By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 11:01 AM

The high school schedule-maker linked three Quaker Valley teams together Feb. 9 in late regular-season action — two at home, one on the road. All three were victorious:

• Mimi Thiero, a senior guard/forward, led all scorers with 31 points to propel the Quaker Valley girls basketball team to a 53-31 nonsection win at Rochester.

Sophomore guard Keira Watson added 14 points for the Quakers in a final tuneup for the WPIAL playoffs.

“My expectation for the team in playoffs is that we play our best basketball when it matters the most,” Thiero said. “If we play like we’ve been playing recently, we’ll make a deep run.

“Our performance so far has been very strong. We’ve been coming out to games with a lot of energy. We only lost two section games, so we’ve been doing very good.”

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 11:01 AM

alt="9285478_web1_ptr-QVHoops01-120125" border="0" width="210" height="168" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" uploadprocessed="true"> alt="A group of women playing basketball AI-generated content may be incorrect." border="0" width="189" height="165" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5" uploadprocessed="true">

Quaker Valley’s Harrison Kerley plays against Windber on Nov. 28. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

Mimi Thiero drives between OLSH’s Sara Daeschner and Leah Parker on Jan. 22. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

The Quaker Valley boys basketball team has been unbeatable since the start of the new year.

The Quakers won 11 consecutive times, finished the regular season 19-3 overall and landed the top seed in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

“With our consistent play over the season and by capturing the section championship, we thought we put ourselves in a place to be considered as the No. 1 seed,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said. “The seed is not as important as the bracket and making sure you are prepared for your first game.”

QV received a first-round bye and was scheduled to play Feb. 18 against the winner of the Belle Vernon-Burrell matchup.

“We had an outstanding regular season with consistent play throughout the year,” Mastroianni said, “but the playoffs are the start of an entirely different season, and your approach is so important.”

QV’s veteran coach has been rotating seven players in games for the most part late in the season.

Zach Washington is a senior guard who averages 17.2 ppg for the Quakers. He is complemented regularly by a trio of backcourt players in sophomores Nic Cohen (16.2 ppg) and Harrison Kerley and junior Sam Chapman.

Chapman hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer Feb. 9 to lift QV to a thrilling 76-75 win in overtime against visiting Indiana.

“Sam did a tremendous job finishing the play,” Mastroianni said, “but the ball movement with all four of Sam’s teammates touching the ball prior to his shot is a reflection of our unselfish play this season.”

Forwards Kolton Johnson, a junior, Atticus Barr, a senior who started at quarterback on the QV football team, and sophomore Connor Dwyer provide amble board strength. Johnson, Barr and Dwyer all are 6-foot-2 or taller.

“Connor is back from an injury and he started our first 15 games,” Mastroianni said. “Our rotation includes Connor and Atticus.”

Quaker Valley won the Section 2-4A crown with a 10-0 record, rolling past the likes of Central Valley (6-4), Hopewell (6-4), Avonworth (5-5), Beaver (2-8) and Ambridge (1-9).

Another regular-season highlight took place when Mastroianni became the 14th coach in WPIAL history to attain victory No. 600. He now has 613.

Mastroianni’s son, Michael, is on the coaching staff this year as QV hopes to reel in the school’s third WPIAL boys basketball title and second in four years.

*****

Quaker Valley’s girls team nearly matched the guys by losing just once since Jan. 1.

QV won eight games in a row and 11 of its past 12 to take a 16-6 record into the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

The fourth-seeded Quakers were set to begin their postseason Feb. 13 at home against No. 13 Keystone Oaks.

“I don’t know that the seeding matters so much as the matchups,” QV coach Ken Johns said. “Everyone we play from here on out is going to be good and knows how to win. The seeding numbers next to the names don’t matter too much. We need to keep playing the way we know how to play regardless.

“Our approach really doesn’t change for the playoffs. We are working to improve every day we are in the gym. This time of year, we tend to focus on the things that need fine-tuning and really lean into the things that are going to help us get better. That includes skill work, lots of shooting, recovery work and rest.”

QV ended up second in Section 1 with a 12-2 record, losing two close games (52-48 and 51-48) to section champion Beaver Falls (14-0).

Keystone Oaks (12-9) and McGuffey (12-10) tied for third place in Section 3 with 7-5 marks. The Golden Eagles lost their final regular-season game to Bethel Park, 52-37, on Feb. 9 despite junior guard Natalee Tortorella’s 17 points.

Prior to that result, KO won four of five contests including a 48-38 section victory against Washington. Senior forward Hannah York led the Golden Eagles with 23 points and senior forward Kailyn Brannon added 12.

The KO girls face the unenviable task of attempting to harness QV’s 6-foot-5 Maryland recruit Mimi Thiero, the all-time leading scorer in girls basketball history at her school. She is the first female player at QV to account for more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.

She also is the top female scorer in the WPIAL, averaging close to 30 ppg. Thiero pulls down 15.5 rebounds per game and averages 4 steals and 4.5 blocks.

QV’s other integral players include sophomore guard Keira Watson (10 ppg), junior guards Anna Campbell and Rose Cline, senior guard Lucy Roig and senior G/F Mia Floro.

“We’ve got a number of players who have played a lot of minutes for us,” Johns said, “so striking a balance of staying competitive in practice — so we have that edge while not pushing too hard — is what we are working towards.”

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 7:55 PM

Quaker Valley’s Mimi Thiero drives between OLSH’s Sara Daeschner and Leah Parker during their game on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Coraopolis. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

School – Quaker Valley

Class – Senior

Height – 6-foot-5

Position – Guard/forward

#Earned – There was no “caught looking ahead” for Quaker Valley last week when the Quakers rolled 57-24 at home over Sto-Rox.

As is usually the case, QV was led by talented senior guard/forward Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, who scored 31 points.

Later last week in a Section 1-3A showdown victory at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Thiero led the way again, scoring 29 of the Quakers 37 points.

The Chargers had a chance after Thiero fouled out with a couple of minutes left, but her Quaker Valley teammates held on to secure second place behind Beaver Falls with a second victory over OLSH this season.

With Mother Nature calling the shots earlier this week, the Quakers were limited to only one game, a trip to New Brighton.

Once again, the Thiero road show was must see as she scored 26 points in leading the Quakers to a route of the host Lions, 64-8.

Quaker Valley sits in second place at 9-2 with an overall record of 12-6 and seven wins in their last eight games. The Quakers have contests remaining against Mohawk and Riverside at home and at Ellwood City.

Thiero is one of two WPIAL players who received nominations to the McDonald’s All-American game this spring. She and Erica Gribble of Greensburg Central Catholic will learn if they are invited to the prestigious event.

Once her outstanding high school days end in the spring, Thiero will head south to continue her basketball career at Maryland.

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 7:55 PM

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Quaker Valley’s Mimi Thiero drives between OLSH’s Sara Daeschner and Leah Parker during their game on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Coraopolis. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

School – Quaker Valley

Class – Senior

Height – 6-foot-5

Position – Guard/forward

#Earned – There was no “caught looking ahead” for Quaker Valley last week when the Quakers rolled 57-24 at home over Sto-Rox.

As is usually the case, QV was led by talented senior guard/forward Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, who scored 31 points.

Later last week in a Section 1-3A showdown victory at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Thiero led the way again, scoring 29 of the Quakers 37 points.

The Chargers had a chance after Thiero fouled out with a couple of minutes left, but her Quaker Valley teammates held on to secure second place behind Beaver Falls with a second victory over OLSH this season.

With Mother Nature calling the shots earlier this week, the Quakers were limited to only one game, a trip to New Brighton.

Once again, the Thiero road show was must see as she scored 26 points in leading the Quakers to a route of the host Lions, 64-8.

Quaker Valley sits in second place at 9-2 with an overall record of 12-6 and seven wins in their last eight games. The Quakers have contests remaining against Mohawk and Riverside at home and at Ellwood City.

Thiero is one of two WPIAL players who received nominations to the McDonald’s All-American game this spring. She and Erica Gribble of Greensburg Central Catholic will learn if they are invited to the prestigious event.

Once her outstanding high school days end in the spring, Thiero will head south to continue her basketball career at Maryland.

High school roundup for Jan. 22, 2026

By: Triblive
Friday, January 23, 2026 | 12:22 AM

Mimi Thiero scored 29 points to lead Quaker Valley to a 37-36 victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in a spirited battle for second place in Section 1-3A girls basketball Thursday night.

Thiero scored with just under four minutes left to give the Quakers (11-6, 8-2) the lead for good at 31-30. After making two more baskets, Thiero fouled out with Quaker Valley clinging to a 36-33 lead with 1:36 to play.

Keira Watson made a foul shot to make it 37-33. The Chargers went 1 for 4 from the free-throw line in the final 30 seconds of the game.

Lola Garner scored 13 points to lead OLSH (12-5, 6-4).

alt="Portrait of Ethan Morrison" border="0" width="48" height="48" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" uploadprocessed="true">Ethan Morrison

Beaver County Times

Updated Dec. 15, 2025, 8:30 p.m. ET

LEETSDALE — In the world of sports, records are meant to be broken. 

Mimi Thiero has had an illustrious high school basketball career at Quaker Valley and on December 15, she added one more accolade to her laundry list of achievements, becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer. 

After tying the record late in the first half, on the first possession of the third quarter during Quaker Valley’s section game against Sto-Rox, Thiero took a three-point shot at the top of the key, which hit off the rim and fell, surpassing Farrah Causby, who previously held the record with 1,396 points. 

For Thiero, the milestone was a goal that she knew she could achieve, but also wanted to make sure she was getting her teammates involved every step of the journey.

"I always knew this was a goal that I could achieve and tonight, I wasn't coming in looking to get this amount of points," Thiero said. "I wanted to make sure that my teammates were getting what they needed. It is a surreal experience."

The record stood for 30 seasons prior to Thiero eclipsing the mark in the team’s second section game of the year. 

Heading into Thiero’s senior season, it was a question of “when” the Maryland women’s basketball signee would break the record, not “if”. 

To begin the year, Thiero sat 148 points away and quickly trimmed down the magic number to 81 points after the second game of the year, averaging over 33 points per game, putting up a career high against Montour. 

Then against Beaver Falls, Thiero added another 25 points before logging 31 against Chartiers Valley on December 13. 

"I definitely wasn't expecting to get to this point this quickly, but all the hard work during the summer, playing AAU basketball, it helped with a lot of my game and I came into today's game trying to do that."

While Thiero has put up monster numbers and is well on her way to a career year following an impressive start to her senior campaign, Quaker Valley head coach Ken Johns isn't just satisfied with the production she has had, he is more happy with how it has come within the flow of the offense.

Having a scoring asset like Thiero is great, but to also get everyone else involved as well is something that the senior has done well throughout her career.

"Mimi has scored a lot this season, but she has made those shots within our offensive sets," Johns said. "When you're getting shots within the flow of the offense, it helps a lot, and in the beginning of the season, our offense has been stagnant. Having her on the floor helps and we have slowly gotten more consistent scoring from other players around her."

Thiero isn’t your normal high school athlete, having come from a family that has rich basketball roots. Her father, Almamy, played for John Calipari at Memphis and her mother, Mariam, played for Oklahoma City University before being drafted into the WNBA. Her brother, Adou, who was also a star player at Quaker Valley and went on to play at Kentuckyand Arkansas before getting drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. 

alt="Quaker Valley forward Mimi Thiero (0) poses for a photo following Quaker Valley's section victory over Sto-Rox, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pa." border="0" width="135" height="202" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" uploadprocessed="true"> alt="Quaker Valley forward Mimi Thiero (0), her family and Maryland women's basketball head coach Brenda Frese pose for a photo following Quaker Valley's section victory over Sto-Rox, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pa." border="0" width="205" height="136" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" uploadprocessed="true">

But despite the pressure from the family name, Thiero has paved her own path, remained grounded and has been one of the most sought-after recruits in the WPIAL in recent memory. 

The senior is ranked 42nd on the 2026 ESPN Next 100 and the second-best player in Pennsylvania per 24/7 sports. 

The 6-foot-5 forward racked up over 50 Division I offers from a slew of Power 4 schools before deciding on the University of Maryland, making it official with her signing on National Signing Day on November 12. 

Thiero's future head coach at Maryland, Brenda Frese was in attendance to watch Thiero break the record, with the Terrapins enjoying an off week after the first month of the season concluded.

"I was so happy that she was able to come and watch me during her bye week this week," Thiero said. "I was definitely excited that she was able to come to this game and it was the one when the record was broken."

Along with the recruitment and statistical accolades, Thiero is a two-time PA All-State team selection, averaging a double-double throughout her career. She was also the 2024-25 Beaver County Times Female Athlete of the Year. 

Outside of basketball, Thiero is also an accomplished high jumper, winning gold in the WPIAL Class 2A high jump and silver at the PIAA meet, following a bronze medal finish the previous year. 

By: Triblive
Monday, December 15, 2025 | 11:50 PM

Mimi Thiero scored 28 points to become the all-time leading scorer in Quaker Valley girls basketball history, sending the Quakers to a 65-18 victory over Sto-Rox (3-3, 1-1) in Section 1-3A Monday night.

Thiero has 1,399 career points, moving past Farrah Causby, who set the record at 1,396 in 1995. Keira Watson added 16 points for the Quakers (2-3, 1-1).

RAY FISHER TRIBLIVESUN, NOV 30, 2025 • 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s Anna Campbell takes a shot against OLSH on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Leetsdale.

Quaker Valley’s girls basketball team appears to be built for success.

The Quakers lost just one senior from last year’s WPIAL playoff team and are energized by 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, a fourth-year starter and Maryland commit.

Thiero averaged 23.1 points and 16.7 rebounds last season, along with 3.9 steals, 3.8 blocks and 3.2 assists per game. She earned both all-section and all-state honors, as well as a spot on the Trib’s Terrific 10.

Thiero scored 30 or more points five times and grabbed 20 or more rebounds in six games, helping her team to ultimately reach the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals.

The Quakers improved from a 5-16 record two years ago to 15-10 last season.

Ken Johns, QV’s veteran coach, is excited about the potential of another growth spurt by the team in 2025-26.

“I’m excited because we have pretty much all of the players who contributed last year back with us,” Johns said. “We’ve had a good offseason of work and the continuity from last year is nice to have.

“My hope is that we continue the momentum we’ve built and just look to improve.”

Thiero, a guard/forward, has a chance to become the first girl to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a QV basketball career.

“My expectations for Mimi are the same as they have been and for everyone else: Show up every day looking to work hard and help the team be the best it can be,” Johns said. “Mimi has worked hard; you can see it in her approach and play.

“She had a busy summer of playing at a high level and that has carried over and been contagious to the rest of the team. They have all shown a great deal of commitment to improving. It’s been fun to see.”

Now that Thiero has put her college recruiting behind her, it’s time to stay focused on the high school season.

“The summer season was pretty good,” Thiero said. “We had a lot of good open gyms so our underclassmen could start to get used to seeing how practices will be during the season. We also got some good skill work in.

“I still have the same expectations, still working on getting to the Pete.”

The Maryland recruit, whose brother Adou was a second-round draft pick by the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers in the spring, was making a reference to Petersen Events Center, site of the WPIAL basketball championships. 

There are talented athletes on the Quakers’ supporting cast in 2025-26.

“We have a number of returning players,” Johns said. “Seniors Mia Floro and Lucy Roig along with Mimi are a big part of our (team’s) leadership. Juniors Anna Campbell, Rose Cline and Maggie Watson, along with sophomore Keira Watson, all saw meaningful minutes last year and will be counted on to do the same this year.

“A number of them started games for us, and all contributed. We’re looking for them to do the same this year and, with another year under them of playing together, we’re starting from a spot we haven’t been able to in recent years.”

With a dynamic player like Thiero leading the way, Johns is not overly concerned about the Quakers’ offensive production.

“It has been nice to have most of the core group around for the preseason,” he said. “There are always a lot of things to work on, but for us the attention to detail and continuing to improve the individual fundamentals were big parts of our preseason.

“Now that we’re starting the season, we’ve been concentrating on improving as a unit — especially on defense. We focus on that every day. Staying connected and playing together on defense will be a big key for us.”

And yes, Theiro offers a dominant defensive presence, as well, for the Quakers.

“All of the players I’ve mentioned have worked hard and have improved in several areas,” Johns said. “Keira Watson started every game as a freshman and we put a lot on her plate. That will be the same this year and having a year of experience will help a lot. That’s true for Anna Campbell, as well. They have both improved in a lot of areas.

“And I really like the leadership the three seniors have displayed so far. Each in their own way, they have stepped into roles that we need to help us be as good as we can be. Mia, Lucy and Mimi all complement each other in their styles and approach to leading the team. They have done a good job in getting us ready to go. This a really connected group on and off the floor.”

Last season, the Quakers posted an 8-2 record in January and took a six-game winning streak as the No. 7 seed into the WPIAL playoffs where they defeated No. 10 McGuffey, 39-35, in the first round.

The QV girls lost 56-47 to No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarterfinals, followed by a 56-51 loss to No. 6 Avonworth in the consolation round.

Thiero led the team in several other statistical categories last year, such as field goal percentage (48%), rebounds (16.7 rpg), steals (109), blocks (94), free-throw percentage (67%) and 3-point percentage (33%).

In QV’s postseason, she averaged 28.5 ppg and 14.7 rpg with 25 points and 13 rebounds against McGuffey, 32 and 14 versus Greensburg Central Catholic and 28 and 17 against Avonworth.

QV finished second in Section 1-3A with a 10-4 record. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart captured the top spot at 14-0. 

Riverside (9-5), Beaver Falls (9-5) and Ellwood City (8-6) also were playoff qualifiers in the section.

In the spring, Theiro won a WPIAL high jump title and placed second in the state, helping the QV tracksters win a couple of team championships.

TRIBLIVE TRIBLIVESAT, DEC 13, 2025 • 09:59 PM

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Quaker Valley’s Mimi Thiero (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

Mimi Thiero scored 31 points to lead Quaker Valley to a 47-34 victory over Chartiers Valley (0-6) in nonsection girls basketball Saturday. Keira Watson added 13 points for the Quakers (1-3).

The University of Maryland women’s basketball coaches surely liked what they heard about Quaker Valley senior Mimi Thiero’s performance against Montour earlier this season.

Thiero, a 6-5 guard/forward, fourth-year starter and Maryland recruit, hit five 3-pointers and scored 44 points in a 62-60 loss at Montour. Her point total is believed to be a new school record for scoring in a QV girls game.

Thiero was 15 of 31 from the floor, five of 10 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line. She scored 24 points in the first half and 20 in the second half.

She also finished with 10 rebounds and three assists.

Thiero started out the season with a 23-point performance against Thomas Jefferson in which she was 13 for 18 at the charity stripe. She also grabbed 12 rebounds.

4-star prospect eclipsed 1,000 career points last year

MATT PRESS

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

mpress@post-gazette.com

SEP 17, 2025

7:35 PM

The highest-rated girls basketball recruit in the WPIAL has chosen a college destination.

Quaker Valley star Mimi Thiero — who ranks as a four-star prospect and the No. 35 overall senior in the country by ESPN — announced her commitment to Maryland on Wednesday afternoon on social media.

Excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Maryland! Thank you to Power 24, SLAAM Basketball, and Prospects for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills, and to all family and friends that have impacted me in my life and thus gotten me to where I am.🐢🐢 pic.twitter.com/DpGQjFIOPS

— Mimi Thiero (@mimi_thiero) September 17, 2025

She took an official visit to College Park this past weekend, and it didn’t take long for Thiero to announce her pledge to coach Brenda Frese, who has guided the Terrapins to consistent success during her tenure.

Last year, as a junior, Thiero eclipsed 1,000 career points and averaged 23.1 points, 16.7 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 3.8 blocks and 3.2 assists per game. She collected north of 50 Division I offers and finalized a list of 12 schools that included Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon and Clemson, among others.

For the 6-foot-4 Thiero, hoops — and height — run in the family. Her older brother, Adou, 6-foot-8, starred at Quaker Valley before going on to play at Kentucky and Arkansas. Adou Thiero was drafted No. 36 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA draft in June.

Their father, Almamy, stands 6-foot-9 and played collegiately at Memphis and Duquesne, and their mother, Mariam, is 6-foot-4 and was drafted to the WNBA by the Washington Mystics in 2006.

Mimi Thiero rapidly became one of the WPIAL’s most sought-after girls basketball recruits due to her versatility and scoring. She helped lead Quaker Valley to the Class 3A district quarterfinals last season and earned a spot on the Post-Gazette’s All-WPIAL team.