Bayleigh Perez is confident about what happens when the basketball leaves her hands. Shaler’s 5-foot-2 senior point guard enjoys pushing the pace.
The Titans prefer to be on the move this season and have seen a spark from their offense. They are 11-2 overall and 5-1 in Section 5A.
Shaler averages 52.1 points per game, an improvement over the 40.2 points the Titans averaged last season.
“I’m very confident,” Perez said. “I trust all of my teammates, no matter who I pass the ball to.”
Shaler opened section play with four straight wins before losing by six points to Franklin Regional on Jan. 13 on the road.
The Titans, who missed out on the playoffs last season, have already exceeded their win total from last year by three games.
“We definitely play faster,” Perez said. “We don’t have to stop and set up a play. We can get out in transition.”
First-year Shaler coach Tony Grenek said the Titans wanted to open things up on the offensive end of the floor.
When the Titans get the ball, Grenek wants to see everyone in motion. When they get an opportunity to shoot the ball, Grenek wants them to get shots up.
Grenek, who led Point Park University’s women’s program for 11 seasons, said it’s something he picked up from dealing with a shot clock.
“The kids have a green light to shoot,” Grenek said. “We want to rebound and run every chance we get. I think the girls know they have the green light to shoot as much as they want.”
Shaler has size underneath with 6-3 center Jorja Bernesser. Sophomores Reese Smetanka and Olivia Gieraltowski have filled in key roles for the Titans.
Noelle Roth and Gieraltowski have been asked to help pressure the ball for the Shaler defense. The Titans have been working on employing several different sets to keep their opponents off balance.
Grenek said Shaler’s biggest challenge down the stretch will be to add more depth to the lineup. The Titans have been struck by injury and illness. While Shaler has had a steady starting lineup, filling in those key roles off the bench will be a work in progress.
Payton Fox, Emily Berger and Sally Engel have all missed some time due to injury or illness. It’s given some of Shaler’s younger players time to get their feet wet. Allison Greygor, a 5-1 freshman guard, has been one of the players filling in.
“I was just telling my assistant coach that we need more depth one through five,” Grenek said.