Villa Maria Victors
Coach (season, record): Doug Chuzie (2nd season, 1st full season, 8-0)
2010-11 overall record: 28-2
2010-11 region record (place): 14-0 (champion)
2010-11 playoff results: Defeated Wilmington 73-14, Sharpsville 54-34 and Sharon 61-37 to win the District 10 Class AA championship. Villa then defeated Deer Lakes 59-34, Westmont Hilltop 67-50, Bishop Canevin 46-37, Seton-La Salle 58-34 and Dunmore 62-39 to win the PIAA Class AA championship.
Top player lost: Jillian May
Top returning players: Lisa Mifsud, Adrienne Kloecker, Abbey Steudler, Zhane Brooks, Karlee McBride, Rebecca Sweny, Leah Bennett, Cierra Pollock
Assistant coaches: Nicole Delsandro, Tom Laird
Outlook: Villa Maria was supposed to have the “super team” two years ago when standouts like Kayla McBride and Ashley Prischak were seniors. This year’s squad could be even more dangerous to the rest of the state. The entire starting lineup has committed to playing on the collegiate level, while several reserves are being recruited as well. Lisa Mifsud is heading to Holy Cross, while Adrienne Kloecker is staying in the area to attend Mercyhurst. Abbey Steudler is heading to St. Leo in Florida, while Zhane Brooks will compete for IUP. Karlee McBride is only a junior but she has verbally committed to Bowling Green after next year. That ferocious five led the Victors to their third-straight state championship in March and with all five back, Villa is a strong favorite to win a fourth. Allentown Central Catholic is the only girls basketball team to ever win four state titles in a row, while Mt. Lebanon could join Villa with four a in a row this winter on the Class AAAA level. The Victors are loaded enough that their three key reserves, Rebecca Sweny, Leah Bennett and Cierra Pollock could also play at the collegiate level. Sweny and Pollock are seniors, while Bennett is a junior. Some newcomers to Villa this winter include Lindsey Mifsud, Amesha Harden and Shanice Morris. They make up the next group that could star next year. One advantage they have is practicing this entire winter against one of the best teams in the state, giving the Victors another loaded team instead of one that would rebuild.
Villa’s non-region schedule is a brutal one that will certainly test the already experienced Victors. After a stop at the North Allegheny tournament where Villa could face McDowell, the Victors head out to Phoenix for the NIKE Tournament of Champions. The NIKE tournament is referred to as the de factor national championship tournament. Villa has played in three of the past four years and lost by two points to Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2007, the eventual USA Today national champion. The Vicotrs will face four national powers and return home in time for Christmas. Also on the schedule is rival Mercyhurst Prep as well as Academy of Notre Dame de Demur in the Blue Chip Showcase in Philadelphia. Academy of Notre Dame is in the Pennsylvania Indepedent School Athletic Association, which is a conference of powerhouses like Germantown Academy, which does not have to adhere to PIAA regulations. Villa has everyone back except Jillian May this winter and barring a rash of injuries, the Victors should make history once again.
Schedule
December
9-10 North Allegheny tournament
12 at Maplewood* 7:30
15 Northwestern* 7:30
19-22 NIKE showcase
January
5 Girard* 7:30
9 at Seneca* 7:30
12 at Cambridge Springs* 7:30
16 at Iroquois* 7:30
19 Union City* 7:30
21 at Northwestern* 2:30
26 Maplewood* 7:30
29 Academy of Notre Dame 1
February
2 at Union City* 7:30
4 at Mercyhurst Prep 7:30
6 Iroquois* 7:30
9 at Girard* 7:30
13 Seneca* 7:30
16 Cambridge Springs* 7:30
Friday: George Junior, VisionQuest
– Tom Reisenweber
