LADY TIGERS TABBED PRESEASON NO. 1 IN PENNSYLVANIA
North Allegheny athletics recently concluded a dazzling fall sports season with three state titles (Girls Tennis, Girls Golf and Girls Volleyball) to go along with an individual state champion (Ashley Huang – Girls Tennis) as well. Before the winter sports season has even tipped off, the North Allegheny girls’ basketball team is projected as Class 6A’s No. 1 team in the state of Pennsylvania by Lancaster Newspapers and Jeff Reinhart.
The Tigers are coming off a banner season in 2016-17, winning the program’s first WPIAL title and reaching the PIAA championship game in Hershey. North Allegheny loses only one senior and returns several key pieces from last year’s championship team.
Senior forward Madelyn Fischer, a Seton Hill commit, and senior guard Piper Morningstar, a Radford University commit, are two valuable contributors on the inside and perimeter. Also back is the team’s leading scorer from a season ago, junior guard Rachel Martindale who averaged 12 points per game and poured in a team-high 69 3-pointers, hitting at a 37-percent clip. Martindale initially gave a verbal commitment to play softball at the University of Pittsburgh but reconsidered in the fall. She is receiving numerous looks from Division I programs for college basketball. Senior guard Courtney Roman returns to provide additional fire power from beyond the arc.
Always a hallmark for teams led by Spencer Stefko, entering is third season at North Allegheny, is a stifling and turnover creating defense. Junior guard Brynn Serbin, a player who notched 46 steals last season, will again spearhead the defensive efforts. A tremendous facilitator as well, Serbin posted a team-best 91 assists.
The No. 1-ranked North Allegheny Tigers will open the 2017-2018 season on Friday, December 8 against the Penn Hills Indians at the Wright Automotive Tip-Off Tournament. The Indians are ranked No. 5 in the state in the same poll.