The North Allegheny girls basketball team is ready to distance itself from its first losing season in nearly four decades.
First-year coach Jill Capozzi said the Tigers are focused on the future as they try to rebound from a 9-14 disappointment.
“We’re not looking in that rearview mirror at all,” Capozzi said. “We put it aside, and we asked everyone to put it aside, because we are forward-facing.”
Capozzi was hired in early May to replace Gabby Baldasare, who stepped down after her lone season. It was the Tigers’ first losing season since 1987-88.
“We’re on a mission this year, that’s for sure,” said Capozzi, who coached the previous three seasons at Class A Sewickley Academy. “A lot of stuff was left on the table last year, and I think the girls are looking forward to proving a lot, not only to themselves but to others.”
Leading the way is senior Vange Balouris, a first-team all-section guard who last season averaged 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.2 assists.
“Last year, toward the end of the season, I definitely think we dropped the ball,” Balouris said. “We’ve been talking about it since last season ended. We’re going to go all-out this season and give it all we’ve got.”
The Tigers went 5-5 in Section 1-6A last season and reached the WPIAL playoffs for the 18th consecutive year, but a 52-30 first-round loss to No. 1 Norwin set the stage for a soul-searching offseason.
The Tigers skipped the traditional summer and fall basketball leagues, instead working with their new coach and her staff to build chemistry.
“We needed more time to glue as a team,” Capozzi said, “rather than just roll a ball out and freestyle it.”
The Tigers return six of their top nine players and welcome a pair of talented freshmen who are expected to make an immediate impact.
That potential has lifted the team’s expectations for Capozzi (nee Halapin), a former NCAA Division II All-American at Pitt-Johnstown who starred at Franklin Regional.
“They are extremely focused and extremely energized,” Capozzi said. “I told the seniors that we have to make this season spectacular for you. That has been the goal from day one. Not only my seniors — because of the hardship of going through three coaches in three years — but because they deserve that.”
Junior guard/forward Rosalia Varlotta, one of the heroes on this fall’s WPIAL champion and state runner-up NA girls soccer team, is dealing with a hip injury. A second-team all-section pick last season after averaging 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, Varlotta has an uncertain timetable for her return, Capozzi said.
Other top players are a pair of senior forwards, 6-foot Cate Pingpank and 6-1 Rae Shanahan, senior guard Maddie Williams and junior guard Audrey Robertson.
Freshman Macy Sundgren is the frontrunner for the point guard job on a team that was besieged by turnover issues last season.
Another freshman who has opened eyes is Lexi Momper, a skilled, athletic 5-9 forward.
The Tigers averaged about 20 turnovers per game last season, and protecting the ball was the top priority during offseason drills.
“When you see so many turnovers, you have to believe that comes from just poor decision-making,” Capozzi said. “Instead of hounding the kids on how many turnovers they were registering last year, we are looking at giving our players a better eye at making decisions. That has been a huge focus.”
Balouris said the players are determined to revive a program that had 12 consecutive 20-win seasons and reached the WPIAL finals eight times in nine years before last season’s steep decline.
“We know what we did wrong last year, and we’ve really harped on that,” she said. “We’re ready to show how we’ve improved.”