Portersville enjoys twin hoop titles
PORTERSVILLE — Call it a clean sweep.
For the first time ever, Portersville Christian School has won SouthWestern Christian Athletic Conference (SWCAC) championships in volleyball, soccer, boys and girls basketball in the same academic year.
The Warriors claimed the boys and girls basketball titles on the same day recently in Beaver Falls. Those two teams had never won the SWCAC in the same season before.
“Both of these teams have always supported each other, cheered for each other at games,” PCS girls basketball coach Mike McDonald said. “It was a lot of fun watching that happen.
“We're out there playing for the faith. This goes beyond wins and losses for us. All of these girls are Christians and play that way. Sportsmanship and fellowship are a big part of all of our athletic programs.”
The Warrior girls were 30-4 overall and undefeated in SWCAC play this season. They won the league tournament title game, 38-14, over Plants and Pillars Homeschoolers.
The Warrior boys finished 18-12 overall and won their third straight SWCAC tourney crown. They defeated The Neighborhood Academy of Pittsburgh 43-32 in the championship game.
“Things just came together for us at the right time,” PCS boys coach Matt Harbison said. “We won our last three league games in a row.
“The relationship we've developed with Neighborhood Academy has been special. They're from in the city, a totally different demographic, yet our teams get together for pictures after we play each other and our kids keep in touch with theirs during the off-season. They've developed friendships by building respect for each other.”
Seventeen of the 40 boys enrolled at Portersville Christian in grades 9-12 are on the basketball team. On the girls side, 19 of the 50 enrolled in grades 9-12 are on the team.
“The percentage of athletic participation here is incredible for such a small school,” McDonald said. “That's the positive (athletic) cycle we're on right now. Six years ago,we didn't have enough players to even field a girls team.”
This year, the PCS girls also placed second at the NCSAA National Tournament in Mount Vernon, Ohio, recently.
Portersville Christian's girls' starting five are point guard Alexis Konar of Butler, guard Melynn Dickson of Butler, guard Faith Patterson of Ellwood City, forward Abby Green of Slippery Rock and and forward Julia Mangiapane of Fombell.
Mangiapane was named the league's MVP this season and Green was the tournament MVP. Mangiapane averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, Green 10 points per game.“We had a lot of lopsided scores and Julia didn't play much in those games,” McDonald said. “During the tournament, she averaged 26 points and 16 rebounds a game.”The girls team also has players from Grove City, New Wilmington, Prospect, Beaver Falls and Renfrew on the roster.“We only have two seniors, so I'm excited about our future, too,” McDonald said.Portersville Christian's boys starting five are point guard Aiden Ramsey of New Castle, guards Elijah White of Zelienople and Caleb Yauger of Evans City, forwards Eli Stroh of Zelienople and Dalton Arblaster of Grove City.The lone seniors on the squad are Riley Pritchard of Butler and Ben Hurta of New Castle. Pritchard and Lin Ken, an exchange student from China staying with a family in Portersville, are the top players off the bench.“There's a talented group of freshmen coming up next year, in addition to the guys we have coming back,” Harbison said.White was the league MVP and championship game MVP. He averaged 19.5 points per game during the season, 31 ppg. in the playoffs. Yauger set a school record by sinking nine treys in one game this year.Both PCS teams played a handful of games against public schools. The Warrior girls were 5-3 in those games, facing Commodore Perry, Northgate, Jamestown, Ellis, Sewickley Academy and Union (New Castle).The Warrior boys were winless against Sharpsville, Ellwood City, Commodore Perry, Jamestown and Western Beaver.“But we were competitive in those games,” Harbison said. “Make no mistake, these kids can play. The way they conduct themselves on the court is what we're most proud of.“Seeing the success of both teams this year and the camaraderie between them was fantastic.”
