The accolades keep coming for Tiff Lapotsky and Kayley Kovac.
Both were selected to the third team of their respective classifications of the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ All-State basketball teams, the Associated Press released Thursday.
But neither player believes it’s an individual achievement.
“It feels really good, but I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Lapotsky said. “They’re the ones that keep me going through all of this and I can’t thank them enough.
“I kind of knew that getting this meant going far, having a good run with the team,” she added. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Lapotsky (Class AA) led North Schuylkill to its league-best 14th Schuylkill League title this season after a dominating defensive performance. She also helped take the Spartans to the District 11 Class AA title game.
The junior guard averaged 15.8 points per game, 6.3 assists, 3.6 steals and 4.2 rebounds. She also increased her accuracy from 3-point range throughout the season, finishing with 1.1 3-pointers per game.
Kovac (Class AAA) earns a selection to the All-State team in only her freshman season. She immediately turned heads in her rookie year, averaging 24.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. She finished with the area’s highest points total (541) despite Jim Thorpe missing the postseason.
“It’s an honor to be selected as a freshman,” Kovac said. “Especially in Class AAA with how talented the classification is.”
The 5-foot-11 forward admitted an All-State selection wasn’t something she imagined possible in her first varsity season, but was glad the sacrifices she made to develop her game have paid off.
Kovac hopes to add to her achievements in her sophomore campaign by becoming a more efficient scorer — “Same points, fewer shots,” she said. But what’s more important to her is adding games to Jim Thorpe’s schedule. The Olympians fell a game short of District 11 Class AAA playoff qualification this year.
“Obviously as a team, we want to improve our record,” Kovac said. “This year, we were one game short of making the playoffs. Next year, our goal would be to make the district playoffs, if not better.”
With a talented group of underclassmen around her, it’s not hard to argue the potential of Kovac and her teammates has yet to be realized — which is a scary thought considering what she’s already accomplished.
For that matter, Lapotsky is far from finished showing her quality as well. Though North Schuylkill graduates two big seniors inside, Lapotsky wants to show heart and determination drive success, not awards and reputation.
“I gotta stay hungry,” she said. “I can’t be content with what I did. Things can change, but work ethic, you can’t lose that. I have to know that, yeah, I did get selected All-State, but I could do better.”
Lapotsky and Kovac follow Minersville’s Reighly Melochick and Pine Grove’s Becky Evans, All-Area Co-Players of the Year last year who were both selected second-team All-State in Class AA.
Cumberland Valley’s Kelly Jekot (Class AAAA), Blackhawk’s Chassidy Omogrosso (AAA), Neumann-Goretti’s Ciani Cryor (AA) and Vincentian Academy’s Brenna Wise (A) took home Player of the Year honors.
Coaches of the Year were Cumberland Valley’s Bill Wolf, Blackhawk’s Steve Lodovico, Neumann-Goretti’s Andrea Peterson and Old Forge’s Ron Stacchiotti.
The 2014-15 Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Girls Basketball teams, including each player’s school, height, class and scoring average.
CLASS AAAA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Kelly Jekot, Cumberland Valley
COACH OF THE YEAR — Bill Wolf, Cumberland Valley
FIRST TEAM
Jackie Benitez, Pocono Mountain West, 5-9, Sr., 26.3
Cecily Carl, Mechanicsburg, 6-3, Sr., 15.8
Alayna Gribble, Norwin, 6-0, Jr. 17.5
Kyla Irwin, State College, 6-2, Jr., 20.0
Kelly Jekot, Cumberland Valley, 6-0, Jr., 19.2
Nicole Munger, Central Bucks West, 5-10, Sr., 17.5
SECOND TEAM
Michaela Gelbaugh, Central Dauphin East, 5-10 Sr., 14.3
Amari Johnson, Dallastown, 6-1, Sr., 16.7
Ashley Jones, Cheltenham, 5-7, So., 22.6
Amanda Kalin, Pine-Richland, G, 5-8, So., 21.4
Maria Palarino, Penn-Trafford, 5-10, Sr., 17.5
Deja Rawls, Abington, 5-7, Sr., 12.3
Brittany Robinson, Central Dauphin East, 6-2 Sr., 17.2
THIRD TEAM
Mackenzie Carroll, Central Bucks West, 5-10, Sr., 11.4
Julie Cross, Upper Dublin, 6-2, Sr., 15.0
Abby Gonzales, North Allegheny, 5-7, Jr., 11.6
Andi Lydon, Shaler, 6-2, Sr., 16.4
Mary Sheehan, Cardinal O’Hara, 5-10, So., 12.5
Kristen Smoluk, Palmyra, 5-10, Sr., 11.9
Courtney Zezza, Plum, 6-3, Sr., 16.9
CLASS AAA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk
COACH OF THE YEAR — Steve Lodovico, Blackhawk
FIRST TEAM
Aubree Brown, Archbishop Wood, 6-0, Sr., 12.1
Bailey Greenberg, Archbishop Wood, 5-11, Jr., 13.3
Alyssa Monaghan, Bonner-Prendergast, 5-7, Sr., 18.0
Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk, 5-5, Sr., 27.1
Kalista Walters, Bethlehem Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 22.1
Sammie Weiss, McGuffey, 5-11, Sr., 25.9
SECOND TEAM
Jenay Faulkner, Greencastle-Antrim, 5-11, So., 17.0
Jess Genco, Scranton Prep, 5-4, Sr., 15.2
Alexa Golden, Chartiers Valley, 5-9, Sr., 16.0
Kaitlyn Lewis, North Pocono, 5-7, Sr., 21.0
Devon Merritt Berks Catholic, 6-2, Jr., 17.2
Claire Oberdorf, Greensburg Salem, 5-7, Sr., 27.1
Maddie Ritsick, Crestwood, 6-0, Jr., 24.3
THIRD TEAM
Miranda Hoover, Susquenita, 5-10, Sr., 18.5
Kayla Kline, Mifflinburg, 5-10, Jr., 21.0
Kayley Kovac, Jim Thorpe, F, 5-11, Fr., 24.6
Allison McGrath, South Park, 5-10, Jr., 17.8
Lexi Posset, Beaver, 5-7, Sr., 22.7
Kaitlyn Slagus, Belle Vernon, 6-2, Sr., 22.6
Courtney Vannoy, Blackhawk, 5-11, Sr., 12.2
CLASS AA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Ciani “C.C.” Cryor, Neumann-Goretti
COACH OF THE YEAR — Andrea Peterson, Neumann-Goretti
FIRST TEAM
Sydney Bordonaro, Burrell, 5-7, Sr., 20.6
Maddie Comly, Delone Catholic, 5-7, Sr., 22.8
Ciani “C.C.” Cryor, Neumann-Goretti, 5-5, Sr., 11.5
Alexis Lewis, Holy Redeemer, 5-9, Sr., 27.1
Sianni Martin, Neumann-Goretti, 5-8, Sr., 12.5
Cassidy Walsh, Seton-LaSalle, 5-9, Sr., 11.3
SECOND TEAM
Megan Eripret, Salisbury, 6-3, Sr., 18.3
Theresa Fachetti, Harbor Creek, 5-8, Sr., 20.6
Brooke Hinderliter, Redbank Valley, 5-8, Jr., 20.0
Ana Hollen, Bellwood-Antis, 5-7, Sr., 17.1
Deja Reynolds Imhotep Charter, 5-8, Sr., 11.3
Kayleigh Semion, Dunmore, 5-6, Sr., 13.8
Ahnje “A.J.” Timbers Neumann-Goretti, 5-11, Sr., 10.6
THIRD TEAM
Christina Aborowa, Neumann-Goretti, 6-4, Sr., 6.0
Becca Gravatt, Franklin, 5-9, Sr., 22.4
Karlee Krchnavi, Palisades, 6-0, Jr., 17.9
Tiffany Lapotsky, North Schuylkill, 5-6, Jr., 15.8
Nicolette Newman, Seton-La Salle, G, 5-7, Sr., 14.0
Conor Richardson, Carlynton, 5-10, Sr., 20.8
Haley Thomas, Bishop McCort, 5-10, Sr., 16.1
CLASS A
PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Brenna Wise, Vincentian
COACH OF THE YEAR — Ron Stacchiotti, Old Forge
FIRST TEAM
Martine Fortune, Shipley, 6-4, Sr., 12.9
Madison Johnson, Keystone, 5-9, Sr., 20.5
Chelsey Koren, Blairsville, 5-11, Sr., 18.1
Maria Morgan, Bucktail, 5-6, Sr., 28.0
Tori Tansley, Old Forge, 5-7, Sr., 17.0
Brenna Wise, Vincentian, 6-1, Sr., 20.8
SECOND TEAM
Lili Benzel, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-8, So., 19.3
April Bocian, Kennedy Catholic, 6-3, Jr., 11.4
Maci Bower, Millville, 5-11, Jr., 22.8
Sam Breen, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, 6-2, So., 22.8
Ali Hillson, North Penn-Mansfield, 5-8, Jr., 14.3
Nia Holland, Shipley, 5-5, Sr., 11.9
Emma Spinelli, Shade, 5-4, Jr., 21.6
THIRD TEAM
Torrieoanna Cash, Vincentian, 5-9, Jr., 8.4
Keyen Green, Phil-Mont Christian, 6-1, Jr., 20.9
Lexi Griggs, Vincentian, 6-0, Jr., 7.9
Bronwyne Mellott, McConnellsburg, 6-0, So., 22.2
Maci Thornton, Clarion, 5-5, Jr., 21.0
Mikayla Vaughn, Friends Central, 6-3, So., 17.6
Lexi Wozniak, Portage, 5-4, Jr., 14.8