Monessen's Szakal, other players sparked WCCC

By Rob Burchianti - Uniontown Herald Standard - rburchianti@heraldstandard.com  Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 12:30 am

Monessen graduate Chelsea Szakal of Westmoreland County Community College puts up a free throw against Lorain County Community College during a game this past season. Szakal finished as the seventh-leading scorer in the country in the NJCAA.

Chelsea Szakal isn't sure if she wants to extend her college basketball career after two seasons.

"I'm still up in the air on that," said the Monessen graduate, who played one season at Penn State DuBois before transferring to Westmoreland County Community College.

"When I was in high school I tore my ACL during my junior year, and I don't think I ever will get completely back to where I was before that. It definitely makes things harder. If I'm going to play next year, I'll have to keep it in shape."

One would think Szakal was coming off a disappointing season.

On the contrary, the 5-foot-10 sophomore forward was one of the best NJCAA players in the country, finishing seventh in points per game (22.0) and third in rebounds per game (15.2) for the Wolfpack.

"Chelsea had an outstanding season for us," WCCC coach Gene Brisbane said. "She was our leading scorer and rebounder. She was very strong inside and just a very consistent player."

Szakal, who also led the team with 1.5 blocked shots per game, wasn't the only area player for WCCC's.

Also on the roster were fellow starters Kara Foster of Ringgold, Hannah Porter of Southmoreland and Brooke Kalp of Mount Pleasant. Those four were the only Wolfpack players to start all 26 games in a 12-14 season and each made strong contributions.

Foster, a 5-6 freshman guard, led the Wolfpack and was second in the country in assists with 8.7 per game. The former Lady Ram averaged 9.1 ppg and led the team in steals at 3.2 per game.

"Kara was our point guard, a very unselfish player who was spectacular at getting the ball to the right people," Brisbane said. "Of course Chelsea benefited a lot from that."

Kalp, a 5-8 freshman forward, was WCCC's second-leading scorer (15.2 ppg) and rebounder, and was 20th in the country with 4.9 offensive boards per game. The former Lady Viking also led the Wolfpack in field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

"Brooke was a cornerstone for us," Brisbane said. "She was very persistent on offense and defense, and she usually had to handle the other team's best forward and did an exceptional job at it."

Porter, a 5-6 sophomore guard, was second on the team in assists and steals and third in scoring at 9.5 ppg.

"Hannah was one of our co-captains and was a very good leader on and off the court for us," Brisbane said of the former Lady Scottie. "This is my first year as coach here but just in comparing statistics it was obvious what a great improvement Hannah made since last year."

Jeannette's Brittany Crawford also started and averaged 6.4 ppg.

"Our biggest drawback was we didn't have much depth at all," Brisbane said. "Our starting five was sort of an iron five."

Brisbane's bench included 5-6 freshman guard Kaylee Cummins of Mount Pleasant and 5-5 freshman forward Jackie Wiggins of Monessen. Other reserves were Rachael Gerstel of Greensburg Salem, Brianna Merritt of Norwin and Shelby Kimmick of Hempfield.

Kimmick went from not being on the team at all to playing in all 26 of the Wolfpack's games as the team's top reserve.

"Shelby came up to me when I was named the head coach and said, 'When I was in elementary school I used to go to your camps,'" said Brisbane, who had a successful 20-year run as Hempfield's head coach. "I knew we needed some depth so I told her, 'You can play this year if you want to.' She thought it over and came out and played for us and was our first sub off the bench basically."

The season was a new beginning for Brisbane who was a head or assistant boys coach for 16 years at Hempfield, Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette before taking over the Lady Spartans, where he put together a sparkling 327-172 record.

A decision by Scott Hillen to leave WCCC for the women's basketball head coaching job at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, opened a door for Brisbane.

"I've been the assistant track and field coach at Seton Hill for seven years now, but I missed coaching basketball a lot, so when the job opened up, a lot of people asked if I'd be interested," Brisbane said. "I said yes, took the job and am glad I did."

Brisbane wasn't hired until Sept. 25, but still managed to quickly develop a highly competitive team.

"I had a good time with these girls," Brisbane said. "They were a pleasure to work with. It couldn't have been a better situation for me. I told all my players that I appreciated their efforts this year."

Brisbane was especially grateful at the arrival of Szakal, the daughter of John and Cheryl Szakal, who tied the WCCC single-game scoring record twice with 33-point games against Point Park JV on Nov. 19 and Central Penn College on Dec. 4.

Szakal scored 30 or more points six times on the season.

"I think my first season at DuBois prepared me enough for how much the college game changes from the high school game," Szakal said. "It was harder to get playing time there, it was an adjustment. When I got here I honestly didn't expect to have a season like this, but I got off to a good start and was able to keep it up."

Szakal still says in touch with her high school coach, Gina Naccarato.

"We're actually pretty close," Szakal said. "I still sometimes go to her high school practices and try to help out."

Naccarato has nothing but praise for her former player.

"Chelsea is one of the best kids I've ever coached," said Naccarato, high praise coming from someone considered the Lady Greyhounds' greatest all-time player. "She was a quiet leader, one who led by example. We used her at the three (small forward) and four (power forward) because she could beat the other forwards down the court. She just played with all heart. She wasn't very tall but she was our leading rebounder.

"If I told Chelsea to run through a brick wall, she would do it. She's one of the toughest kids I've ever seen."

Naccarato gave an extreme example of Szabal's toughness, recalling the day in February of 2012 when she tore her ACL.

"She was shooting and fell, and I could tell by the way she fell, I could see her knee had popped," Naccarato said. "The trainer takes her off the court, and then about 10 minutes later she walked over to me and wanted to go back in the game.

"Now that's tough."

Naccarato obviously didn't allow her star back into that game, but Szakal amazing, with surgery looming, was cleared by doctors to play in a WPIAL playoff game less than a month later, saying she couldn't do any more damage to the knee at that point.

She started and scored nine points in a 60-52 victory over Rochester.

Now, four years later, Szakal will soon decide if she wants to continue her basketball career.

"I have some Division-III offers," Szakal said. "But, if I'm going to continue, I'd also like to maybe play at a higher level. I just have to think it all over, consider everything and come up with a decision."