By: Bill Hartlep

Thursday, November 30, 2023 | 8:33 PM

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Union enjoyed the best girls basketball season in program history a year ago, winning WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships and building a record of 23-6.

Pennsylvania’s Class A coach of the year, Rob Nogay, returns a pair of all-state players as the Scotties will try to defend their titles.

It won’t come easy, as several contenders have emerged, including WPIAL runner-up Aquinas Academy and semifinalists Bishop Canevin and St. Joseph, among others.

Here is a rundown of players to watch, Top 5 teams and other notables in WPIAL Class A girls basketball this season.

Preseason Player of the Year

Kelly Cleaver, Union

6-0, Sr., forward

15.4 ppg last season

Players to watch

Kylie Fruestorfer, Union

5-5, Jr., guard, 12.5 ppg

Haley Johnson, Monessen

5-9, Sr., guard/forward, 9.2 ppg

Emma Larkin, Geibel

5-4, So., guard, 23.1 ppg

Kasie Meek, West Greene

5-8, Sr., forward, 14.3 ppg

Julie Spinelli, St. Joseph

5-11, Jr., guard/forward, 19.2 ppg

Preseason Top 5

1. Union (23-6 last season)

Senior forward Kelly Cleaver (15.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg) and junior guard Kylie Fruestorfer (12.5 ppg) helped Union win WPIAL and PIAA titles and earned first-team and second-team all-state honors, respectively. The Scotties, who held teams to 29.5 ppg in eight postseason wins, carry a 17-game winning streak into this season. The group will miss graduated starters Kayla Fruehstorfer, Zoe Lepri and Kendall Preuhs.

2. St. Joseph (20-7)

The Spartans were Section 3 champions a year ago and reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA playoffs. They return third-team all-state guard/forward Julie Spinelli, who averaged 19.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.8 spg and is one of seven seniors for new coach Geoff Dutelle. Spinelli, a Frostburg State commit who surpassed 1,000 career points last season, was joined on the all-section team by senior center Anna Kreinbrook (9.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and junior guard Gia Richter (10.8 ppg).

3. Monessen (17-7)

Fresh off winning the Section 2 championship and reaching the PIAA playoffs, Monessen will be led by five returning starters, including sisters in senior guard/forward Haley Johnson (9.2 ppg) and sophomore guard Madison Johnson (8.8 ppg), who each earned all-section recognition. Hailey Johnson (10.1) and senior forward MyAsia Majors (11.6) also averaged double-digit rebounds in 2022-23.

4. Aquinas Academy (17-10)

Aquinas Academy went just 2-4 and finished third in Section 1 but got hot in the playoffs to reach the WPIAL finals for the second straight season. Junior forward Violet Johnson was a key scorer in the postseason, and sophomore guard Ellie Junker (9.0 ppg) was an all-section selection. Senior guard Emily Fisher and sophomore guard Tess Duer also are returning starters.

5. Bishop Canevin (12-9)

The co-Section 1 champion Crusaders advanced to the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA playoffs last season. Bishop Canevin has won six WPIAL titles, including the 2022 championship in Class A.

Notable

• Riverview (11-11) was shorthanded in preseason workouts while eight players took part in the girls soccer team’s run to the PIAA finals. Trib HSSN girls soccer player of the year Lola Abraham, a Pitt soccer commit, returns after averaging 8.2 points and earning all-section honors for the Section 3 runner-up Raiders.

• West Greene (13-11), which finished second in Section 2 and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals, will lean on senior forward Kasie Meek, who was an all-section honoree after averaging 14.3 points.

• Geibel (11-12) reached the playoffs last season behind sophomore guard Emma Larkin, who earned all-section honors after averaging 23.1 ppg.

• Leechburg (7-12) returns four starters — guards Adalyn Zanotto and Grace Richards and forwards Olivia Vigna and Ava Richards — after taking third in Section 3.

• Ella D’Ippolito was an all-section forward for Eden Christian (8-16) last season after averaging 11.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 1.2 bpg as a sophomore. Junior guard Hope Haring (10.5 ppg) also returns.

• Jeannette (2-20) has just six players on its roster, but senior 6-0 guard/forward Venicia Vignoli averaged 10.0 ppg and earned all-section recognition last season.

• Of the 16 teams in Class A, 12 will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, including four of the five teams in Section 1 and 3.

Alignment

Section 1: Aquinas Academy, Bishop Canevin, Cornell, Eden Christian, Union

Section 2: Avella, Geibel, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, Monessen, West Greene

Section 3: Hillel Academy, Jeannette, Leechburg, Riverview, St. Joseph

Bill Hartlep is the sports editor of the Tribune-Review. You can contact Bill at bhartlep@triblive.com or via Twitter @BHartlep_Trib.

Tags: Aquinas Academy, Bishop Canevin, Eden Christian, Geibel, Jeannette, Leechburg, Monessen, Riverview, St. Joseph, Union, West Greene