Summer teammates square off in Class AA hoops
Naje Gibson, Ciara Gregory and Erin Waskowiak won a national title together last summer, but this winter they'll fight one another for a different trophy.
The three were AAU teammates for Western Pa. Bruins, which won a 15-and-under national title in Washington. They're also three of the best players in the WPIAL, where they star for different teams: Gibson at Seton-La Salle, Gregory at Jeannette and Waskowiak at Bishop Canevin.
"The three of us bonded and were always together," Gregory said, "but we're competitive. And we all want to win for our team."
Their teams are Nos. 1, 2 and 4 in preseason rankings.
All three reached the WPIAL Class AA semifinals last season. It was there that Seton-La Salle beat Canevin before beating Jeannete in the championship game. Gregory hasn't forgotten about that 74-29 loss, in part because Gibson likes to remind the Jeannette star that "we crushed you."
Gregory's response? "She just tells me to shut up, and we start laughing," Gibson said.
"All of them communicate and talk on a daily basis," said Ron Mumbray, their AAU coach. "It's a lot of fun. There's a lot of jabbing going back and forth between the kids."
These three standouts use the AAU season as a place to audition for college recruiters, hoping their play can earn them a college scholarship. The WPIAL season is about pride and bragging rights.
"They're both important," Gregory said. "(The AAU season) is more important for your future, but you want to win (a WPIAL title) for your team and your school and your city."
Gibson, a 6-foot sophomore who averaged 14.5 points last season, won the WPIAL title as a freshman. Gregory, now a junior, also won the WPIAL title as a freshman. The 5-8 guard averaged 19.5 points last season. Waskowiak, a 5-10 junior, could win her first championship this season with top-ranked Canevin. She averaged 19.4 points last season.
Their AAU team also includes Hopewell's Shatori-Walker Kimbrough, Bethel Park's Megan Marecic! and Fox Chapel's Erin Mathias, among others. Playing together made everybody on the roster better, Gibson said.
"This summer they were already talking about the upcoming season," Mumbray said. "They're competitive, but they want to see one another do well."
"Before we play a game, we'll give each other a hug," Waskowiak said.
Waskowiak and Gibson play in the same section. Last season they met three times, with the last coming in the WPIAL semifinals. Yes, they're friends, but there are no free layups.
"If I need to foul her, I'll foul her," Waskowiak said with a laugh. "She'll understand."
Class AA girls basketball preview
Preseason Players of the Year
Naje Gibson, Seton-La Salle (6-0, So., F, 14.5 ppg)
C.C. Dixon, Steel Valley (5-10, Jr., F, 14.5 ppg)
Ciara Gregory, Jeannette (5-8, Jr., G, 19.5 ppg)
Lauren Mayernik, Avonworth (5-9, Sr., F, 19.1 ppg)
Erin Waskowiak, Bishop Canevin (5-10, Jr., G, 19.4 ppg)
Sam Weir, Riverside (6-0, Sr,. F, 17.3 ppg)
Preseason Top 10
1. Bishop Canevin (22-6): With five starters returning, team has talent and experience.
2. Seton-La Salle (27-3): Defending WPIAL champion replacing three-fifths of lineup.
3. Jeannette (15-10): Jayhawks return just two starters, but that includes Ciara Gregory.
4. Riverside (20-4): Senior forward Sam Weir (17.3 ppg) among three starters returning.
5. Beaver Falls (19-8): Junior guard Ayana Vaughn (14.0) helped Tigers reach WPIAL semis.
6. Deer Lakes (21-4): Favorite in Section 1 with junior Becca Babincak (12.9) leading them.
7. Greensburg CC (20-8): Still solid, but graduation took some talent from state quarterfinalist.
8. Quaker Valley (15-9): Strong backcourt is key for reaching section title hopes.
9. Washington (15-8): Could claim another section title after sharing last with Charleroi.
10. Avonworth (21-5): Lauren Mayernik remains, but graduation has hurt the Antelopes.
!SECTION 1 DEER LAKES
Ford City has senior Heather Davis (13.5 ppg) and Elderton returns 6-foot junior Jill Glover (15.0), but Deer Lakes remains the section favorite. A season ago, Deer Lakes reached the WPIAL quarterfinals last season behind all-section guard Becca Babincak, who returns. The junior averaged 12.9 points. Also returning is junior Danielle Kearns.
SECTION 2 RIVERSIDE
The Panthers return starters Sam Weir (6-foot forward), Nicole Mansfield (5-10 forward) and Alex Deep (5-9 guard) from a team seeded No. 2 in last season's WPIAL playoffs. They were upset in the quarterfinals by section rival Beaver Falls, which again could be Riverside's toughest challenger. Beaver Falls returns four starters.
SECTION 3 JEANNETTE
The Jayhawks need to replace three-fifths of the starting lineup that reached the WPIAL championship game a season ago. But leading scorer Ciara Gregory and 5-9 senior Dominique Hall provide a solid foundation. Its top challenger, Greensburg Central Catholic, also returns two starters.
SECTION 4 WASHINGTON
Charleroi and Washington shared the section title a season ago, but Charleroi (20-2 last season) returns one starter: 5-7 senior Shannon Flament, who averaged 12.7 points. That leaves the door open for Washington, which will be led by senior guard Justice Jones and an experienced lineup.
SECTION 5 BISHOP CANEVIN
Besides playing for a section title, Bishop Canevin and Seton-La Salle could meet at Palumbo Center for the WPIAL title. However, Canevin has the edge in experience with all five starters returning. Along with leading scorer Erin Waskowiak, the team returns 5-6 senior Becca Olkosky, 5-9 junior Celina DiPietro, 5-9 sophomore Johnie Olkosky and 5-9 junior Carly Forse.
SECTION 6 QUAKER VALLEY
The Quakers return most of last season's team that won its first playoff game i! n more t han a decade, including two all-section guards. Senior DeAnn Ryan averaged 14 points, and junior Sierra Perlik added 11.