Success runs deep with Mohawk
Mohawk’s dynamic duo of Nadia Lape and Karly McCutcheon have kept the Warriors near the top of the WPIAL Class 3A. Despite their high level of play, it wouldn’t be quite right to say they have made names for themselves. That’s because their names are already popular in Mohawk.
Both Nape and McCutcheon come from talented bloodlines with ties to numerous sports. McCutcheon is the daughter of football coach Tim McCutcheon and a cousin of former Blackhawk and Duquesne basketball standout Chassidy Omogrosso, who has joined the family cheering section at Mohawk games numerous times this season. Lape is the granddaughter of Ron Lape, a longtime cross country and track coach at Mohawk. Her father, Kirk, was a standout athlete for the Warriors.
“They’re both coachable kids and leaders on the floor,” said Mohawk coach Mike O’Lare. “That dynamic definitely comes from their backgrounds and their athletic families.”
Lape, a junior, and McCutcheon, a senior, average 19 and 17 points per game, respectively. It would be a safe bet to say that they could boost those stats if they didn’t play together. These two get along so well on the court, however, that passing sometimes becomes a game of hot potato in which the ball goes back and forth until somebody scores.
“Their vision to find one another is special,” said O’Lare. “They’re looking for each other as they come down the floor.”
With such strong bloodlines, it comes as no surprise that Lape and McCutcheon utilize athleticism all over the court. O’Lare said they are both strong defenders who cover a lot of ground. They can score from anywhere on the court, whether slashing to the basket or shooting from behind the arc. Mohawk averages 11 3pointers per game and its top two players account for plenty.
McCutcheon missed nearly all of last season with a torn PCL. She missed time again in December with an elbow injury. Now back to full strength, the combination of a healthy McCutcheon and Lape has begun to draw crowds — and it’s not just those large family cheering sections.
“I think the last four or five games we’ve had, we’ve packed the place,” O’Lare said. “Our students and fans are coming and it’s really cool playing in that playoff atmosphere.”
Derry Area
After missing out on the playoffs last year, the Trojans have clinched a spot in the WPIAL 3A playoffs. With four returning starters from that team, Derry players made sure there was no heartache this time around.
The Trojans finished the regular season with an overall record of 14-8, including an 11-3 mark in Section 3. Derry was second in the section behind Carlynton and left no doubt as the season wound down that they would be postseason-bound.
Coach Gene Brisbane took over at Derry this season. He formerly led successful programs at Hempfield and Westmoreland County Community College.
Unbeatens not favored
Three WPIAL teams finished the regular season with perfect records. Only one of them is considered a favorite to win its classification.
Chartiers Valley (22-0) is the defending WPIAL and PIAA 5A champion and just completed another perfect regular season. With plenty of star power in Megan McConnell, Aislin Malcolm and Perri Page, as well as coach Tim McConnell on the bench, the Colts are once again expected to hoist the trophy.
Southmoreland (22-0) and West Greene (22-0) are different stories. The Scotties play in 4A, where defending champion North Catholic is the top seed. The Trojanettes (21-1) have lost only to Chartiers Valley.
West Greene is the 1A runner-up from last year. The team that beat them in the final, Rochester (21-1), is the top seed.
1,000-point scorers
Hitting a career milestone doesn’t happen every day. But on Feb. 6, it sure seemed like it. As the regular season was winding down, five players surpassed 1,000 points — Karly McCutcheon (Mohawk), Rayna Andrews (Serra Catholic), Emma Pavelek (Beaver), Sidney Shemanski (Freeport) and Diajha Allen (Bishop Canevin) each accomplished the feat on the same night.