Loss ends remarkable streak for Mt. Lebanon girls basketball team
When Mt. Lebanon High's girls basketball team lost to Oakland Catholic in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class AAAA girls basketball tournament, it ended a remarkable five-yer era for the Blue Devils and their coach, Dori Oldaker.
In four previous seasons, Mt. Lebanon had played in the Class AAAA state championship game, winning the title in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons against three different opponents. Only a 56-49 loss to Central Dauphin in the 2008 Class AAAA state championship spoiled a remarkable run for the Blue Devils.
Mt. Lebanon had a tremendous amount of success in the WPIAL tournaments. Mt. Lebanon won the 2009 and 2010 WPIAL titles with victories over Fox Chapel (50-24) and Baldwin (59-43), respectively. The 2011 team did lose to Shaler in the WPIAL championship game, but roared back through the PIAA playoffs to win the state title. One of their victories in the state playoffs was a 65-39 victory over Shaler in the PIAA quarterfinals.
The 2012 team finished with a 25-4 record. With just five seniors on the 15-player squad, Oldaker will have an opportunity to build another solid Blue Devils team. Three of those seniors -- Kelly Johnson, Emma Pellicano and Liz Tommasi -- were starting guards. But with 6-1 junior center Jordan Holmes and 6-1 sophomore forward Christine Ehland returning, that will be a strong foundation with which to work.
"We're very proud of (the team)," Oldaker said. "We love them to death, and the saddest part is that we won't be together as a team."
In four previous seasons, Mt. Lebanon had played in the Class AAAA state championship game, winning the title in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons against three different opponents. Only a 56-49 loss to Central Dauphin in the 2008 Class AAAA state championship spoiled a remarkable run for the Blue Devils.
Mt. Lebanon had a tremendous amount of success in the WPIAL tournaments. Mt. Lebanon won the 2009 and 2010 WPIAL titles with victories over Fox Chapel (50-24) and Baldwin (59-43), respectively. The 2011 team did lose to Shaler in the WPIAL championship game, but roared back through the PIAA playoffs to win the state title. One of their victories in the state playoffs was a 65-39 victory over Shaler in the PIAA quarterfinals.
The 2012 team finished with a 25-4 record. With just five seniors on the 15-player squad, Oldaker will have an opportunity to build another solid Blue Devils team. Three of those seniors -- Kelly Johnson, Emma Pellicano and Liz Tommasi -- were starting guards. But with 6-1 junior center Jordan Holmes and 6-1 sophomore forward Christine Ehland returning, that will be a strong foundation with which to work.
"We're very proud of (the team)," Oldaker said. "We love them to death, and the saddest part is that we won't be together as a team."
basketball