Quaker Valley wrapped up a successful girls basketball season with 19 wins and an appearance in the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.
QV finished 19-8 overall and 12-2 in Section 1-3A. The Quakers took an eight-game winning streak into the postseason and also won five games in a row following an 0-3 start.
The QV hoopsters advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinal round, qualified for the PIAA playoffs and compiled a 3-2 record in the postseason.
“I am very pleased with the season overall and the growth of the team in so many ways,” QV coach Ken Johns said.
“To see them grow as players and as young women and then to see them come together as a team in the way that they did was great to see.
“As competitors, we can easily get caught up in what we could have done better. If we had made another shot or two or gotten a rebound or loose ball here or there, what would have that meant? But in the end, we played well and fairly consistently throughout the year, and I feel like we were playing some of our best basketball at the end of the year, and that’s all you can ask.”
QV’s 6-foot-5 senior Mimi Thiero was an imposing figure to opposing teams throughout her career and particularly in 2025-26.
Thiero led the Quakers in scoring with a 28.6 points per game average, rebounding by pulling down 15.7 per game and blocks with a 4.5 average.
The Maryland recruit played in 94 games at QV and ended her career as the all-time leading scorer with 2,021 points to go along with her 1,340 rebounds, 384 blocks, 271 steals and 253 assists.
“Looking back, I feel really grateful for the opportunity to represent Quaker Valley and being a part of such a special program,” Thiero said.
“It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m proud of what our team was able to accomplish together.
“My favorite memories will be all of the long bus rides together to away games and using ‘team bonding’ as excuses to hang out because my teammates are truly my best friends.”
Johns was grateful for the senior leadership displayed by Thiero, Lucy Roig and Mia Flora during the 2025-26 season.
“Obviously, having someone as talented and hardworking as Mimi gave us a boost and an edge,” Johns said, “but her leadership along with that of our other two seniors, Lucy Roig and Mia Floro, was good. Their styles of leadership complemented each other, and having that experience and having been around the program for a while really makes a difference every day.
“The end of the season is a sudden thing. It takes a little while to process that. But I know that when we have a chance to reflect back on the season, it was a special one full of individual and team milestones and some great experiences. And for the team, while maybe not a milestone, our trip to Florida was a first and something that was a great experience.”
Thiero was complemented this season by 5-6 sophomore guard Keira Watson, who averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
“We had contributions from a number of players throughout the season,” Johns said. “Our individual and team defense was really good. With Lucy Roig and Anna Campbell doing an outstanding job on the perimeter and Mimi anchoring us, I thought our defense was key to the success we had.
“Keira took a big leap in her all-around game. Seeing her confidence grow throughout the season and then having her bring that to the games was a big factor for us. Her shooting got more consistent as did her ballhandling and getting into the paint. She put a lot of extra work in, getting shots up after practice and working on her own outside of practice. Hard work pays off, and she’s a testament to that. I’m excited to see what the next two years has in store for her.”
The Quakers won three of four games in the district playoffs before losing to Northwestern, 37-22, in the first round of the state tournament.
QV defeated Keystone Oaks, 50-36, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs then lost to Seton LaSalle, 57-54, in the quarterfinals. The Quakers beat Avonworth, 54-35, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 41-25, in the consolation rounds.
“The PIAA playoff game against Northwestern was a really competitive game against a good team,” Johns said. “I thought our defense was outstanding. We knew they were going to score, but to keep them pretty far under their season average in points was a testament to how hard we played.
“We just had one of those nights where we could not put the ball in the basket. Sometimes that happens, but our effort was at a pretty high level. We had to start fouling to get the ball back late in the game, so the score difference is a bit deceiving as to how close the game was throughout. I’m not sure it was more than a three- or five-point difference either way until the last few minutes of the game. And it was a great environment. Just needed a few more shots to go in.”
QV ended up in second place in section play behind Beaver Falls, which was 12-0.
The Quakers averaged 50.2 points per game and allowed 34.6 ppg, which ranked among the best offensive and defensive averages in Class 3A.