters and create some new sets playing under pressure. We’ve also been preaching discipline, because you can create consistency through discipline to avoid disappointment.”
It’s obvious talking with coach Matvey that he has an enormous amount of pride in this group of players, saying they have overachieved what he originally thought they could do because of their passion, work ethic, and positive team-first culture.
“It’s not every year that we have this kind of success,” adds the coach. “I hope the players and fans are enjoying this moment.”
