Gianna DeVito
School: Kiski Area
Class: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Claim to fame: DeVito opened the week by scoring 18 points in a 56-29 Section 2-5A win over West Mifflin on Monday. She followed that with 22 points in a 58-46 win against Serra Catholic on Wednesday. Monday’s win helped keep the Cavaliers (7-4, 2-3) in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Tough 48-41 loss Friday night against section foe Penn-Trafford, but it was a close contest. What’s your assessment on how the team played that evening?
The past couple of years, Penn-Trafford has been really aggressive and always beat us by 20 points. We were pretty shocked that we only lost by six or seven. I was proud of how we stuck with it throughout the game and didn’t give up. We started the game off very strong. They had the lead for a few minutes, but we fought back to take the lead. We were meshing well together, even our passes were very good. We made some dumb mistakes, and if we just work to eliminate those, it would have changed the outcome of the game.
What’s your sense of how the team has competed up to this point?
We’ve been puting in a lot of work in practice. We dig through film and see what offense and defense the opposition is running, and we prepare very well for our games and that helps a lot.
You close out the first tour through Section 2-5A at McKeesport on Monday. What will you need to do to finish that first leg at 3-3?
We have to keep playing the way we have been. Friday night we went hard the entire game and were playing well together. If we keep our energy, we’ll be fine.
What will the team need to do for a better outcome your second time through the section?
Our turnovers. When we play the top dogs of our section, like Indiana or Penn-Trafford, our shots will eventually fall, and our defense is pretty good, but we only hurt ourselves if we don’t get our turnovers in check.
Coming into the season, the talk was about this team playing strong defensively. Do you feel like you guys are seeing the results you wanted at the midway point of the season?
I feel like it depends on which team we play. Some teams, their offenses aren’t as strong. When we played West Mifflin, we had a ton of steals, but when we played Penn-Trafford, we didn’t have as many. We have a bunch of different sets on defense, like we run a lot of different zones and play man. I feel like the defense is playing well.
What’s it been like playing for new coach Tom Brush, and what’s something new you’ve learned under his tutelage?
He’s a great guy, super nice. Great coach. He pushes us hard in practice. He does make us play a few things differently. I’ve been playing with a few girls on the team since I was in sixth grade. We were always taught to switch on screens, but Coach Brush told us in the summer that we would not be switching on screens, and we were all shocked and thought it was sort of weird. But we’ve since grown out of that, and it comes naturally to us.
Coach Brush said you had a good offseason. What did you do to prepare for this year?
At practice, I feel like I’m going hard, giving 100% and not to help me, but to help my teammates. I came straight from volleyball season, so I felt I was already in great shape, and I felt like that helped me a lot.
What’s it like being one half of a tall front court, as fellow guard Jada Blanciak is also 5-foot-11?
Us being on the court at the same time helps us defensively because we have long wingspans, and it helps us generate steals. We know how we play, so we mesh very well together.
Your highest point output this season was 25 against Freeport in the second game of the season. What’s the most you’ve ever scored in a game?
It would be that 25 against Freeport.
You’re averaging 14.8 points a game. Is that the level of production you thought you would have at this point in the season?
Whenever the start of the season came around, my mom asked me how many points I thought I was going to average, and I did say about 15. I wish it was a little higher. During the early part of the season, I was only scoring maybe five or six a game. I’m happy with the number, but I hope to raise it as the season goes on.
You want to try and raise that average, but you don’t want to push it too far to the point where you’re messing with team chemistry?
I definitely don’t want to be a ball hog. I feel one of my strong suits is my passing. I felt like I did a good job of feeding Jada and Alaysia Bell Friday night. I’m always looking to get my teammates scoring opportunities.
What individual goals did you set for yourself this season?
To score at least 15 points a game. I was hoping for 1,000 points for my career, but I’m not sure If I’m going to make it.
What goals did the team set?
We want to make the playoffs. Last year was a rocky season, and we didn’t get to make the postseason but I feel we can make it this year.
What was your favorite Christmas gift you received?
My over-the-ear Beats headphones. I always listen to music before games to lock in. They’re my favorite because of how frequently I use them.
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?
My resolution was to stop procrastinating my work and just get it done. I also wanted to workout more outside of practice because track season is coming up, and I need to put in work there as well.
What are your future plans after graduation?
I will probably attend Bucknell for track and field, and I will probably major in sports media.
Baxter Diehm
School: Valley
Class: Senior
Sport: Bowling
Claim to fame: Diehm rolled a perfect game as the Valley boys bowling team defeated previously unbeaten Plum, 5-2, on Wednesday. Diehm went on to roll an 816 series in the match. Both his series and 300 game are school records.
How did you get started with bowling?
I have always loved bowling. The owner of Wildlife Lanes, Mark, gave me a sponge bowling ball that I learned to walk with, and I started in a bumper league when I was 2.
Was that the first time you’ve bowled a 300 in a high school competition?
Yes, I had one in a high school practice in ninth grade, but it was my first during a high school match.
What was going through your mind as you looked at the board and saw you were getting closer to a perfect game, or were you in a zone and not really thinking about it?
I was thinking the more that I strike the better chance I give my team to win, and if I shoot 300 it is a bonus.
Had you rolled a perfect game any other time that you’ve bowled?
This was my sixth 300th game.
Was 816 the highest series you’d ever rolled?
This was my third 800 series and my highest.
What were your scores in the other games Wednesday night?
300, 237 and 279.
Could you feel yourself building toward that result as you bowled your first two games, or did it sort of come out of nowhere?
Yes, I felt super confident going into the last game that I could shoot my high series.
What were your thoughts or reaction when you found out that you had set school records for both your game and series scores?
I felt very happy about it, but was happier we beat an undefeated team and set a school team record.
How did it feel to get that win over Plum?
It felt very good to win. Every other bowler on the team is a first- or second-year bowler, and beating Plum shows how hard we have worked all year.
You finished in first place on the boys side in the WCCA tournament last year. What’s your confidence level heading into that competition this year?
I feel very confident going into the WCCA tournament this year. I am hoping for a good finish individually and for my team. I worked hard on the offseason in preparation of my senior year. I changed two years ago from one-handed bowling to two-handed bowling, so it’s been a lot of work but I am happy it’s paying off.
How much do you think you’ll be able to improve upon the 727 series and 266 high game you rolled last year?
I wouldn’t necessarily try to beat last year’s score, but it depends on how hard of an oil pattern they put out and being one of the top finishers. If it is simply a house shot, I think I can score around 727 or higher.
Do you have a routine before you bowl or how do you prepare for a match?
I usually just sit and play on my phone or listen to music to clear my head.
Have you bowled at Junior Gold?
Yes I have gone to Junior Gold 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. This year I made it through two advancer rounds and finished 41st out of over 1,300 in my age division.
What were your goals coming into the season?
For high school it would be to win section MVP, league MVP, and make states and finish top five.
Do you play any other sports?
I am on the high school golf team and tennis team. I am also a competitive axe thrower.
Do you have a favorite subject in school?
I have a couple of subjects that I like, but I have teachers like Mr. Linde and Ms. Link who have been there to help me and challenge me.
Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
Not really. I just continue to bowl well.
What are your plans after graduation?
I know I definitely want to go to a college that has a bowling team. I have done several tours, met with coaches and am trying to find the best fit for me. I know I need to decide soon. I’m looking at majoring in business management.