Lady Greyhounds expect to contend for section crown
Monessen coach Janine Vertacnik directs her players聽during a WPIAL playoff game win over Riverview last season at Monessen.
Monessen's Hailey Johnson (5) and Myasia Majors (24) both attempt to grab a rebound聽during a WPIAL playoff game against Riverview at Monessen last season. Both players are back with the Lady Greyhounds as juniors this season.
Systematically, they have worked their way up the standings these past few years.
The Monessen Lady Greyhounds basketball team has advanced from a last-place team, to competitive, to challenger, to contender, and now favorite?
That may be a bit premature. But it is not an unrealistic expectation in 2022-2023.
Truly, if Monessen鈥檚 juniors and freshmen come together through the first month of the season, the Lady Greyhounds are the team to beat in Section 2-A or at the very least one of the teams to beat.
Monessen finished second behind West Greene last season, advanced to the WPIAL playoffs a third straight season and won its first post-season game under Coach Janine Vertacnik.
Has the time come for the Monessen girls鈥� basketball team?
鈥淚t might be,鈥� Vertacnik said. 鈥淲e have a lot of work to do but we鈥檙e capable of winning the section. We will have to battle and mature. For the first time, the section is up for grabs and I expect us to contend for the championship.鈥�
Vertacnik is a tireless worker and has helped develop players in her time at Monessen.
Her roster has just one senior. The Lady Greyhounds also have five juniors and four freshmen.
The junior class includes Hailey Johnson (5-8), a tough rebounder and a team leader; guard Sidney Campbell (5-5), Avanti Stitch (5-10), Myasia Majors (5-8) and Harmony Wynn (5-8).
Monessen freshman class is led by point guard Madison Johnson (5-5), and three players with good size in Na Jaziah Carter (5-8), Svetlana Vining (5-8), and Tiayas Newton (5-9).
Those four were part of an outstanding middle school team in the spring and provide promise for the Lady Greyhounds.
While there is talent at hand for Monessen, it will have to overcome the loss of Mercedes Majors, its top scorer, leader and one of the WPIAL鈥檚 best Class A players a year ago.
Vertacnik is hoping there is strength in numbers with her four freshmen.
鈥淭hey need to understand this is varsity basketball now,鈥� Vertacnik said. 鈥淭he game will be faster and much more intense. They are learning how we practice and how to practice with focus and intensity. Right now, they鈥檙e a little giddy.
鈥淏ut they are talented and they are getting better at practice every day. Our juniors must provide leadership and they will. Hailey Johnson is a good rebounder and leader. Sid, you can see, has matured as a player and into a leadership role. She is a key for us in ball handling and it looks like she accepts that role.鈥�
Monessen will compete in Section 2-A with Avella, Geibel Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and perennial section champion and WPIAL contender West Greene.
The Lady Greyhounds opened the season with home victories over Derry Area, 39-24, and Charleroi, 55-41, in the Major Corley Memorial Tip Off Tournament.
Some of Monessen鈥檚 more interesting non-section games include hosting Greensburg Central Catholic (Dec. 8), then three consecutive road games at Chartiers-Houston (Dec. 12), Uniontown (Dec. 14) and Union (Dec.17) and at Charleroi (Feb. 13).
The Lady Greyhounds host Avella (Feb. 9) in what could be an important section finale.
Monessen defeated Riverview, 51-16, in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs before losing to Aquinas Academy in the quarterfinals and being defeated by Elk County Catholic in the PIAA tournament.
鈥淭his is exciting for everybody,鈥� Vertacnik said. 鈥淭hey understand the opportunity we have and the situation we are in. We are all looking forward to the season and the opportunity we have.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our time. The girls are working hard. We have a challenging opening month before we get into section play. We had a tough time finding some games and I felt we should go to Union, which we know is outstanding, and play them on the road. It will be a great experience. We鈥檙e playing them on Saturday afternoon and that long trip won鈥檛 impact their school time.
鈥淐ome January, we should be ready for section play. We must stay healthy. We can play various combinations. We need to find a way to score but I鈥檓 excited about these girls and our team.鈥�
The last time Monessen won a section championship was 2012 and the last time the Lady Greyhounds advanced to the WPIAL semifinals was 2011.