Somerset County's top girls' basketball players honored at annual banquet
SOMERSET -- Shade senior Jenna Muha did everything imaginable on the basketball court this year, shy of dunking.
Muha tallied 852 points, averaging 31.6 points per game. She pulled down 445 rebounds (16.5 per game). Muha became the all-time leading scorer in District 5 and Somerset County history this year, finishing her career with 2,349 points.
She broke former Meyersdale and Pitt-Johnstown standout Jen Tuscano's Somerset County record which stood since 1995, and McConnellsburg's Marla McElhaney's District 5 record. Muha also became the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Shade history, finishing with 1,435 boards.
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For her standout senior campaign, Muha was selected Somerset All-County MVP by the county coaches at the annual girls basketball banquet hosted by the Somerset Exchange Club on Wednesday at Somerset Country Club.
"I am very thankful and blessed to receive this," said Muha of the MVP honor. "It was a lot of competitive ball against many of these girls. I grew up playing against a lot of them. I couldn't have done this without my teammates and coaches. All of the coaches here (Wednesday) respected me to choose me for this award, and I have a lot of respect for them as well."
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Shade finished 17-11 and won its first PIAA playoff game since 2014, with a triumph over Mount Calvary Christian in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. The Panthers won their second-straight D5 consolation game in thrilling fashion just to get into the state playoffs. Muha, a Frostburg State University recruit, was the cornerstone of the club all season long.
"Toward the end of the season, we weren't ready for it to be over, yet. We weren't a would of, could of, should of team," Muha said. "We always had that drive. We cared for one another. We had that drive to win. I am so thankful for this year, and all of the things we've accomplished the last four years."
Muha was joined on the first team by the Berlin Brothersvalley senior duo of Grace Sechler and Jenny Countryman, Conemaugh Township senior Mya Poznanski and Windber senior Lexie James.
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Sechler and Poznanski each surpassed 1,000 career points this season. Countryman played a major role alongside Sechler in Berlin's run to a District 5 title and a trip to the PIAA Class 1A semifinals. James returned to basketball this season after taking a year off to lead the Ramblers in scoring. Windber captured WestPAC and District 5 Class 2A gold.
Meanwhile, Berlin's Rachel Prosser and Windber's Cory Pavlosky were voted co-Coaches of the Year.
The Mountaineers went 22-6 this season and impressed throughout the year with a grueling non-conference schedule to prepare for a state playoff run. It was a special year for Prosser and company.
"It was a really, really fun year for me," Prosser said. "The girls, especially the seniors, made it special for the underclassmen. All of the assistant coaches that are there every day put in so much work. They have been a huge part of our success over the years."
Pavlosky was named co-Coach of the Year for the second season in a row. He collected his third straight all-county Coach of the Year honor and fourth of his career.
Windber was 4-4 in December and lost its top returning scorer, Mariah Andrews to a knee injury in Game 1. However, the Ramblers went 16-3 to close the season, winning its third straight WestPAC title to go along with a D5 championship.
"Blessed. This is a testament to the girls," Pavlosky said of the honor. "They found a way to win. Having four players selected to the (all-county) team is great for our program. It's not so much the hardware and things like that, it's how you get there. Everybody in this room is deserving of these accomplishments. This is just the icing on the cake. I couldn't be more blessed, and I couldn't be happier for my girls."
Saint Vincent women's basketball coach Jimmy Petruska, who guided the Bearcats to a Presidents' Athletic Conference title this season, was the keynote speaker.
2022-23 Somerset All-County Girls Basketball Team
First Team
Grace Sechler, sr., Berlin Brothersvalley; Jenny Countryman, sr., Berlin Brothersvalley; Mya Poznanski, sr., Conemaugh Township; Jenna Muha, sr., Shade (MVP); Lexie James, sr., Windber.
Second Team
Zoe Hetz, jr. Meyersdale; Grace Metz, sr., North Star; Ava Hair, sr., Turkeyfoot; Kaylie Gaye, fr., Windber; Rylee Ott, sr., Windber.
Honorable Mention
Jenna Brenneman, jr., Conemaugh Township; Ava Byer, so., Conemaugh Township; Abby Barnick, jr., North Star; Mollie Wheatley, jr., Rockwood; Harmony Jablon, sr., Windber.
Somerset Area High School Outstanding Player
Shawna Walker, sr., Somerset.
Johnstown Christian School Outstand Player
Unity Miller, jr. Johnstown Christian.
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Shade senior earns top all-county girls' basketball honor
