Monessen girls preview: Vertacnik wants Lady Greyhounds to individual improve
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
The Monessen High School girls basketball has the team part down.
“The team stuff we do really well,” said coach Janine Vertacnik.
The Lady Greyhounds individual members are unselfish and each player is willing to do the heavy lifting — rebound, play good defense and distribute the basketball to their teammates.
“It’s a selfless group,” praised Vertacnik.
What Vertacnik wants is her players to be better individually — make more of their putbacks after offensive rebounds, make their foul shots and be a little more prolific in scoring points.
“We want to be more aggressive and play better on the offensive end, while keeping our abilities on defense and on the boards,” said Vertacnik.
Monessen won a section crown, captured two WPIAL playoff games and advanced to the PIAA tournament last season, yet, not one player averaged 10 points a game.
“We have great team chemistry,” Vertacnik said. “It goes beyond any talent a team has. Our girls love each other and get along on and off the court.
“Truly, this team is a family. They hustle, share the basketball. We averaged 45 rebounds a game. But, we miss too many putbacks and fool around with the ball underneath.
“We would help ourselves immensely if we made more putbacks.”
The Lady Greyhounds made less than half of their free throws last season.
“They leave too many points on the foul line, Vertacnik said.
“We are working on that,” added Vertacnik. “We don’t have 3-point shooters. But it’s hard to improve shooting unless you do it every day. In a small school they are playing other sports and it’s just not going to be that they are working on their shot each day.”
Monessen returns four full-time starters from last season and another who started a significant amount of games in 2022-2023.
Sophomore Madison Johnson (5-5) returns at point guard with senior Sidney Campbell (5-5) joining her in the back court. Versatile senior Hailey Johnson (5-9) can play on the back and front court. That trio will be joined by the forward duo of senior Myasia Majors (5-8) and sophomore Na’Jaziah Carter (5-8) in the starting lineup.
Madison Johnson averaged 8.6 points per game, Hailey Johnson scored nine points per game and Campbell contributed five points per game.
Other team members are seniors Harmony Wynn (5-9) and Avanti Stitch (5-10), and freshmen Erriol Washington (5-4), Jaidyn Rankin (5-7), Sharvaya Ellis (5-6), Anejah Majors (5-7) and Raynia Lyons (5-4)
The Lady Greyhounds defeated Avella and West Greyhounds in the WPIAL playoffs before losing to St. Joseph’s in the WPIAL semifinals.
Monessen lost its lone PIAA game to Otto-Eldred, 57-30.
The Lady Greyhounds will again compete in Section 2-A with California, Geibel Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
The Lady Greyhounds’ non-section schedule includes Chartiers-Houston and Washington — perennial postseason entrants — Charleroi, Westinghouse, Brashear, Sto-Rox and Eden Christian Academy.
Vertacnik is assisted by Hanna Kline, Jessica Popovich and Kinsey Wilson.
“Our goal is to win the section again, advance further in the playoffs,” Vertacnik said. “We’d like to get to the Pete (Pitt’s Petersen Events Center). It’s time to win a state (playoff) game.”