Plum’s Riley Stephans received Valley News Dispatch Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors in March after finishing a stellar season on the court. However, the senior was not done yet.
Stephans led the Plum softball team to a 14-6 season and a first-round victory in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, wrapping up a senior year worthy of being chosen as the Valley News Dispatch Girls Athlete of the Year.
Stephans savored her final seasons as much as she could, equally valuing her experiences playing basketball and softball. She could not pick a favorite between the two.
“Just kind of depends on the year,” Stephans said. “I’m not gonna lie. It was pretty (much) tied this year.”
Although from an achievement standpoint, one moment stood above the rest. Stephans surpassed 1,000 career points in a game against Penn-Trafford on Jan. 21, accomplishing the rare feat.
“That milestone was probably one of the best feelings that I’ve probably ever had,” Stephans said. “It just brought me so much joy, and the team we beat that game was like a very important game for our season, so Penn-Trafford probably was the cherry on top.”
Stephans averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Mustangs and made the WPIAL Section 1-5A all-star team.
“I think this season was one of my best overall seasons, with shooting, going to the rim and defense in general,” Stephans said. “I think (in) prior seasons, I haven’t been able to do all three of those, but this season, it just really clicked for me.”
Stephans led Plum to an 18-5 overall record. The Mustangs won the WPIAL Section 1-5A title outright by finishing 10-2 in section play.
“She was much more focused. That’s the best way for me to describe it: much more focused,” Plum girls basketball coach Rich Mull said. “And she bought into even more of what we were trying to do. … It was one of the best seasons we’ve had, I think maybe the best season they’ve ever had, at least in my time there.”
Over 83 1⁄3 innings in 17 games for Plum softball, Stephans registered 96 strikeouts in a highly competitive section, receiving Section 1-5A first-team pitching honors in addition to being named a first-team VND softball all-star.
“I always enjoy being in the circle,” Stephans said. “I’ve been doing it since I was 7 years old, and just the thought of me doing it and doing it all those years, and then for me to finally get the groove and be feeling natural in it, it just makes me feel very confident in myself.”
Stephans had a .379 batting average, 23 RBIs, four home runs and six doubles this season, helping take Plum to the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals.
Stephans also played volleyball for Plum in the fall, so it’s safe to say she enjoyed keeping herself busy.
“A three-sport athlete, she didn’t really have a whole lot of time to put into softball because basketball season is right before softball season,” Plum softball coach Phil DiLonardo said. “The basketball season is a grind, too, and for her to be able to do as well as she does without really putting a whole lot of time into it is pretty amazing.”
Though she will not play a sport for Slippery Rock, Stephans can use lessons from her experiences and coaches.
“I think in seventh or eighth grade they came to watch me in some of my other sports when I went to my other school, or just rec ball for Plum, and I guess they saw something in me,” Stephans said. “And ever since then, they really just took their time to get to know me, put in the effort to make me better, which I’ll always appreciate from both of them.”