Frazier girls aim for 10th straight playoff trip

By ADAM BREWER
MVI Sports
Over the last decade, the Frazier girls basketball team has been one of the most consistent and under-rated programs in the Mon Valley.
In coach Winston Shaulis’ first year on the bench, the Commodores posted a 9-14 record and grabbed the final playoff berth in their section with a 6-6 mark.
It marked Frazier’s ninth consecutive trip to the postseason, but the Commodores fell to South Side Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
“I think our goal every season is to compete for the section title,” Shaulis said. “Frazier hasn’t won a section championship since 1974, and I think that’s always a good place to start when we start listing our goals. We have 11 kids on the team led by our three seniors.”
Frazier started last season 1-6, but found its groove after the holidays and won eight out of 15 games heading into the playoffs.
“I think with any new coach and new system, it just takes time to jell and to get that comfort level,” Shaulis said. “We started slow, but I loved the way the girls kept after it and bought into what we were trying to do on the court.
“Every practice was tough and competitive, and that carried into some of our games. We were learning new sets and then executed them in games. It just took some time.”
The Commodores only lost three seniors from last year’s squad, but one key departure was leading scorer and rebounder Sierra Twigg.
“Sierra was a really good player for us last year,” Shaulis said. “I think she averaged a double-double last season. But we have had a lot of good players come through this program and graduate. You can’t look to replace those players with one player, it takes the whole team.
“The points and opportunities will be there. This group is very unselfish and is always looking for the extra pass.”

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