The long basketball season has ended. Due to a scheduling mishap, the PIAA was forced to extend the state tournament to make its date for the GiANT Center in Hershey. Shady Side Academy reached the state tournament for the first time by beating OLSH 43-29 at Fox Chapel.

Read my game story about it for the Trib High School Sports Network.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or @J_oshrizzo on X.

The Burrell girls basketball team did it needed to do in order to move past Highlands 55-27 Thursday night at home. The Buccaneers held Highlands without a point in the first quarter. Burrell's defense has been excellent all season.

The Buccaneers have held nine of their opponents to 30 points or less. Burrell is in fourth place in Section 1-4A.

Josh Rizzo is the publisher and owner of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshrizzo.

By Josh Rizzo
Riley Stephans got stuck with what inflicts many of us around the holidays. An illness kept the guard for the Plums girls basketball team longing for more time in the gym.

"Over Christmas break, I was sick," Stephans said. "I was out for a week straight, so I didn't get back in the gym until I think it was (last) Thursday. This is my first game back since probably two weeks ago."

The Mustangs looked a little tired and weary at the start of their Section 1-5A girls basketball game at Penn Hills Tuesday night. But Plum found a way to battle to a 39-29 win. Stephans finished with a game-high 23 points and knocked down six 3-pointers.

Stephans believed it was a career-high for 3-pointers she made in one game. She puts a lot of effort into being able to make those types of shots.

"I stay after practice every day and shoot until I make five to seven shots out of 10 from each spot that I go to," Stephans said.

One of Stephans' most important makes came at the first-quarter buzzer. Stephans shook free and made a trey to cut their deficit to 9-7. Plum (3-7, 2-2) felt fortunate to have the game be so close after the first quarter. The Mustangs struggled to defend Penn Hills forward Cara Crawford.

​Crawford scored seven of her 12 points in the first quarter. The Indians (1-9,1-3) also missed five layups that could have extended the lead. 

"We're really struggling at rebounding and making layups," Penn Hills coach Robert Cash said. "There's a couple of games where I thought the game would have been out of reach if we made a few layups in the first quarter and we got teams to chase us. We're allowing them to stay in the game by missing layups."

During the first quarter, Plum seemed to settle too often for long jump shots. 

"We weren't patient," Mustangs coach Rich Mull said. "We were pressing a little too much. Maybe part of it was the fact we haven't played since the Saturday before last."

Plum took the lead toward the end of the first half. Stephans completed a three-point play to put the Mustangs ahead 18-15. During the second half, Stephans made three more 3-pointers in the third quarter to stretch the lead out. Tamia West helped pick up the scoring for Plum.

West was the only other Mustang to score, contributing 16 points. Penn Hills would cut the lead to six, 35-29, with around 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game. Milani Oliver, who finished with 13 points, scored five in the third quarter to help the Indians rally.

But turnovers on the next few possessions stalled the momentum Penn Hills had momentarily built.

Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or J_oshRizzo.

Mars graduate Lauren Wasylson signed a contract to play with ZKK Spartak Subotica, which is the top level of women's basketball in Serbia. Wasylson was a Class 5A all-state player during her time with the Fightin' Planets. During Wasylson's senior season, she helped the Planets beat Archbishop Wood 36-33 in the state championship game.

Wasylson started he collegiate career at Xavier and played three seasons there. She ended up transferring closer to home to play at Duquesne. During her time in college, Wasylson averaged 5.5 points per game and avereged 2.3 rebounds per contest.

Wasylson's best statistical season was her freshman year with the Musketeers. She averaged 7.2 points per game and shot 38.3 percent from the 3-point line during her freshman year.

"We are very happy for one of the hardest-working players who have come through our program," Duquesne coach Dan Burt said in a news release. "Lauren has overcome significant adversity and injury to help Duquesne be better and now, to lead Spartak Subotica."

Josh Rizzo is the owner and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

The Shaler girls basketball team improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in Section 1-5A with a 61-40 over Plum. Jorja Bernesser led the Titans with 20 points.

The Mustangs (2-5, 1-2) are tied for fourth place with Penn Hills.