After winning the WPIAL championship and finishing as runners-up in the PIAA state championship in 2022, Mt. Lebanon girls\u2019 basketball is hungry for another trip to \u201cthe Pete.\u201d Four years later, the team believes this could be the season they return, thanks to extensive offseason work and a tight-knit roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior captain Reese Hall said her final season means everything to her. Hall has Division III offers from Allegheny College, Dickinson and Washington & Jefferson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have worked so hard to get to where I am today, even through the challenges I faced along the way,\u201d Hall said. \u201cBeing a senior means I am one of the people the underclassmen look up to, and I want to be someone they can rely on and count on as a leader.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a 46\u201345 win against Chartiers Valley on Dec. 4, Hall said her personal goal \u2014 and the team\u2019s \u2014 is clear: make it back to the Pete and compete for another WPIAL title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think we have the ability to do so because we have so many talented players on our team, and we mix so well together,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to continue to work hard every day and strive to be the best player I can be while enjoying and cherishing my last year playing for Lebo basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Returning junior starter Elizabeth Twyman said last season\u2019s semifinal loss to Upper St. Clair has fueled their motivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She has also felt the shift in responsibility that comes with becoming an upperclassman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI notice how I am more involved in bigger decisions regarding the team dynamic,\u201d Twyman said. \u201cEven during practice, most of the younger players are asking questions and wanting feedback that the upperclassmen are required to know. Being a junior also means I need to bring energy to the team environment so that we can all create chemistry on and off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both players emphasized the strength of the team\u2019s chemistry this season. Twyman noted that the team holds a Secret Santa exchange to bond outside of basketball, while Hall said the team is exceptionally supportive of one another, leading to strong communication and energy during practices and games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Hall, the bond between upper- and underclassmen is especially meaningful this year because her sister, Rylee, is a freshman. It\u2019s the first time they\u2019ve shared a team since they were children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy sister and I have been playing basketball together ever since we were younger,\u201d Hall said. \u201cWe were both always so competitive, especially when we would play against each other. My sister means so much to me, and getting to play on the same court as her means the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twyman credited past seniors for shaping the program\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince my freshman year, I have looked up to the seniors on and off the court,\u201d Twyman said. \u201cOne important lesson they\u2019ve taught me is to move on from a hard loss or bad game. Holding on to things from the past only hurts your abilities as a player and can crush the overall team dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both players said shooting is one of the team\u2019s strengths. Twyman said the roster features skilled guards and several forwards capable of hitting 3-pointers in practice. She added that rebounding \u2014 on both ends of the floor \u2014 is a major point of emphasis this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond chasing another WPIAL championship, Hall said she is motivated by her family, teammates and her love for the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy family has always been so supportive of me in everything I do, and I appreciate all the time they\u2019ve put into watching me play,\u201d Hall said. \u201cMy teammates motivate me to work harder every day, and I want to play for them and accomplish our goals this season. I\u2019ve loved basketball since I was little, so for my final season, I want to make the most of everything and keep doing what makes me happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twyman said the coaching staff plays a major role in her drive to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know how much faith my coaches have in me, which makes me want to get better every day,\u201d she said. \u201cThe entire coaching staff sees my full potential even in times when I play bad, which makes me show up every day and allows me to work hard and set a good example for the younger girls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said confidence is a message she stresses to them often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGetting on the court nervous is normal, but having confidence is a game-changer,\u201d Twyman said. \u201cThis allows you to stay dialed in during games, and ultimately is what makes good players great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hall echoed that message and encouraged younger players to appreciate every moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNever give up on yourself and work to get better every single day, even when you\u2019re faced with challenges and obstacles,\u201d Hall said. \u201cMake the most out of every practice, game and team dinner. It really does go by so fast, so always cherish the moments you have on and off the court with your teammates.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senior leadership, team chemistry and offseason work spark high expectations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":35047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"nfd_image_url":"","nfd_onboarding_generated":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-high-school"],"yoast_head":"\n