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True winner

Vincentian Academy's Brenna Wise lays it in agianst Butler at Butler High School on Saturday, December 28, 2013.

CRANBERRY TWP — To say Brenna Wise has gaudy numbers on a basketball court is a drastic understatement.

The Cranberry Township resident and 6-foot-1 junior forward has accumulated nearly 1,800 points and more than 750 career rebounds for Vincentian Academy.

She produced a double-double in the WPIAL Class A championship game and in all five of the Royals PIAA Tournament contests. She scored in double digits in every game this season.

Scary as they are, those aren’t the numbers Wise cares about.

84 wins and seven losses, three section titles, three WPIAL crowns, one state runner up finish and now one state championship. Those are the numbers she’s interested in.

“I’m greedy. I’m always hungry for more,” Wise said Sunday.

One day after leading Vincentian’s girls to their first state basketball title since 2002, Wise was back in the gym, working on weights, getting stronger.

“It was bittersweet,” she said of Saturday’s 58-34 title win over Old Forge at Hershey’s Giant Center. “I was just elated that we won ... I’m still on Cloud Nine ... but I was sad because it was our last game.

“We just want to keep going. We have girls on our team from the city, Hampton, North Hills, I’m in Cranberry — we came together for a common goal. We love basketball and we want to win games.”

Wise averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists per game this season. She shot 68 percent from the free throw line and drained 18 3-pointers.

Barring injury, Wise will leave Vincentian with well over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her pocket.

“Her legacy will have to be considered among the best ever in WPIAL Class A, especially if we win another section, WPIAL and state title,” Vincentian coach Ron Moncrief said. “Believe me, these girls are already talking about that.

“As impressive as Brenna’s numbers are, we don’t stay that up on where they’re at because she’s not worried about them. She only cares about winning.”

Wise produced 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six blocked shots in the Royals’ 66-46 win over Serra Catholic in the WPIAL title game.

During the state tournament, she produced 19 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks against Port Allegany, 24 points and 11 boards against Berlin Brothersvalley, 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks against Kennedy Catholic, a season-high 38 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists against Bishop Guilfoyle.

Her line against Old Forge in the state title game included 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

“We had nobody who could stop her inside,” Old Forge coach Tom Gatto said of Wise after that game. “She’s probably the best player we’ve faced this year.”

Moncrief said Wise took over that game early, scoring 17 points in the first half.

“She just dominated. Brenna was a match-up problem for them, as she is with a lot of teams we play,” he said.

Wise has already received full scholarship offers from Pitt, Villanova, Dayton, Virginia Tech, Princeton and Harvard. She is also looking at West Virginia and Kentucky.

“I’m just taking it slow,” Wise said of selecting a school. “I’ll start making visits in April and hope to make a choice in November. I’m not leaning toward any one school right now. I’ll know when it feels right.

“I feel truly blessed to be in this position. I’m playing basketball with an awesome group of girls.”

Wise is one of three starters returning for Vincentian next season, along with two key substitutes.

“The other girls gravitate toward Brenna and her personality,” Moncrief said. “She’s a leader in every sense of the word.”

Wise says the same about Moncrief.

“Ron is an impeccable coach,” she said. “I guarantee he’s watching film today. He has no offseason. Each year, every team is different. He adjusts to those changes.

“I know he’ll put us in position to win again. Then it’s up to us.”

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