By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 12, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Maria Helkowski had a memorable run in the WPIAL playoffs for the Quaker Valley girls basketball team.

The gritty 5-foot-6 senior guard was the Quakers’ leading scorer in all three games, a 52-39 win at home over Knoch in the Class 4A quarterfinals, a 51-40 loss to Blackhawk at North Allegheny in the semifinals and a 44-28 win over Highlands at home in the third-place game.

“Maria has been a critical part of our overall success this season,” coach Ken Johns said. “As we’ve moved into the playoffs, her level of play has continued, and it’s a nice complement to the other pieces we have. She’s been able to knock down some shots, and any time you have multiple people that can score, it makes the team that much harder to defend.

“Maria’s strength offensively is definitely her ability to shoot the ball from the outside. If we get her the ball in her spots, she can make shots. When you have someone that is capable of doing that, it stretches defenses and makes the team harder to defend. Maria is competitive. I’d say one of the strengths of the senior class is that they are all highly competitive and do not like to lose.”

QV received a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed in the tournament behind top three seeds Blackhawk, North Catholic and Elizabeth Forward.

Helkowski averaged 16 points per game in her team’s three WPIAL playoff games, scoring 22 against Knoch, 15 versus Blackhawk and 11 against Highlands.

She hit on 18 field-goal attempts, including five 3-pointers, and was a perfect 11 for 11 at the free-throw line.

“The seniors have been playing together since third grade, and we have a special bond,” Helkowski said. “We know how to use our strengths to contribute to the team. We earned the third seed in the state tournament by winning two WPIAL playoff games. We will continue to work hard in the gym to prepare for a run at the state championship.”

Helkowski is a two-year starter and four-year varsity player for the Quakers. She also is a three-year letterwinner.

Against WPIAL opponents this season, Helkowski ranked first on her team in free-throw shooting percentage (74%) and total points (295) and second in scoring (16.8 ppg) and 3-point field goal percentage (36%).

She averaged 4.1 rebounds and almost 2.0 steals per game.

Her best offensive game this season was a 26-point performance at home Jan. 19 against Keystone Oaks in a 62-51 nonsection win.

“Maria specifically has had some games where she was able to hit shots and put some points on the board for us,” Johns said. “Any time you can do that, especially in the section games when everyone knows you so well, it helps a lot.

“She’s part of a senior class that has played together for a while, and they all came into the season wanting to improve on what the team accomplished last year.”

Helkowski also plays lacrosse in the spring. She has a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend a four-year university and study health science in the fall.

She is a member of the National Honor Society and participates in Key Club, Best Buddies, student council and peer jury.

Helkowski was asked which team or player was the best that QV has faced this season.

“This is a tough question because due to injuries, matchups in some games have been challenging,” she said. “I would have to say Blackhawk as a team poses difficult challenges, but (junior guard) Alena Fusetti at Blackhawk is the most difficult player to defend.”

Quaker Valley’s other leading scorers in the WPIAL playoffs were senior forward Shannon Von Kaenel, with 15 points against Knoch and 10 against Highlands, and Omou “Mimi” Thiero, who netted 10 against Blackhawk and nine against Highlands.

As a team, the Quakers sank 24 of 34 free throws in the three WPIAL playoff games.

“I’ve been very pleased with the team’s effort in the playoffs so far,” Johns said. “We had a good regular season that set us up for a bye in the playoffs. I was a bit concerned about the 15-day layoff, but the team really responded well. We beat a good Knoch team in the quarterfinals. That was a tough test after a long break.

“Going against Blackhawk in the semifinals we knew was going to be another test. They are the No. 1-seeded team for a reason. I thought we played our hearts out. That was probably the hardest we’ve played for the entire game as a team in the time that I’ve been here.

“While the score was fairly close, it belies how close the game really was. They pulled the ball out and held it for a while with a good amount of time left and we had to foul to get the ball back. They are a good foul-shooting team, and they made them all when they needed to. We then had to bounce back two days later against a very good Highlands team and somehow summoned energy to do so.”

Quaker Valley (17-8), which finished as the runner-up to Blackhawk in Section 2-4A, was scheduled to open PIAA play March 11 at Harbor Creek (19-6) in Erie.

“It was a long week with an emotional loss, the last week of the term at school, so the kids have had a ton of work and two games in 48 hours,” Johns said. “They’ve done an amazing job. We’re catching our breath a little now and getting ready for the state playoffs.”

The team’s four seniors are Helkowski, Von Kaenel, point guard Nora Johns and forward Silvia Carrasco-Almanzar.

By: Jerin Steele
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 9:25 PM

The last time Blackhawk played Quaker Valley, Quinn Borroni went off for 23 points, so with her out for the season due to injury, everyone else knew they had to step up if they were going to beat their rivals for a third time Tuesday night.

Alena Fusetti led the charge, and with contributions from everyone else in the lineup, the Cougars grinded out a win against their rivals and will have the opportunity to defend their title.

Fusetti had 22 points and top-seeded Blackhawk beat No. 4 Quaker Valley, 51-40, in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals at North Allegheny.

“I’m super proud of the girls,” Blackhawk coach Steve Lodovico said. “When you lose someone like Quinn, you lose a great offensive player, defender and rebounder, but more importantly, the leader of our team. Quinn was the voice in our huddle and she did a lot for us. Different girls had to step up in different ways. We had to move some positions around. They all did a great job.”

Blackhawk (21-3) will play North Catholic in the 4A final at 3 p.m. Saturday at Petersen Events Center. It’ll be a matchup of two of the most successful girls basketball programs in WPIAL history. North Catholic has 21 titles, which is the most in WPIAL girls basketball, and Blackhawk has eight, which is tied for third.

Quaker Valley (16-8) faces Highlands in a third-place game Thursday prior to entering the state tournament.

Borroni suffered an injury in practice prior to the playoffs.

Freshman Aubree Hupp replaced Borroni in the starting five and had her second double-digit game since entering the lineup, scoring 10 points.

“I can’t say enough about Aubree Hupp and what she’s done for us,” Lodovico said. “She’s a freshman who made her first-ever start in a playoff game last week. That’s difficult, and she’s done a great job.”

The Cougars beat the Quakers 48-37 and 61-28 in Section 2 play this year.

Blackhawk led Tuesday’s game for the duration, but Quaker Valley was within 10 points for most of the way.

The Quakers got as close as four points in the fourth quarter but were unable to get within one possession.

Blackhawk eventually went into a stall offense, forcing the Quakers to foul. The Cougars went 10 of 12 from the foul line to put the game away.

“We got there a couple times and had some shots that just didn’t fall for us,” Quakers coach Ken Johns said. “We just couldn’t quite get over the hump. I’m proud of the girls with how they battled. (Blackhawk) is a very good team that’s well-coached and is very experienced. They’ve been there before, and we really don’t have anyone that’s been in this position.”

Fusetti had 13 of her 22 points in the second half. She was also part of a ferocious trapping defense that forced several turnovers and over a dozen tie-ups.

“Coach always tells us our offense comes from our defense with the turnovers we create,” Fusetti said. “Piper Romigh does great for us. She always guards the best player, and I know we can always count on her. We can still play our defense and not have to worry about the star player of any other team.”

Kassie Potts finished with 13 points for the Cougars. Maria Helkowski led the Quakers with 15 points and Oumou Thiero scored 10.

Fusetti was excited that her team got by the Quakers for a third time and has a chance to win a second consecutive championship.

“WPIALs has always been our goal,” Fusetti said. “We’ve played Quaker a lot. My freshman year we lost to them twice, last year we beat them twice, and then this year, we got three. We know everything about each other, so it all comes down to hustle, toughness and heart. We all had the same goal out there, and I think we showed that.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Blackhawk, Quaker Valley

Mike Bires, Special to the Times

USA TODAY NETWORK

LEETSDALE – The Quaker Valley girls are headed to the final four.

The final four, that is, in the WPIAL Class 4A basketball playoffs

The fourth-seeded Quakers advanced to the semifinals Friday with a convincing 52-39 home win over fifth-seeded Knoch.

Obviously, a 15-day layoff didn’t bother QV, which was one of four teams that had a first-round bye. Before Monday’s quarterfinal, the Quakers’ last game was a Feb. 9 section win over Central Valley.

“Yeah, I was a little bit worried,” said QV coach Ken Johns. “I mean, being off two weeks and a day when you’re used to playing two games a week  … that’s a long layoff. But we had a couple of scrimmages and tried our best to stay sharp.”

According to the Quakers, hard practices and those scrimmages against Union, Bishop Canevin and North Allegheny during that 15-day layoff paid off.

“I definitely wasn’t worried,” said Shannon Von Kaenel, a senior forward who scored 15 points against Knoch. “Our coaches set us up for success. We scrimmaged some very good teams and we had good practices, so we were ready for tonight.”

“No days off for us,” added senior guard Maria Helkowski, who scored a game-high 22 points. “We were always in the gym, going up and down the court. So no, I definitely wasn’t worried.”

The Quaker Valley (16-7) vs. Knoch (15-9) quarterfinal pitted two programs that have been playoff fixtures in recent years.

QV was making its fifth straight WPIAL appearance and played in the WPIAL final in 2021 when it lost to Beaver.

Knoch was making its sixth straight WPIAL appearance and played in the WPIAL championship game last year when it lost to Blackhawk

But on Friday, it was Quaker Valley which was in control virtually from start to finish.

Knoch scored first when point guard Hattie McGraw hit a 3-pointer. But QV answered with a 15-0 run and led rather comfortably the rest of the game. 

It was 15-5 after the first quarter of play, 24-13 at halftime and 31-19 after the third quarter. After its early 3-0 lead, Knoch never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

While Helkowski and Von Kaenel led the way offensively – they combined to score 37 of the Quakers’ 52 points – it was a team effort defensively.

Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, a 6-foot-3 freshman forward, was particularly dominant on defense and on the boards. She may have only scored six points but blocked several shots, altered several other shots and pulled down double-digit rebounds.

McGraw led Knoch with 20 points but the rest of the team only combined for 19.   

“We came out and played well,” Johns said. “We knew they had a lot of good shooters and their point guard (McGraw) is a great player. We were just trying to contest all their shots.

“All in all, I was happy with the way we responded,” Johns added.

Quaker Valley will next play section rival and top-seeded Blackhawk (20-3), which won its quarterfinal, 63-45, over Belle Vernon.

The Quakers and Cougars will play Tuesday at a time and site yet to be determined.

QV lost twice to Blackhawk during section play, but the Quakers look forward to the challenge that the reigning WPIAL champs present.

“If we play the same way we played tonight, we definitely have a chance to beat them,” Helkowski said.

By: Antonio Rossetti
Friday, February 24, 2023 | 8:44 PM

After finishing as WPIAL runner-up in Class 4A two seasons ago, the Quaker Valley girls basketball team has been striving to get back to the title game. The Quakers were derailed in the quarterfinals last season by eventual champion Blackhawk.

The Quakers took another step toward getting back Friday night.

Fourth-seeded Quaker Valley defeated No. 5 Knoch, 52-39, to advance to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals.

The Quakers (16-7) came out of the gates hot, outscoring Knoch (15-9) by 10 in the first quarter.

Senior Shannon Von Kaenel said getting a win on their home court can spark momentum for the next rounds.

“I think it really sets the tone for the rest of the season knowing that a lot of people didn’t think we could beat them, and we beat them,” Von Kaenel said. “I think since it’s our home court. We set the tone for the rest of the season.”

Von Kaenel notched 15 points and added nine rebounds.

The Quakers were led by Maria Helkowski, who scored 22 points, including making two of her three 3-point attempts.

“We definitely made our fans and family proud that came to watch us and support us,” Helkowski said. “Like Shannon said, it definitely sets the tone for us.”

QV’s Oumou Thiero said the key to success was winning the battle on the glass.

“I think what we had was more fight to get the rebound,” Thiero said. “While we have more height than them, we also had more fight to go after the ball.”

Thiero grabbed 15 rebounds to go with six points and six assists.

The Quakers got off to a hot start early as they mustered 15 points in the 1st quarter.

Quaker Valley’s defense also hunkered down, holding Knights star 3-point shooter Hattie McGraw to three points in the first quarter.

That was a key part of the Quakers’ plan.

“During practice, coach (Ken) Johns had us running plays for her, with face guarding her all around, can’t switch screen,” Von Kaenel, “It was definitely important to close out in her right off the bat.”

The Quakers had a 15-5 lead at the end of one.

McGraw started to find her shot in the second quarter, making three 3-pointers. It was an evenly played second quarter as QV outscored Knoch, 9-8. Despite the Knights’ improvements on offense, the Quakers led 24-13 at the half.

In the third quarter, Quaker Valley shut down the Knights again, holding them to six points. In the fourth, the Quakers continued to pull away as they unloaded with a barrage of offense. Thiero and Nora Johns found Helkowski and Von Kaenel persistently as the team scored 21 points to end the game.

McGraw had a huge quarter as she hit three 3-pointers and finished with 20 points overall.

But Quaker Valley’s efficiency on offense and dominance on the glass led to the victory.

Von Kaenel, Helkowski and Thiero said they want to keep the momentum going into the next round.

“We have a great chemistry. We all like each other, and I think we’re ready,” Helkowski said. “We want it so we can go far.”

Thiero said she wants the team to keep up its strong effort.

“I just want to go as far as we can,” Thiero said. “Everyone on the team will play as hard as they can and make it farther.”

Knoch drops into the consolation bracket and will face Belle Vernon on Monday.

By: Ray Fisher
Thursday, February 23, 2023 | 2:53 PM

There’s no knocking Quaker Valley’s quarterfinal-round playoff opponent.

QV’s girls basketball team, which received the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye, will clash with No. 5 Knoch at home Feb. 24 in the WPIAL Class 4A tournament.

The Knights (15-8) scooted past No. 12 Hopewell, 53-21, Feb. 21 in a first-round matchup.

That’s the same Hopewell team that QV (15-7) defeated twice, 50-24 and 42-37, in section play this season.

“We know Hopewell fairly well having played them twice all ready. They improved as the season progressed,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “They play hard the entire game. (Coach) Jeff Homziak has done a good job with them and they do a lot of things well, defense being one of them.

“We haven’t played Knoch, but I’ve had a chance to watch them in person and on film. They are a good team with some very nice complementary pieces. They have more than a few players who can score and they have a very good point guard that really runs the team well.”

The Knights finished as the WPIAL 4A runner-up to Blackhawk in 2021-22.

“They made it to the championship game last year, so they know how to win,” Johns said. “They are used to it and expect it. There’s a lot to be said for that.”

The QV girls know how to win as well, posting a 13-3 record in their final 16 regular-season games. The Quakers won four of five and six of eight down the season’s home stretch.

A seven-game winning streak that ran from Dec. 17 to Jan. 9 erased the memories of QV’s early 2-4 record. The Quakers won 11 of 13 games to end the month of January.

“We’re excited that we’ve qualified for the playoffs. That was one of the goals coming into the season and I’m happy for the team that we were able to qualify,” Johns said. “There are a lot of clichés about playoffs being a new season and anything can happen, but there is some truth to that. We’re going to have to be ready to play our best no matter who we face. All the teams that are playing at this point in the season are doing so because they’ve earned it.

“We came into the season with a few goals, getting into the playoffs was one of them. I’ve been happy with how the team has played overall this season. The season always has its ups and downs, but the players have kept things in perspective and kept working when things have been going well and rebounded quickly when they didn’t. It’s a pretty resilient group. They have really come together on and off the court. It’s a fun group to be around and I hope we can keep it going for a while.”

Oumou Thiero, a 6-foot-4 freshman, is QV’s team leader in scoring (13.2 ppg), rebounding (9.8 rpg) and blocks (3.7 bpg).

Thiero, listed as a guard/forward, is the younger sister of Kentucky freshman guard Adou Thiero

She is helped out on in the frontcourt by Shannon Von Kaenel, a 5-10 senior forward who averages 6.8 rebounds per game.

The Quakers’ backcourt is led by senior guard Nora Johns, a fourth-year starter who averages 11.5 ppg and leads the team in points, assists, steals, free-throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.

Johns is complemented by Maria Helkowski, a senior guard who sports an 11.2 ppg average, and junior guard Madi Chapman.

“We have a nice balance of seniors with experience and some underclassmen who can play,” said coach Johns, QV’s second-year coach. “It’s been fun to watch them evolve and learn how to play together.

“The group of seniors, the three starters plus (guard) Silvia Almanzar, has been playing together for a long time. It’s been fun to watch them grow as individuals and as a team. It’s the kind of thing we are looking for (in order) to build a successful and sustainable program.”

Knoch won six games in a row and seven of eight at midseason, and went on a 12-2 tear before losing its final two regular-season games to North Catholic and Laurel (19-2), the No. 2 seed in 3A.

The Knights, who are coached by Chris Andreassi, tied for second place with Highlands in Section 1, won by North Catholic.

Team leaders for Knoch include the likes of senior guard Nina Shaw, a Cal (Pa.) commit, senior guard Hattie McGraw, junior guard Naturelle Ewing and senior guard/forward Megan Vasas.

McGraw was lauded as an A-K Valley athlete of the week in January.

“Making it back to the WPIAL championship would definitely be a big goal of ours,” McGraw said in a Trib HSSN interview. “It’s going to take a lot of focus mentally to lock in. Everyone has to buy into what we’re doing, even the players who might not have as much playing time. Everyone has to buy and in and value the ball every possession.

“We always play hard with a lot of energy; our defense is always there.”

The top four seeds in Class 4A — Blackhawk (19-3), North Catholic (19-3), Elizabeth Forward (17-4) and QV — landed first-round byes in the WPIAL tournament.

Blackhawk and Quaker Valley finished first and second in Section 2 this season.

“I think our seeding is a testament to both how we’ve played and the section we play in,” coach Johns said. “The seeding is a nice recognition for a good season, but it doesn’t mean much once the games start.

“Everyone will be ready to play.”

By: Michael Love
Thursday, February 23, 2023 | 5:46 PM

5-Knoch (15-8) at 4-Quaker Valley (15-7)

6 p.m. Friday, at Quaker Valley High School, Leetsdale

Winner plays: Winner of 8-Belle Vernon (15-8) at 1-Blackhawk (19-3) on Tuesday in semifinals (site/time TBD)

Players to watch: Hattie McGraw, Knoch; Oumou Thiero, Quaker Valley

Layup lines: Knoch is in the WPIAL quarterfinals for the fourth year in a row, and it is seeking its third straight trip to the semifinals. The Knights scored a resounding 53-21 victory over No. 12 Hopewell in the first round Tuesday. The win got Knoch back in the win column after losses to North Catholic and Laurel to end the regular season. Senior Nina Shaw led all scorers with 24 points, and fellow senior Megan Vasas added 11. The Knights limited the Vikings to 13 points through three quarters. … Quaker Valley was the WPIAL runner-up in 2020-21 and reached the PIAA playoffs last year. Thiero, a freshman, leads the Quakers at 13.2 points per game, and senior guards Nora Johns (11.5) and Maria Helkowski (11.2) also score in double figures. Quaker Valley won four of five games to cap the regular season and finish runner-up to top-seeded Blackhawk in Section 2.

By: Don Rebel 
Sunday, February 5, 2023 | 7:16 PM

Bill Allmann

Special to the Times

CHIPPEWA TWP.  — The Blackhawk girls’ basketball team has achieved an amazing level of success under coach Steve Lodovico with the philosophy that it doesn’t matter who scores as long as somebody does. 

The Cougars took that philosophy to the extreme in the first half Wednesday night but still clinched the Section 4A-2 title with a 61-28 home win over runner-up Quaker Valley, but that score may be a little misleading. 

The senior night recognition and unveiling of last year’s WPIAL championship banner seemed to have many of the Cougars a little out of sync. Only senior Quinn Borroni seemed unfazed as she had 13 of Blackhawk’s 21 first half points. 

“I’ve been looking forward to senior night all year myself,” said Borroni. “But we weren’t playing our style in the first half. We were playing more their style like we did at their place.” 

That style of play didn’t immediately change after halftime, either, as Quaker Valley’s Shannon Von Kaenel scored just 14 seconds in and the game was a one-possession game - with Blackhawk leading just 21-19. Lodovico called a quick timeout and made the most of it. Blackhawk went on a 17-1 run and, by the time Quaker Valley scored from the field again, the Cougars led 50-24. 

One of the tests remaining in the regular season is a game Saturday against Erie Cathedral Prep at North Allegheny.  

On the surface, Erie Cathedral Prep just sounds like a big school from far away but the girls’ basketball team used to go by the name of Villa Maria Academy – the team that knocked Blackhawk from the state playoffs last year and has been a constant nemesis for local teams in the state playoffs for years. 

That should be a good test for Blackhawk’s style. 

Logan Carney

Special to the Times

January 12, 2023

LEETSDALE — After a tightly-fought first half, the Blackhawk girls' basketball team extended their section game winning streak to 19 games when they pulled away in the second half to beat Quaker Valley on the road, 48-37, Thursday night.

“I think (the streak) is something to be proud of,” said Blackhawk head coach Steve Lodovico. “Because you get everybody’s best game every night.” 

The game got off to a defensive start with only 16 points scored total in the first quarter and neither team scoring for the first few minutes. Quaker Valley did jump out to a 4-0 lead, but at around the four-minute mark, Blackhawk went on a 6-0 run highlighted by two three-pointers from Quinn Borroni and Alena Fusetti, as well as three steals by the team in approximately a minute stretch.

Those two baskets were the only two from the floor that Blackhawk would score in the quarter as Quaker Valley would retake the lead at 8-6. Two foul shots from Andrea Kinger would tie things up at the end of the quarter.

Things stayed even for much of the second before Quaker Valley took a slight lead into the half. This was thanks to a late 9-0 run by the Quakers to end the half led by leading scorer Mimi Thiero.

The end-of-half run was kicked off when an and-one followed by a fast break layup in a five second span that turned things from a 14-12 deficit to a 17-14 lead for the Quakers. Two more baskets later and the game went into the half with Quaker Valley leading 21-14.

Thiero (12) for Quaker Valley led the game in scoring at halftime, with no other player having more than five points, though three others were at that five-point mark including Quaker Valley’s Nora Jones as well as Blackhawk’s Borroni and Fusetti.

“Do what we do,” said Lodovico on his message to the team at halftime. “I told them ‘we’re letting (Quaker Valley) dictate the pace of the game and how we were playing.’ For whatever reason we were hesitant tonight. I told them ‘this is the first time our backs were up against the wall, on the road, how will you handle it?’

"I loved the way they responded.”

Blackhawk’s scoring drought ended with about six minutes left in the third quarter when Piper Romigh hit a lay-up to make the score 22-16. That kicked off a 11-0 three-minute run for Blackhawk, which gave them a small lead at 25-22.

A timeout by Quaker Valley with 3:22 left in the quarter led to their first basket of the third, scored by Madi Chapman just 20 seconds later, and cut the lead to one at 25-24. The Quakers were held to just that one basket in the quarter, although they did make a trio of foul shots, and entered the fourth quarter down 32-26.

“That’s what we like to do in our game,” said Blackhawk’s Kassie Potts. “We like to full court press, cause turnovers. That’s how we like to get the speed of the game going and get some points on the board.”

At this point Potts had joined Thiero in the double-digit club as Their was held scoreless in the second half. Potts would end up with 16 points to lead the game. They were joined in that club by Fusetti and Quaker Valley’s Maria Helkowski in the fourth.

Potts extended Blackhawk’s lead to double-digits at 43-31 in the fourth on an and-one play. It was the first time all game that either team led by at least ten points. From then on it was all Blackhawk as they ended with the 48-37 victory. 

The game marks 19 consecutive section victories for Blackhawk’s girls team and 33 consecutive regular season victories dating back to the end of the 2020-21 season.

“We just have to show up every game,” said Potts on the program’s streak. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We got a bullseye on our back, so we really have to show up every game and play hard because everyone is coming for us.”

Quaker Valley’s next game will be on the road against Central Valley this upcoming Monday. Blackhawk will travel all the way to Brooklyn, New York this weekend to take on Nazareth on Saturday. The two teams will meet again at Blackhawk on February 2.

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, February 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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After a sluggish start, the Quaker Valley girls basketball team quickly picked up steam this season.

The Quakers won 11 of 13 games to end the month of January with a 6-1 record in Section 2-4A and 13-6 overall.

“I’m pretty pleased with how the team is playing,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “I like how the team has come together and is working to get better every day.

“There are definitely some things we need to continue to work on, but the girls play hard, accept coaching well and like to compete. That’s really all I can ask.”

A seven-game winning streak that ran from Dec. 17-Jan. 9 erased the memories of the Quakers’ early 2-4 record. The QV girls closed out January with four wins in five games.

“Overall, I like how we’ve progressed since the beginning of the season,” Johns said. “It takes a little time for each team each year to come together and form their own identity, and we got to that fairly quickly, but it is still a work in progress.

“With so many players participating in fall sports, we didn’t have the core of the team together until the start of the season. The preseason and the early part of the season really felt like one thing. Once we got everyone together and now that we’ve had them working together for a few months, I’ve seen a good amount of improvement in some key areas. Our nonsection schedule was tough and got us ready for what is always a challenging section schedule.”

Quaker Valley was ranked fourth in Class 4A in the Trib HSSN WPIAL girls basketball rankings for the week ending Jan. 29.

Oumou Thiero, a 6-foot-4 freshman, made an immediate impact for the Quakers and is the team leader in scoring (13.5 ppg), rebounding (10 rpg) and blocks.

Thiero, who is listed as a guard/forward and is the younger sister of Kentucky freshman guard Adou Thiero, is helped out on the boards by Shannon Von Kaenel, a 5-10 senior forward who averages close to seven rebounds per game.

“I’m so proud of our team,” Von Kaenel said. “We’ve really connected on the court and proved this year that we are ready to play anyone. We are a strong team with a lot of skill, and it will take us far.”

The QV backcourt is paced by senior guards Nora Johns, who averages 12.2 ppg and leads the team in assists and steals, and Maria Helkowski, who sports an 11.6 ppg average.

Johns is a three-sport standout in basketball, soccer and track. She is a fourth-year starter for the Quakers.

“So far this season, I think we have done extremely well,” Johns said. “We have good chemistry on and off the floor, and I think that is really starting to show. I hope we can win the rest of our section games and make it far in the playoffs.

“My ultimate goal this season is a WPIAL championship, and I think we have the team to do it. We want big things this season. If continue to work and get better every day, I believe we will accomplish our goals.”

Johns and Helkowski were the only returning starters on this year’s team. Helkowski is a two-year starter.

“We had some injuries early in the season that really challenged our team,” Helkowski said, “but we battled through and I think that has made us a better team.

“I’m super focused on playing at a high level down this stretch run. I have been playing basketball since third grade, and I really love my teammates and coaches.”

The Quakers’ starting lineup consists of Johns, Helkowski, Von Kaenel, Thiero and junior guard Madi Chapman.

“The group of seniors, the three starters plus (guard) Silvia Almanzar, who has started some games for us and gives us meaningful minutes as a reserve, has been playing together for a long time,” said Johns, QV’s second-year coach. “I’ve been around them for a long time, and it’s been fun to watch them grow as individuals and as a team. It’s the kind of thing we are looking for to build a successful and sustainable program.”

Thanks to their winning ways in the second half of the season, the QV girls clinched a WPIAL playoff berth and were looking forward to the postseason.

“We have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, which was a goal of ours,” coach Johns said. “As for what happens then, I’m not sure. We’ll probably do the same thing and take it one day at a time.”

The Quakers advanced to both the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs last season in Johns’ first year as floor boss.

Joe Sager

Special to the Times

LEETSDALE – Beaver’s girls basketball team can play stingy defense. That’s nothing new.

On Monday night, Quaker Valley showed it could lock things down, too, as it posted a 29-21 win over the Bobcats in a WPIAL Section 2-4A battle.

Beaver (11-6 overall, 4-3 section) owns the WPIAL’s best defense at 30.8 points per game and limited the Quakers under that mark, but Quaker Valley (12-6, 5-1) limited the guests to a season-low 21 points in the key section win.

“We know what to expect with Beaver ― they play really good defense. That’s what they do. Greg (Huston) coaches them really well and they play hard,” Quaker Valley coach Ken Johns said. “We did OK ourselves on defense, too, which makes a big difference.”

That effort was necessary to get past the Bobcats for a second time in section play. Quaker Valley posted a 47-41 win at Beaver on Jan. 5.

Joe Sager

Special to the Times

January 9, 2023

Quaker Valley’s high school musical is slated to debut in March. 

However, there’s a “Sister Act” going on right now on the Quakers’ basketball court.

Nora Johns, Mimi Thiero and Zora Washington all watched as their brothers, K.C., Adou and Coletrane, respectively, enjoyed distinguished careers for Quaker Valley’s boys team in recent years.

Now, the trio hopes to make its own mark this season – and beyond. The group has helped the Quakers to a 2-0 start in Section 2-4A and wants to get the team get back to the WPIAL title game for the second time in three years. 

“It means a lot to me – it feels like I am carrying on a basketball legacy,” Johns said.

Johns, a senior point guard, has a strong Quaker Valley bloodline. She enjoyed watching her brother, K.C., a 2020 graduate. He was part of Quaker Valley teams that reached three straight WPIAL Class 4A title games (2017-19) and two PIAA semifinals (2017-18). Now, he’s a junior guard at Allegheny College.

Also, she had a chance to play with her sister, Lily, a ’21 graduate, for two years. Their father, Ken, is in his second year as the head coach of the girls team.

“It’s so nice to have my dad coach me here because he coached me in fifth and sixth grade,” Nora said. “It just feels good to have my family so involved with Quaker Valley basketball.”

Thiero, a 6-foot-3 freshman, has emerged as one of the area’s top prospects. Recently back from an ankle injury, she’s averaging a double-double in scoring and rebounds for the Quakers. Her success is not a surprise to many, considering Adou, a ’22 graduate, racked up 1,624 points at Quaker Valley. Now, he’s a freshman guard at Kentucky. Their parents, Al and Mariam, enjoyed successful basketball careers, too. Al played at Memphis and Duquesne, while Mariam was a 2006 WNBA draft choice. 

“It’s really cool to be part of this,” Mimi said. “Knowing what my brother left behind, I have to keep adding on to it for the girls team. Always walking through the hallway and seeing his ball with all his points is really inspiring. It’s been an adjustment, but I think I have improved with keeping my head up and seeing more open people. I’ve been passing more and having more assists.”

Washington, a freshman, is one of the team’s top reserves. Two of her older siblings played NCAA Division I basketball. Coletrane Washington, a 2018 Quaker Valley graduate, was a teammate of K.C. Johns and finished with 1,551 points. He is a fifth-year senior guard at Drexel. Corinne Washington, a ’21 QV product, scored more than 1,000 points for the Quakers and helped them reach the program’s first WPIAL title game her senior year. She played one season at Boston University.

“It’s really great. My siblings played basketball in high school and in college. I’d watch them as a kid and think, ‘Wow I could never do this.’ It’s really exciting doing it now,” Zora said. “My brother is playing basketball right now and it’s really great because I can share that with him. Everybody in my family is happy that I can continue it.” There is a lot of familiarity for the three girls. The Washington family lives a block away from the Johns family, while Zora and Mimi play for the same AAU program as well.

“I like being part of this community. I have known most of these players since I came to QV in second grade,” Mimi said. “I think Zora and I have great chemistry because we play AAU basketball together, too. We’re on the same team. Playing with each other for all those years gave us great chemistry. I know where she can score and she knows where I can score. I think we’ll just keep getting better.”

“There is a lot of togetherness on and off the court,” Nora added. “We have such great chemistry on the floor and we know each other really, really well.”

Another starter, senior Maria Helkowski, has a sister, Juliana, a ’21 QV graduate, who played basketball for two years as well.

“That’s just Quaker Valley. It’s one of the reasons I took the job. I’ve been at Quaker Valley as the son of a coach, the player for that coach and, now, to get the chance to coach my daughter is awesome,” said Ken Johns, whose father was a longtime QV coach. “You have a lot of other families that have been in the program and they have siblings who have played. We’re starting to pull and feel some of that camaraderie come over from the boys team, which has been so excellent for so long – that’s what we’re striving to be. It’s great to have that foundation. The kids understand what it takes to win because they were around with their brothers or their sisters. It’s just Quaker Valley.”

The Quakers will lean heavily on their Sister Act this year. 

“They are all big pieces of the team,” Ken Johns said. “Everybody has their role and their role is going to change, night to night and depending on the matchups and what we’re trying to do and who is doing what. It’s nice to have some interchangeable parts. We tell everyone to be ready. We talk to them about attitude and effort and having everyone ready at all times.”

Even if the players had siblings who played before them or not, they consider themselves a family now.

“It’s really great because it brings community to the team,” Zora said. “Everybody is involved; it’s not just one person. The energy from the bench is amazing and it’s always encouraging to hear that.”

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 18, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Basketball is a staple in the Thiero family. As is height.

Oumou Thiero, aka Mimi, enjoyed a dazzling varsity debut as a freshman athlete in the Quaker Valley girls basketball program.

The 6-foot-4 Thiero led QV to a 50-47 win Dec. 2 against Montour in a tip-off tournament hosted by the Spartans. She scored 22 points, blocked seven shots and grabbed five rebounds.

Unfortunately, the freshman sensation sprained an ankle early in the Quakers’ second game of the season.

“That’s a pretty good start, and we’re looking forward to having her back when she’s healthy,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “I think with any freshman, there’s a period of adjustment when you move to high school and play at the varsity level. Oumou has done a great job of that. She works hard, plays hard and has fit well into a team with some players that have played with each other for a long time.

“She is a willing passer and good all-around playmaker. We look at her as a wing or a guard more than anything, which I think surprises some people. While she is tall and will go rebound and score around the basket, her skill set lends more toward being a wing, and that’s where we see her playing.”

Thiero is the younger sister of former QV star Adou Thiero, a 6-6 freshman guard on the Kentucky men’s basketball team. The Wildcats were ranked 16th in the nation in early December by the Associated Press.

Oumou’s and Adou’s father Almamy is an assistant coach in the Sewickley Academy boys basketball program. The elder Thiero was a member of two major college programs during an injury-plagued basketball career from 2002-07.

Almamy Thiero played hoops at Memphis in the early 2000s under legendary coach John Calipari, the current floor boss at Kentucky, long considered one of the NCAA’s blue blood programs. He also competed for Duquesne for one injury shortened season.

The elder Thiero grew up in Mali, West Africa, and was a brawny 6-9, 255-pound power forward during his collegiate playing days.

Both parents, in fact, played college basketball.

Almamy’s wife, Mariam Sy, also a Mali native, starred at NAIA Oklahoma City and was drafted by the Washington Mystics as a 6-4 forward in 2006.

Adou Thiero, a four-year backcourt starter at QV, was named 2022 TribLive HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.3 blocks.

Quaker Valley went 27-1 last season, won the WPIAL Class 4A title and finished the season as the state runner-up.

Adou Thiero poured in 31 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and blocked seven shots in a 61-52 victory over Montour in the WPIAL finals, all while playing with a fractured thumb.

It appears it is time for his younger sister to shine under the QV spotlight and maintain the Thiero legacy.

“I sure hope so. That is my goal,” she said. “My recovery is going great. I’m looking to be back in a few days.

“My expectations for my team this season are to just play their best, enjoy basketball and make it to states.”

Johns believes Thiero’s extended basketball background is a benefit to her game.

“She has played a lot of basketball and has some good skills that are only getting better,” he said. “She has really good instincts as a player and competes really hard. Those are things you want in any player and cannot always teach.

“The season is still young and we’re still figuring a few things out. The approach and attitude of the team has been great, and the effort the girls all have put in early will hopefully continue to see the team improve as the season moves along.”

Through four games, Quaker Valley was 2-2 with wins against Montour and Rochester and losses to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Moon. The Quakers are preparing for their Section 2-4A schedule that begins Jan. 2 with a home game against Ambridge.

When healthy, the Quakers’ starting lineup will consist of Thiero, 5-10 senior forward Shannon Von Kaenel and, in the backcourt, 5-9 senior Nora Johns, 5-7 senior Maria Helkowski and 5-5 junior Madi Chapman.

“So far, I’m very happy with how the team is coming together and playing,” Johns said. “We’ve yet to have all five starters play a full game together. Shannon and Oumou have been out with injuries and will be back soon. That has allowed for more playing time for senior Silvia Almanzar and freshman Zora Washington. They have both done well and it’s great experience for them early in the season.

“The team has been competing at a good level and It’s been good to see how the senior leaders and the underclassmen have come together.”

KEN WUNDERLEY

Tri-State Sports & News Service

December 19, 2022

Avonworth, the Post-Gazette’s Class 3A No. 3 ranked girls basketball team lost 52-38 to Quaker Valley, a Class 4A school, in a non-section game Monday at Quaker Valley.

Nora Johns tallied 18 points, including four 3’s, to lead the Quakers (4-4), while teammates Maria Helkowski and Oumou Thiero each contributed 12 points. The Quakers led 30-17 at halftime.

Greta O’Brien led the Antelopes (3-2) with 16 points.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 27, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Last season was a learning experience for the coaches and players on the Quaker Valley girls basketball team.

The Quakers advanced to both the WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A playoffs in Ken Johns’ first year as floor boss.

This season, QV is looking to make more noise in the section, followed by a hopefully deeper run in the playoffs.

“I’m excited at what I saw in the offseason and so far in our practices,” Johns said. “We have a number of players coming back that got good minutes and contributed last year. That’s something that always helps. The core group of seniors has been playing together for a long time, so I’m hoping they will continue to grow and help the team come together.

“We’re excited to get the season started and see what we can do. The players have been working extremely hard and are starting to come together as a team in a way that is really good at this early point in the season. It will be fun to see how the upperclassmen and the younger players complement each other on the floor.”

Quaker Valley posted an 8-6 record in Section 2-4A in 2021-22 and ended up 12-12 overall. The Quakers advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA first round.

WPIAL champion Blackhawk won the section crown with a 14-0 record, followed by Beaver (11-3), Montour (10-4) and QV. Central Valley (6-8), Hopewell (5-9), New Castle (2-12) and Ambridge (0-14) rounded out the standings.

“We’re trying to get better every day we’re in the gym,” Johns said. “Whether that’s a practice or a game, we look at it as an opportunity to get better. We play in a tough section, and we know that most nights it will be very competitive. I think every team’s goal is to win as many games as possible, get into the playoffs and push as far as they can. We’re no different.

“But back to my earlier point, our focus is on improving every time we get in the gym. As for long-range goals, we’re just trying to continue to build the program.”

The Quakers are led by two returning starters in Nora Johns, a senior point guard, and Maria Helkowski, a senior guard.

“Nora really worked hard on her game all summer,” said her coach and father. “Between individual workouts and playing on an AAU team with some very talented players and a schedule that saw lots of very good competition across the country, she played and improved in many areas of her game. Those practices as well as games gave her a lot of experience.

“She will be one of the leaders of the team on and off the court. She brings three years of varsity experience into her senior year, so we’re going to count on that for sure. She started a few games her freshmen year, I believe, and got a lot of experience that year as well playing a lot of minutes in WPIAL and PIAA playoff games.”

Helkowski is a second-year starter in the backcourt for the Quakers.

“Maria really took advantage of getting more playing time last year,” coach Johns said. “She had some really good games and made some big shots in several games last year. She too will be counted on for experience having started every game last year.

“Her confidence has grown alongside her experience and it shows in how she’s practicing and playing. I expect her to step into an increasing leadership role this year as well.”

Nora Johns is a three-sport standout at QV, competing in basketball, soccer and track. She is a fourth-year starter in basketball.

“My expectations are for us to come into this season physically and mentally prepared to face our tough section,” she said. “I think if we set a good foundation now, we will see a lot of success later on in the season.

“I have a very good feeling about the team we have this year. The energy and work ethic we have shown already this early gives me high hopes for this season.”

Johns expects the Quakers to play at a fast pace this winter.

“I would say our strength will be playing tough defense and then pushing the ball up the floor,” she said. “We want to get easy buckets.”

QV’s role players of a year ago are being counted on to make more significant contributions this time around.

“We had a few players who got minutes and played well for us, especially late last year,” said Johns, QV’s coach, mentioning senior forwards Shannon Von Kaenel and Silvia Almanzar, along with junior guard Madi Chapman and forward Annica Kagle.

“Madi and Annica are being looked to to do more this year,” he said. “Madi provides another ball handler, a good defender and can make shots.

“Annica is a solid defender that can cover multiple positions, runs the floor extremely well and is a good rebounder.”

Two top freshmen on the team are Oumou Thiero, a guard/forward, and Zora Washington, at the guard position.

“The core of this team has been playing together basically since they picked up a basketball,” said Johns, who is assisted by Derek Liebert and Sydney Kaercher. “They are very competitive and tough-minded. The underclassmen and the freshmen have added to that core and complement it quite well.

“It’s a competitive group that has been together for a while. That’s a good combination.”

The Quakers will play five games in December in preparation for their section schedule starting in January.

QV tips off the season Dec. 5 at home against Rochester followed by an away game Dec. 8 at Moon.

Section foes this year are Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley and Hopewell. Montour and New Castle are in 5A.