Bethel Park’s girls basketball team competed in five WPIAL playoff games last season.
The Black Hawks qualified for the postseason by finishing fourth in Section 4-5A with a 6-6 record, behind Peters Township (12-0), Thomas Jefferson (10-2) and Baldwin (7-5).
Third-year coach Steve Norman welcomed a trio returning starters to this year’s team — senior point guard Kat Boff, sophomore guard Fiona O’Neill and junior forward A.J. Elphinstone.
“We expect to be competitive in section play and hope to return to the playoffs,” Norman said. “Making it to states last year and the added practice time and games was great for our program. We’re hoping to make another run.”
“Kat Boff and Fiona O’Neill will look to pick up a lot of the points left behind by our graduating seniors. Bella Coleman will also have a lot of opportunity. We’re looking for juniors Avery Bonacci (G), Gabby Labate (G) and A.J. Elphinstone to score more as well.”
Bella Coleman, a Waynesburg University recruit, is a 5-foot-2 senior guard.
“We have been working on defense and knowing when to cut and move around on offense,” Coleman said. “It’s going to help us a lot in the season on offense and defense.
“My expectations are for us to play as a team and work well together, win and bring a lot of energy to every gym on the court and bench.”
Coleman plans to major in nursing with a minor in child development at Waynesburg. She enjoyed the small-college atmosphere she experienced on her visit.
“I really loved the campus,” she said, “and I really liked that the school is small. The coaches made me feel very welcome, and I really liked the way they talked about how they coach. I think it’s going to be a really good fit.”
Coleman, Boff and Elphinstone are the Black Hawks’ team captains.
Boff, who is 5-6, also is a member of the girls volleyball program and plans to join the flag football squad this year. She said she’s hoping the basketball team makes the playoffs again and qualify for the state tournament.
Bethel Park advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals and PIAA first round in 2024-25. The Black Hawks lost to York Suburban, 47-34, in the state playoffs to end up 12-15 overall.
“I’m hoping we can go even farther than we did last year,” Boff said. “We’ve been working on playing together and connecting as a team rather than just five separate players on the court.”
The 5-10 Elphinstone noted that the Black Hawks have been working to improve on defense in their practices and regular-season games.
“I expect to make playoffs and grow as a team throughout the season,” she said.
Elphinstone, whose initials A.J. stand for Alice Jance, is involved in the Best Buddies club at her school.
There are 17 players in the girls basketball program at Bethel Park: three seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen. Nine girls were letter winners in 2024-25
“Addy Owen and Naiya Turner are both freshmen that have the chance to make a big impact this season,” Norman said.
Owen and Turner are guards.
Hoping to make their presence felt in reserve roles in 2025-26 are senior forward Abby Stutzman, junior guards Malana Wetzel, Sarah Nath and Lucy Dzanaj, sophomore guards Mia Hogue and Emma Straub, sophomore forward Ellery Stipp and freshmen guards Ella Carbone and Lucia Lo Castro.
Sadie Orie was the team’s leading scorer as a senior last year, tossing in 15.3 points per game. She is now a freshman guard on the Worchester Polytechnic Institute women’s basketball squad.
Ella Sabatos pulled down a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game as a 6-foot senior last season. Sabatos currently is a freshman forward at Frostburg State.
Bethel Park started out 6-2 last year but then went on a six-game losing streak and finished with an 11-15 overall record.
The 12th-seeded Black Hawks knocked out No. 5 Franklin Regional, 46-45, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs then lost to No. 13 Mars, 55-42, in the quarterfinals. Two consolation-round losses followed to No. 9 Baldwin, 48-42, and No. 7 Indiana, 50-37.
Bethel Park entered last year’s playoffs with an 11-11 record then went 1-4 in the postseason.
The Black Hawks were scheduled to tip off their 2025-26 season Dec. 8 at home against Canon-McMillan. The meat of their schedule will take place in January with nine games, including eight section contests.
Norman predicted Thomas Jefferson, Baldwin and Peters Township to be the teams to beat in the section again this winter. Trinity, Uniontown and Albert Gallatin round out the section.
Dillon Penix and Kaitlyn Shawley are serving as Norman’s assistants this season.