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Saturday, February 3, 2024, TRIB-LIVE
Natalia Schaffer always looks for ways to improve on the basketball court. The Fox Chapel junior guard has been working on playing bigger than she is. With the Foxes being forced to be flexible this season, everyone has found different ways to contribute.
After Fox Chapel’s 49-46 win over Hampton on Jan. 30 that kept the Foxes’ slim playoff hopes alive, Schaffer contributed nine rebounds even though she didn’t have her best scoring night.
Schaffer has four double-doubles this season.
“I know if I get those rebounds, it’s important for the game,” Schaffer said. “I know how important every 50-50 ball is. I do whatever I have to do to get the ball.”
Schaffer is one of three Fox Chapel starters who will be coming back next season. The Foxes, who are 6-13 overall and 4-6 in Section 2-5A, would need Mars to lose their last three games and Fox Chapel to win its last two section games to make the playoffs.
Schaffer is one of four players, along with Skylar Barnes, Bella Urso and Lyla Jablon, who average around 10 points per game for the Foxes.
Fox Chapel coach Marty Matvey said Schaffer has done a good job finding a way to contribute on the glass.
“She’s very athletic,” Matvey said. “She’s surprisingly athletic and runs with long strides and is able to use her long arms. The way she gets to the hoop and is able to contort her body is impressive. She’s done a nice job. (Against Hampton), she didn’t score a bunch, but had nine rebounds and eight deflections.”
Matvey was happy to have a week off before playing the last two section games. Fox Chapel recently just got Barnes back from an injury and wanted her to have some time to heal up. The Foxes won three of seven games after snapping a seven-game losing skid.
“Even though the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted, we’ve been able to get things back under control,” Matvey said. “We want to get positive momentum for the returners and send the seniors out on a high note.”
Schaffer said she is hoping that next year’s team will be able to match the intensity of this year’s squad. She said the seniors have helped keep the team up this season.
“I’m hoping the team will be as passionate as it was this year,” Schaffer said. “With all the seniors leaving, we have to want it as much as they did.”