Tom Demko is in his first season as the Quaker Valley girls basketball coach. It’s already a memorable one. 

Demko’s Quakers, the No. 13 seed in Class 4A, shocked No. 4 Freeport, 41-38, in a first-round WPIAL playoff game played at North Allegheny.

Corinne Washington had 8 of her game-high 15 points in the second half for the Quakers. Bailey Garbee chipped in 12 points and made the play of the game when she blocked a game-tying 3-point attempt by Freeport with 0.8 seconds remaining.

“We played strong defense,” said Demko, who formerly coached the Quaker Valley boys team. “We respected their 3-point shooters by guarding the perimeter.”

Quaker Valley (13-9) has won five in a row. Each win was decided by 3 points or less. “We’ve been on the good end of these close games,” Demko said.

Freeport (18-5) got 14 points from Madeline Clark. Sidney Shemanski and Harley Holloway contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

Prior to Monday, top-seeded North Catholic was the only 4A squad to defeat the Yellow Jackets.

Quaker Valley girls basketball team gets back in win column

 Michael Love

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | 11:57 AM

The Quaker Valley girls basketball team has been involved in seven games this season decided by three points or less.

The latest came Tuesday as the Quakers, 10-9 overall, edged Montour 43-42 in a nonsection matchup.

The win snapped a mini two-game losing skid.

QV visits Ambridge on Thursday in the Section 2-4A finale for both teams. Both are 4-7 in the section, and the winner will earn the fourth and final WPIAL playoff spot from the section.

The Bridgers topped the Quakers 49-46 when the teams met Jan. 14.

By: Shawn Annarelli
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 | 7:33 AM

Corinne Washington

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Basketball

Class: Sophomore

Claim to fame: Corinne Washington’s stat line always looks a little unusual, but she isn’t the typical basketball player that excels in one or two areas.

She excels in almost every way on the court

In a 40-39 win over Avonworth, Washington scored 16 points and added seven rebounds, seven steals, five blocks and four assists. She knocked down two late shots to lead the Quakers to a win.

Do you feel like you can play your game after one year of experience at the varsity level?

I feel like I’ve gotten more comfortable playing basketball. I can really play my game now. I know the girls on different teams in our section and what they can do, so that helps a lot.

You lead the team in nearly every category each time you play. What do you feel is the strongest part of your game?

I think just getting to the basket. That’s always been my thing since I started playing basketball, just driving to the hoop, getting a good shot, getting fouled or getting my rebound and putting it back in.

What part of your game do you wish was better?

I’ve been really working a lot on my 3-point shots. That’s the one thing I think would really, really help me and my team get to the next level. I’m practicing that a lot to hit those open 3-point shots.

Who do you have a lot of chemistry with on the court?

Bailey Garbee, because her and I have been playing together since fifth grade. She just gives me the best passes you could ever hope for. She’s a great point guard. Claire Kuzma does a really good job getting rebounds and kicking it out to everyone. And Amy Wilson does a really good job on defense, working hard to get steals and scrapping for momentum.

What are your team goals this season?

We’re trying to get to the WPIAL playoffs. It’ll be hard against teams like Central Valley and Keystone Oaks, but that’s the main goal to get to the WPIAL playoffs.

Who is the best basketball player of all-time?

I would have to say Shaq. He’s just dominant. No one could stop him. He was an athletic freak, just so big and he could move. They way he rebounded and put buckets back in was crazy.

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, December 29, 2018 | 11:57 PM

Riverview did everything it could defensively to dig out of an eight-point halftime deficit by holding Quaker Valley without a field goal for the first 4 minutes, 30 seconds of the third quarter, but too many turnovers kept its offense stuck in neutral.

Any time the Raiders had an opportunity to cut into the lead, a missed shot or a turnover left them with a frustrating and fruitless possession, and eventually Quaker Valley pulled away.

The Raiders turned the ball over 35 and lost 45-30 on Saturday night in the championship game of the Spartan Holiday Classic at St. Joseph.

“You can’t turn the ball over 35 times,” Riverview coach Keith Stitt said. “I can’t believe that was the number that my (assistant) coaches told me. You only get 50-70 possessions in a typical high school basketball game, and if you’re turning it over 35 times you’re going to struggle. That’s the bottom line.”

After Sydney McDonough made a basket 30 seconds into the second half that cut the lead to 27-21, Riverview buckled down defensively with a switch to a 2-3 zone and frustrated Quaker Valley on the offensive side. But trip after trip down the court by the Raiders ended in a travel, a missed pass, a steal or a missed shot.

The Quakers finally broke through when Corinne Washington sank jumpers on back-to-back possessions with four minutes remaining in the third that pushed the lead to 10 points.

“We did a good job staying in passing lanes and getting deflections, and we got some transition points tonight,” Quaker Valley coach Tom Demko said. “We haven’t had a lot of transition points in games, and we always say we want to get our guards Bailey (Garbee), Amy (Wilson) and Corrine out and running. Tonight we were able to do that, and that was good to see.”

Riverview (4-5) trailed by eight in the fourth and again held Quaker Valley (5-3) without a basket for a three-minute stretch, but like in the third, couldn’t find a way to score. Washington made a layup to put the Quakers in front 38-28, and they held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

“Despite all the turnovers, we were in the game until the final two minutes,” Stitt said. “We did some good things. We rebounded much better in the second half. We switched to a 2-3 zone, and I thought we had some success with that, but you can’t turn the ball over like that.

“We have a tendency to play a little out of control at times. Tonight we played a lot out of control. We have to get that corrected, because we now move into section play pretty steady for the next month or so.”

Washington, the younger sister of former Quaker Valley boys basketball standout and current Drexel guard Coltrane Washington, finished with a game-high 21 points and was named tournament MVP.

“She’s capable of taking a game over,” Demko said of Washington. “I thought tonight she created space for herself to get to the basket. She’s a heck of a shooter, but we really wanted her to get to the basket tonight and I think that’s what helped.”

Quaker Valley guard Garbee scored 16 points and was named to the all-tournament team. McDonough, who had nine points, and Annie Betler, who scored eight, earned all-tournament honors for Riverview. Francesca Lio led the Raiders with 10 points.

By: Karen Kadilak
Friday, December 14, 2018 | 8:03 PM

Quaker Valley girls basketball player Sophie Besterman gave up a promising career in another sport to play this season.

Besterman, a junior, would have been the top returning performer on the Quaker girls swimming team, on which she shined the past two seasons.

“I always enjoyed playing basketball, but in high school, you have to choose,” said Besterman, who played basketball in elementary school and middle school. “I had the opportunity to swim with my sister and that will be (a) year I will never forget.

“I don’t want to look back on high school and regret not putting myself out there and playing a sport I really enjoy. It was not a hard decision for me.”

Besterman and her sister earned gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle relay and silver medals in the 400 freestyle relay at the 2017 WPIAL Class AA championship meet. The 200 freestyle relay team went on to finish ninth in the PIAA, just missing the podium.

Amelia Besterman is a sophomore on the Bloomsburg women’s team.

Last season, Sophie Besterman came in ninth in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 freestyle relay in the WPIAL.

First-year Quaker Valley girls basketball coach Tom Demko expects Besterman, a guard-forward, to have an impact.

“She definitely makes our team deeper,” he said. “Her athleticism provides me with several options on how to use her in our lineup.”

Besterman, who is 5-foot-8, said she has to find her place.

“It is fun to play to play on a team with such a great group of athletes,” she said. “The team has a good chance of doing very well.

“I want to work hard, learn from my coaches and teammates and have fun.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

By Greg Macafee / gmacafee@timesonline.com

Posted Dec 4, 2018 at 8:39 PMUpdated Dec 4, 2018 at 8:39 PM

For most schools in the Beaver County Times coverage area, basketball season will begin this week. Players will step onto the court for their first meaningful games and coaches will get a look at their team in live action for the first time of the season.

Of the 21 girls basketball teams in the area, one team, Beaver Area, made a run to a WPIAL Championship game last year while four bowed out with a loss in their semifinal match-up. But, every season is different and with a few teams moving sections and classes opportunities have opened for teams to play their way into the playoff picture. Here is a look at what each team might look like as the season kicks off this week.

Class 1A Section 1

Quigley Catholic

The Spartans return four of five starters from a team that made a run to the Class A semifinals last season. With a deeper bench this time around, they are hoping to take it one step further. In order to prepare themselves for that long playoff run, Quigley Catholic has set themselves up with a tough non-conference schedule.

Head coach Bill Del Tondo returns for his seventh season at the helm and over the course of those seven years, the Spartans have only lost one section game. This year his team will be led by senior guard Taylor Kirschner, who averaged more than 20 points a game last year and will continue her playing career at Point Park next season.

Rochester

Rochester second-year coach C.J. Iannini led the Rams to a 13-8 record in his first year as the head coach of the program last year, the Rams went 6-4 against their sectional competition but also lost two key contributors to graduation.

Fortunately, they will return their leading scorer from last year in Alexis Robinson, who came off the bench and their leading rebounder, Jasmine Mack, who averaged eight rebounds and two blocks per game, will also return to the center of the paint for Rochester. The Rams will have a new look in their section as WPIAL Class 2A Champion, Vincentian Academy, joins the fray.

Sewickley Academy 
16 points separated Sewickley Academy from a berth to the Class 1A WPIAL Championship last year after the Panthers finished 14-7 on the season and came in second behind Quigley Catholic in Section 1 play.

Sewickley only lost one senior to graduation as the Panthers relied heavily on underclassmen last season. Third year head coach Mariam Sy is back at the helm after her team last year scored just under 50 points a game while only allowing just over 37. This season, Sy will rely on senior guards Theresa Wilson and Myra Samuel, who are two starters from last year’s team. Mia DelVecchi and Desiae Nance are two newcomers that could also play a role this season for the Panthers, who finished second in this section last season.

Class 2A Section 1

New Brighton

New Brighton is another school with a new coach at the helm of their girls basketball program. After serving as an assistant under Greg Huston at Beaver last season, Jerrod Plantizer enters his first season as the head coach at New Brighton.

He’ll have a lot of work ahead of him as the Lions went 2-21 last season and they also lost a group of starters. But, Plantizer is excited about a group of underclassmen that he believes will be the driving force of the program for years to come.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

The Chargers won’t have senior Kennede Mickle for the 2018-2019 season because of an ACL injury. Because of the injury, coach Don Eckerle believes their challenge early in the year will be developing their supporting roles off the bench. But, Eckerle, who is entering his 15th year as a head coach, will have a few returning starters to lean on from a team that went 19-3 last season.

Expect the Chargers to lean on senior guard/forward Ashley Norling. She averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game last season. She’ll be playing along other returning starters like Maddie Hoff and Haley Hamilton.

South Side Area

Head coach Dave Wilson and the Rams hope to build on a solid 2017-2018 season in which they went 15-8 and won eight games against their section opponents.

They will have a class of solid seniors led by Jess Barber, Alexis Chiccarello and Rachel Pieto, while hoping for contributions from underclassmen like juniors Sydney Payne, Carissa McNary and freshman Emily Bailey. After a very good off-season, Wilson said the Rams have high expectations this year.

Class 3A Section 1

Beaver Area

The Bobcats fell in the WPIAL Class 4A Championship last season, losing by just a point to North Catholic. Although they lost several key players to graduation, head coach Greg Huston, who is entering his 13th season, believes they have a few girls who are ready to fill those holes.

Emma Pavelek is one of them. She’s sophomore point guard who already has received a few looks from Division I schools. Huston is expecting big things from her this season. Beaver’s lone senior is forward Ohamille Monteiro, and she’ll be joined by a young roster that has no juniors.

Beaver Falls

With an overall record of 12-8 last season, Beaver Falls is looking to work hard this season in order to remain in contention in a section that now includes Beaver and Avonworth. Head coach Brad Vaughn returns three starters from last season in sophomore Macyla Collins, senior Josalind Dennison and junior Nevaeh Harris.

Ellwood City

The Wolverines didn’t have a great year last season. They only won five games, two of which came in section play. But first-year Head Coach Marc Heil, who comes to Ellwood City after acting as an assistant coach for Bishop Canevin last season, is pursuing what would be the Wolverines’ first WPIAL playoff berth in four years.

The good news for Heil is he’ll have his top two scorers back from last season in Isabella Roth (11 ppg) and Natalia Greco (11 ppg). Ellwood City also returns sophomore Maria Ioanilli and will hope for contributions from a young bench. Heil said one of their strengths this season should be their defense, but their depth will be tested at times throughout the season.

Freedom

The Bulldogs might not have the size this season to compete with most teams on their schedule. But what they lack in size they make up with their speed. Sixth-year head coach John Kaercher returns three starting seniors in Alexsia Barlamas, Chloe Keller and Taylor Greene as well as junior Morgan Swab and sophomore Karissa Mercier.

Along with a few other returning players and large group of freshmen, Kaercher hopes their depth will contribute to their up tempo style.

Riverside

Last season, Riverside made the WPIAL playoffs for the 13th time in 14 years. Head coach John Wolf and the Panthers won 14 games, with half of them coming against sectional opponents. The Panthers lost starting point guard Sydney Wolf to graduation.

Although the Panthers will be young this year, Wolf said they are working hard in hopes of returning to the playoffs for another year. They have three returning starters in senior Lauren Bettencourt as well as juniors Marley Wolf and Brielle Chesko. The longtime head coach also is looking for contributions from some of his bench players including Maura Rosenberger, Tori Eyerman and a few others.

Class 4A Section 2

Ambridge

The Bridgers finished last season with a 14-12 overall record and took a trip to the second round of the PIAA tournament before falling to North Catholic, 68-40. They lost a number of seniors, but they will return Aniya Walker, who verbally committed to St. Francis (Pa.) in August.

Blackhawk

The Cougars won 19 games last season but were knocked out in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs by the Beaver Bobcats.

Head coach Steve Lodovico is returning for his 14th year with high expectations. He returns two second team all-state players in Mackenzie Amalia and Mady Aulbach. Two other starters return as well. Amalia, who has committed to Robert Morris, averaged 16.3 ppg last season and Aulbach, who is also a Division I commit with Youngstown State, scored her 1,000th as a junior. Look for the Cougars to be successful this season.

Central Valley

Last season, Central Valley fell to eventual WPIAL Class 4A Champion North Catholic, but the Warrios racked up 17 wins and only lost seven games along the way. They finished third in a section that includes Blackhawk and Ambridge.

This year, head coach Chris Raso will look to push themselves to the top of that group. He returns his top eight players this season like Kaelyn Underwood, Kaitlyn Lyons and Christiane Frye, among others. With depth and experience on their side, Raso expects the Warriors to be competitive this season.

Hopewell

The Vikings finished toward the bottom of the section last year, only winning two section games and seven total. But with a few returning starters from last year, head coach Jeff Homziak will look for his team to capture one of the four playoff spots in Class 4A.

Although Hopewell is young in terms of varsity experience on their bench, the Vikings return four starters from last season including Abbey Dobbins, Madison Mancini, Siara Conley and Lexi Thompson.

Quaker Valley

With a young core of players who have improved since last season, Quaker Valley could be another team that is competing for that fourth playoff spot in this section. The Quakers finished 9-13 last season, but they have a trio of sophomores returning to lead the charge this season.

Bailey Garbee and Corrine Washington will return after leading the team in scoring last year. The third player of that sophomore trio is Claire Kuzma. Head coach Tom Demko believes she will provide a valuable presence in the paint.

Class 5A Section 1

Moon

Moon will return two starters from a team that only won six games last season. But head coach Jody Thornton-Powell and the Tigers expect to be better than they were last year. Freshman Reily Sunday could be a key player for the Tigers. Powell-Thornton says she has a verbal offer from Duquesne and has received looks from other Division I schools as well.

Lincoln Park

In a tough section, Lincoln Park only amassed seven wins last season and ended the season on a five-game losing streak. Head coach Ryan Kacsur returns with a young roster that is made up of returning starters Riley Arrigo and Morgan Fox, both juniors, and sophomore Paige Brown. With a young team, Kacsur believes the Leopards’ guard play will be strong this year.

Information was not received from West Allegheny and Cornell.