Guard tandem energizes Rochester program
Alexis Robison and Corynne Hauser’s friendship and partnership on the court began in a youth league when they were in elementary school, Robison in fourth grade and Hauser third.
“From the start, our chemistry has always been on point,” Hauser said.
To the point that years later it might help Rochester reach its first PIAA championship game.
Hauser is much more of a fan of history than chemistry, she said, which is good because she and Robison have a chance to make some when Rochester (16-3) hosts Bishop Guilfoyle (15-4) in Tuesday’s Class 1A semifinals.
Hauser and Robison make up one of the top guard tandems in the state, regardless of class. There haven’t been many WPIAL boys or girls teams in recent years that have featured two players that average at least 19 points a game like Rochester’s dynamic duo. Hauser, a junior point guard, averages 20.2, and Robison, a senior shooting guard, averages 19.5.
“There are really no words to describe it. They have meant everything to this program,” coach C.J. Iannini said. “The amount of time they have put in to help build this system and help build this culture. They have completely revamped the program and flipped everything upside down. They made 1A basketball not just 1A basketball. Talent is talent.”
The two have been the cornerstones of Rochester’s run of three consecutive WPIAL titles. Prior to that, the Rams had never reached the championship game. Both have kicked their scoring up a notch in the playoffs, with Robison averaging 24.5 a game and Hauser 21.2. Robison scored 29 and Hauser 23 against West Greene in the WPIAL final.
In three seasons sharing the backcourt, Robison and Hauser have led the Rams to 62 wins. Both were first-team all-state picks last season and will likely be again this season. For Robison, it would be her third such honor. Robison has scored 1,655 points, second most in school history. Hauser, who has more than a dozen Division I offers, has 1,176.
“We’ve been playing together for a long time,” Hauser said. “It’s our last year playing together and we want to go out and win it all.”
Bishop Guilfoyle is the District 6 champion. The Marauders are led by senior guard Leah Homan and 6-foot senior forward Teresa Haigh. Homan scored 22 and Haigh 18 in a 48-47 quarterfinal win against Coudersport. Haigh’s father, Joe, is the women’s coach at Saint Francis.
Teams meet again
In a quest to make history by winning a first PIAA title, North Allegheny meets a team with which it has history.
The Tigers (25-1) play District 3 champion Cumberland Valley (21-1) Monday at Altoona. In the same round and on the same court five years ago, Cumberland Valley edged North Allegheny, 43-42, courtesy of a controversial finish that saw Cumberland Valley make two free throws with 0.8 seconds left after North Allegheny was called for a foul 85-feet from the basket. The Eagles went on to win a third consecutive title.
Just as was the case in 2016, Cumberland Valley is led by a Jekot sister. Two of them, actually. Senior Julie Jekot is a La Salle recruit who averages a team-best 16.3 points per game and freshman Jill Jekot is averaging 12.5. Two older sisters are playing for Division I schools. Kelly is at Penn State and Katie at Saint Joseph. Cumberland Valley’s lone loss was to undefeated Spring-Ford, which plays in the other semifinal.
North Allegheny is appearing in the semifinals for the fifth time since 2014. The Tigers have reached the final once, losing to Boyertown in the 2017 title game.
Colts face young guns
It’s been a case of “junior achievement” for Chartiers Valley, which starts five juniors. The Colts (24-3) will play a team in the semifinals that is much younger.
Spring Grove (21-2), which will play the Colts Tuesday at Bald Eagle Area, has a starting five consisting of two freshmen, a sophomore, a junior and a senior. It’s top reserve is also a freshman. One of the ninth-graders is 6-foot forward Laila Campbell, who scored 24 points in the District 3 final and 33 in the PIAA semifinals. Campbell averages 16 points a game. Senior point guard Emma Kale averages a team-best 17 points for the Rockets, who won their first district championship.
Like Chartiers Valley’s Tim McConnell, Spring Grove’s Troy Sowers is a former longtime boys coach. He guided York William Penn to the PIAA Class 4A final in 2009.
Chartiers Valley is the “defending champ,” having won the 2019 championship. The Colts have won 18 consecutive postseason games.
Mohawk foe unbeaten
For the second game in a row, Mohawk (18-4) faces a team with an unbeaten record.After beating Punxsutawney in the quarterfinals, the Warriors host District 6 champion Forest Hills (19-0) on Monday.
Forest Hills hasn’t been pushed much this season, as all but one of its wins has come by double digits. The Rangers are led by senior guard Jordyn Smith, who is averaging 17.4 points. She had 18 points and seven steals in the District 6 final. The championship was the seventh in a row for the Rangers, who were 26-1 last season.
Mohawk and Forest Hills are both seeking their first PIAA finals berth. Each of them had reached the quarterfinals in 2020 before the season was shut down, Forest Hills in Class 4A and Mohawk in Class 3A. Forest Hills was set to play WPIAL champion North Catholic, which Mohawk beat in this year’s WPIAL final.
Streaking Comets
AmongPIAA semifinalists, there might not be a bigger surprise participant than the team Neshannock (18-2) hosts Monday.
Penns Manor (18-6) was the No. 7 seed in the District 6 playoffs, but took down the No. 2, 3 and 5 seeds on the way to capturing its first district title. The Comets have an excellent one-two punch in senior Kassidy Smith (16 ppg) and junior Megan Dumm (14 ppg). Dumm scored 15 and Smith 14 in a 53-25 quarterfinal win against Cambridge Springs. The Comets led, 42-6, at the half.
Neither team has ever reached the final. Neshannock is in the semifinals for the first time. Lancers coach Luann Grybowski, who has won 684 games and five WPIAL titles in her career, is also trying to reach the title game for the first time.