Over the last two seasons, the Springdale girls basketball team saw improvement in the wins column. The Dynamos won seven games in 2023-24 and 11 in 2024-25 and made the playoffs.
“Last year, we were a year older, and I felt like we knew more basketball,” said coach Mike Dudjak. “Players bought into what we were doing, and we all pulled together and played as a unit.”
Springdale finished with an 11-12 record overall and was 8-6 in Section 1-A. Making the playoffs was great for the program, but a lopsided 45-12 loss to Bishop Canevin in the first round brought the season to a close.
“The players, coaches, school and community were excited for us to make the playoffs,” said Dudjak. “To be honest, it sort of surprised me. As a coach, you are your hardest critic, have high expectations and are a realist most of the time. So, if someone had told me before the season we would win 11 games and make the playoffs, I would have been skeptical.”
Dudjak wasn’t knocking the positives his team took away from last year. He just knows that there is still a lot of learning to do for his young basketball team as it looks to continue upon the upward trajectory it has built the last two seasons.
First, the team can look back at two particular wins from last year that Dudjak said “would not have happened in my first year.”
The first was a tight 32-29 victory over Sewickley Academy at home in January. The Dynamos were down eight points at one time but fought back.
The second was a 42-39 overtime win at Western Beaver in February.
In his third year as coach, Dudjak is looking to find ways to make practices more challenging to assist in the development of his players.
“Last year, I felt practices went more fluid, smoother and we got through a lot more things,” Dudjak said. “We did a little more advanced things than we did the year before. This year, we’re looking to build off of last year. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
As the Dynamos get prepared for the season, those practices will be crucial in determining who will fill out the starting lineup.
“Every position is open right now,” Dudjak said less than three weeks before the season opener.
Springdale lost two seniors from last year in Ashlyn Ferderbar and Clare Schneider.
The most experienced returning player is senior Cara Leahy, who has started 44 games in her career. Fellow returning senior starter Maggie Simonetti will also be looked on as a leader.
“Maggie’s gotten better as time has gone on,” said Dudjak. “She comes to the gym and works. She also runs track, is a great athlete. We’re expecting big things from both her and Cara this season.”
Coming off the bench are a pair of juniors in Talia Brunck and Jocelyn Dexter, who played well last year and are expected to contribute more his year.
“For us to be successful, everybody is going to have to pick up their game,” said Dudjak. “Our new girls, hopefully they can come right into the fold and contribute as well.”
Two of those newcomers are sophomores Genevieve Conklin and Ainsley Wade, both of whom are coming off a PIAA semifinals appearance with the soccer team.
“I was as excited as all heck for that,” said Dudjak. “Ainsley played eighth grade basketball for me and is a very good athlete. She’ll do good things for us. Genevieve is a true competitor. No one outworks her. She’ll do everything you coach her to do. Both are terrific additions.”
The focus for the Dynamos is to get better each and every day.
“The reality is as we sit here right now before the season, we’re not good enough to beat anyone,” said Dudjak. “We have to go out, work and earn it. Every other team is also getting better.”
Springdale opens its season hosting a tipoff tournament with Trinity Christian, Jeannette and Derry. Then the Dynamos play Carrick, Riverview, Valley and Sto-Rox for their nonsection schedule.
They will also participate in a holiday tournament hosted by Neighborhood Academy before they play Carrick once more and Propel Braddock Hills.
That’s all before they get into section play, where three teams from their section made the PIAA playoffs.
“There’s not going to be an easy game,” said Dudjak. “I tell our girls, you can’t walk into any gym and expect to win. I expect this section to be just as tough as it was last year. Aquinas Academy is the team to beat. Union and St. Joseph are also going to be good.”
It may sound very demanding, but to build a successful program like Dudjak is looking to do, players have to be challenged as they look to improve their skills and stack wins.
No matter how the season shakes out, Dudjak will be proud of his team as long as they compete their hardest.
“We’re going to take this season game by game,” Dudjak said. “I want the girls to come to practice work hard, develop skills and learn how to play the game correctly. Go out there on game night and compete, but don’t quit. If they do that and we let the chips fall where they may, a lot of those chips will fall in our favor.”
Springdale girls at a glance
Coach: Mike Dudjak
Last year’s record: 11-12 (8-6 in Section 1, Class A)
Returning starters: Cara Leahy (Sr., G), Talia Brunck (Jr., G/F), Maggie Simonetti (Sr., G)
Top newcomers: Jocelyn Dexter (Jr., F) Genevieve Conklin (So.), Ainsley Wade (So.)
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
11.28, Jeannette^, 6:30 p.m.
11.29, TBD^
12.2, Carrick, 7:30 p.m.
12.3, Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
12.5, Valley, 6 p.m.
12.8, at Sto-Rox, 6:30 p.m.
12.11, at Leechburg*, 6:30 p.m.
12.15, Eden Christian Academy*, 6 p.m.
12.22, Union*, 6 p.m.
12.29, TBD
12.30, TBD
1.5, at Sewickley Academy*, 7:30 p.m.
1.8, at Western Beaver*, 6 p.m.
1.12, St. Joseph*, 6 p.m.
1.15, Leechburg*, 7 p.m.
1.19, at Eden Christian Academy*, 6 p.m.
1.22, Aquinas Academy*, 7:30 p.m.
1.26, at Union*, 5:30 p.m.
1.29, Sewickley Academy*, 7:30 p.m.
2.2, Western Beaver*, 6 p.m.
2.4, at Aquinas Academy*, 7:30 p.m.
2.5, at St. Joseph*, 7 p.m.
*Section game
^Springdale tip-off tournament
Neighborhood Academy holiday tournament